Colman, Thomas Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Thomas Arthur |
Surname | Colman |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Albert Arthur and Ethel May Colman. Husband of Gladys Emily Colman, of Battersea, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW653 |
Markings | NP-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Dongen RC Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 5. |
Epitaph | ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF MY DEAREST HUSBAND WHOM I LOVED SO MUCH |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 147 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1397422 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1049/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1049/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-05-1944 |
End Date | 25-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Lissett |
Day/Night Raid | Night (9% moon) |
Operation | Aachen- to attack two railway yards. 442 aircraft, 25 Lost (5.7%). Because this raid was on German railway infrastructure rather than French of Belgian, the bomber force was considerably larger. The inevitable result was that the bombing was not as concentrated, with many bombs falling in Aachen itself. 207 people were killed, 121 seriously injured and 14800 bombed out of their homes. Nevertheless, much damage was caused to the railway yards, particularly those to the east of the town. The local report states that 288 bombs were duds, this being approximately 10% of the total dropped for the night. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak on homebound leg and crashed at De Hei, NW of Tilburg, Holland |