Crampton, Harold Thomas
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Harold Thomas |
Surname | Crampton |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 11-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert Marlborough Crampton and of Eliza Crampton (Nee Waters), of Cheviot, Canterbury, New Zealand. Husband of Betty Hope Crampton, of Te Awamutu, Auckland, New Zealand. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | LL697 |
Markings | A2-B2 |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Loos British Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 18. Row G. Grave 32. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 150 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 416861 |
Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 514 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John the Evangelist, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial and RoH |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 514 Sqn who served at RAF Waterbeach 1943-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 11-08-1944 |
End Date | 11-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Waterbeach |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Lens- to bomb railway installations. Part of a 459 strong bomber force to attack 3 railway yards and 1 bridge. Bombing of the railway targets started well but they soon became shrouded in smoke. The Étaples bridge attack was successful with crews claiming direct hits |
Reason for Loss | Hit by a bomb, removing the aircraft's nose with F/O Crampton still in it. Remarkably, considering the extent of the damage, the rest of the crew were able to make it back to Woodbridge airfield and were uninjured |