Chester, Ralph Owen
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Ralph Owen |
Surname | Chester |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Date of Death | 01-09-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles H. Chester and Esther Chester, of West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD418 |
Markings | KN-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. E. 4. |
Epitaph | HE WENT FORTH AND FINDING THE HAND OF GOD, TROD GLADLY INTO THE NIGHT |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 144 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1214512 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Squadron Motto | Esse potius quam videri (To be, rather than to seem) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/35 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/34 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 31-08-1943 |
End Date | 01-09-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Elvington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 622 aircraft, 47 losses (7.6%). Stirling losses were some 16.0% Fighter flares were used by the German night-fighters for the first time to mark the path of the main force both into and out of the target area. This raid was not a success. Cloud, combined with the now familiar problems with the H2S equipment and the effective defences of the city conspired to make the PFF marking very difficult. Creepback was an additional problem and it is said that the fires stretched back some 30 miles! Only 85 homes were destroyed. There were 68 deaths. Goebbels ordered that all children and any adults not engaged in war work be evacuated to the country. |
Reason for Loss | Lost in the target area |