Craib, George Richard Robert Henry
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | George Richard Robert Henry |
Surname | Craib |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-01-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Peter Craib and Isie Craib (née Philip), of North Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster X |
Serial Number | KB806 |
Markings | SE-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 4. A. 19-20. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 150 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/38252 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 431 (Iroquois) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served on 431 Sqn RCAF at RCAF Burn, 1942-1943 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed metal plaques & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of all those who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2 including 431 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Old Control Tower, former airfield site, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of all those who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2 including 431 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
George was born at Vernon, B.C. on 17 June 1923. His parents were both born in Scotland and his father was a carpenter. He had a brother Norman John and three sisters, Annie, Patricia and Jean. Another brother was mentioned as A. E. M. Craib, serving in the RCAF. He went to Fruitland School, 1929-1937 followed by Kamloops High 1937-1940 where he reached Grade XI. George’s sport interests were swimming and skating. He was an apprentice machinist 1940-1942 for W.J.Ellis Co. in Kamloops until enlisting on 21 October 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1858/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1858/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-01-1945 |
End Date | 15-01-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Leuna- to attack a synthetic oil plant. 587 aircraft carried out two attacks 3 hours apart, causing severe damage throughout the plant. Albert Speer said in his post-war interrogations that this was the most damaging attack on the oil industry of the war |
Reason for Loss | Collided with an enemy fighter (Me 109) over the target and exploded, throwing the rear gunner clear (F/S D C Cockwell) |