Clarson, Ian David Henry
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Ian David Henry |
Surname | Clarson |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 19-07-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Maj. Joseph Henry Clarson, 3rd Bn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and Winifred Clarson (née Gradidge), of Bristol. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NA513 |
Markings | EY-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Neufmoulin Communal Cemetery in the Somme |
Grave Reference | Grave 1. |
Epitaph | THE LORD GAVE, AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY; BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD (Job 1:21) |
Ribbon Stone | 1198 (Block 103, Column 20, Row 1) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 145 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 169318 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | F/O Ian Henry David Clarson Navigator 78 Sqn Buried Neufmoulin France 19 July 44 |
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at this airfield and gave their lives during World War II |
Location | External, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | 78 Sqn 4 Group Bomber Command Yorkshire 1939 - 1945 To All Who Served |
Location | Internal, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board, Memorial Chapel featuring Cross made from Halifax wreckage |
Memorial Text | The 78 Sqn Memorial in the Churchyard was dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on 7th September 1986. RAF Breighton, two miles from this church was the Sqn's home from June 1943 to May 1945 |
Location | Outside "B" Hangar, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of all who have lost their lives serving with 78 Sqn Royal Air Force "Nemo Non Paratus - Nobody Unprepared" |
Miscellaneous Information
Born in Shropshire on 6 December 1924. He was educated at Gosden House School near Guildford, and then at Lord Wandsworth College, Long Sutton from 1934 to 1941 where he was a member of the Football XI and the school swimming team, and Captain of the Cricket XI in 1941. On leaving school he went to work as a clerk at the offices of Heinz & Co at Bristol. Ian was called up for military service in 1942 and selected for a Royal Air Force University Short Course. He entered Worcester College, Oxford on 9 October 1942 to study modern history and geography. He was a member of the College Football XI and was selected for the University team against the RAF. |
On leaving Worcester College, he underwent further training in Northern Ireland. He rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftsman before being commissioned on 1 February 1944, and trained as a navigator. In June 1944 he survived the crash of his aircraft during training. He and his crew joined 78 Squadron on 7 July 1944 and completed 3 bombing operations, but on the fourth were shot down by a German fighter. |
He is commemorated on the war memorials at Lord Wandsworth College, and at Worcester College, Oxford. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/661/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/661/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-07-1944 |
End Date | 19-07-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (2% moon) |
Operation | Acquet- to attack a flying-bomb site. 62 aircraft- no new damage. 2 aircraft lost. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Neufmoulin in the Somme, France, NE of Abbeville |