Elsley, Henry Cecil
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Henry Cecil |
Surname | Elsley |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Thomas Elsley and Lottie Elsley, of Coogee, New South Wales, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EH934 |
Markings | EX-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 5. A. 3. |
Epitaph | HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 160 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 411686 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 199 |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to former Technical Site, North Creake, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sculpture, Inscribed Metal Panels & Info Boards |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those who served at RAF North Creake |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1172/18 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1172/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Lakenheath |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Ruhlsdorf, SSW of Tetlow, Germany |