Gadsby, William Charles
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Charles |
Surname | Gadsby |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 14-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gadsby. Husband of Marjorie Vivien Gadsby, of Greenwich, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND421 |
Markings | OF-S |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Texel (Den Burg) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot K. Row 7. Joint grave 146-147. |
Epitaph | MY BELOVED HUSBAND. NOT FORGOTTEN. WE LOVED THEE WELL BUT JESUS LOVES THEE BEST |
Ribbon Stone | 0492 (Block 6, Column 16, Row 2) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 167 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1445080 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | In honour of Flt Sgt Bill, Gadsby 97 Sqn KIA 14 Jan 1944 Op 28 Age 22 |
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Miscellaneous Information
Most sources state he was 27 years of age but we are informed by family that he was in fact 27. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-01-1944 |
End Date | 15-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Bourn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (82% moon) |
Operation | Brunswick. 498 aircraft, all but two of them Lancasters. First major raid on this town of the war. 38 Lancasters Lost (7.6%). The German controller tracked the bomber stream from just off the English coastline and many German fighters entered the stream over Bremen, continuing to score hits until the stream left the Dutch coast on the return leg. Pathfinder losses were unusually high (11 aircraft). The raid was not successful even though the town was not expansive alongside most targets. Many bombs fell in open countryside or in neighbouring towns. Only 10 houses destroyed. 14 deaths on the ground. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down over Texel and crashed at Fonteinsol. Three bodies were found in the wreckage and the other two were washed up onto Texel sometime later but buried with their crewmates |