Grove, William George
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | William George |
Surname | Grove |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Date of Death | 24-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert Elvey Grove and Margaret Annie Grove, of Dunvant, Swansea. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | LM441 |
Markings | LS-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 11. E. 16. |
Epitaph | GOD HAS YOU IN HIS KEEPING, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOU IN OUR HEARTS. MAM AND DAD |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 174 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 146424 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Squadron Motto | Aim Sure |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Known as George and worked for Lloyd's Bank in Bristol |
He had been shot down in 1943 while flying with 504 Squadron. Missing for three months while he returned via Spain, aided by the Spanish Edelweiss organisation. More information can be found in "RAF Evaders" by Oliver Clutton-Brock (Grub Street Publications), pp163-164. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/204/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/204/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-03-1944 |
End Date | 25-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 811 aircraft, 72 losses (8.9%). Known as the 'night of the strong winds', a very powerful wind from the north tended to push the aircraft south at every stage of the operation. As a result, the bomber stream became very scattered, allowing fighters to pick off stragglers, although 50 of the aircraft Lost were hit by flak. Around 20000 were bombed out but no industrial premises were hit. This was the last major raid on Berlin of the war. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak on homebound leg and crashed north of Bonn |