Finch, Cecil Harry
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Cecil Harry |
Surname | Finch |
Gender | M |
Age | 37 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry Luther James Finch and Rosalie Eveline Finch. Husband of Jessica Mildred Finch, of Croop Hill, Rugby. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | HX332 |
Markings | ZA-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rugby (Clifton Road) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. N. Grave 40. |
Epitaph | WE SHALL REMEMBER WHILE THE LIGHT LASTS, IN THE DARKNESS WE SHALL NOT FORGET (origins debateable- possibly Tennyson or Agatha Christie, although their works may have simply inspired this epitaph, which was first used in WWI) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 163 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1877705 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 10 |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Melbourne, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial Stone & Plaque |
Memorial Text | No 10 Squadron, 4 Group Bomber Command, WWII 1939-1945. This memorial was erected at the entrance to the former RAF Station Melbourne by ex Members and Friends of the Squadron to honour the memory of all personnel who died in the service of their Country |
Location | Melbourne Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Runway Light in Concrete Base |
Memorial Text | Let this landing light be a memorial to all those 1,000 aircrew and 120 aircraft that left this very point never to return so that we may return again and again in freedom to enjoy York Motor Sport Park |
Miscellaneous Information
Luftwaffe operation 'Unternehmen Gisela' took place this night. Large numbers of night-fighters were ordered to intrude as the bombers returned to their bases. The losses were high on both sides |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/30 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/29 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-03-1945 |
End Date | 04-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Melbourne |
Day/Night Raid | Night (79% moon) |
Operation | Kamen- to attack a synthetic oil plant in the Bergkamen district. 234 aircraft, 1 lost. The oil refinery was severely damaged and no further production was possible. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by an intruder (Ju 88) at around 3000' on return and crashed at Spellow Hill, SE of Ripon, Yorkshire |