Herbert, Frederick William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Frederick William |
Surname | Herbert |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Date of Death | 08-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Sidney H. and Ellen M. Herbert, of Earlsfield, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LL306 |
Markings | NF-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Veauville les Baons Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph | YOU ARE ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS. HAPPY LANDINGS, FRED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 180 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1806771 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 138 (Special Duties) |
Squadron Motto | For freedom |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In honour of the men and women of Special Duties Sqns stationed at RAF Tempsford |
Location | "The Barn" Gibraltar Farm, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Plaque & Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | To commemorate the men and women of different nationalities who flew from RAF Tempsford to aid resistance forces in occupied Europe |
Location | St. Peter's Church, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet, Wooden Boards, Brass Plaques & RoH |
Memorial Text | Remembering all those who flew from RAF Tempsford including those of the Royal Australian Air Force |
Miscellaneous Information
An eye witness to the crash stated that the crew came under attack from a nightfighter and following a fire fight between the two aircraft there was a large explosion and Halifax LL306 fell to the ground. Russian prisoners were ordered to dig a grave in the middle of the field where the plane fell and the remains of the seven crew were at first buried in a collective grave. After several attempts the villagers of Veauville-les-Baons persuaded the local German Commander to permit internment in their churchyard. The funeral and a memorial service that followed was attended by large crowds with a great number of wreaths and flowers being laid on the grave. The inscription on the grave read: "ICI REPOSENT LES RESTRE DES AVIATEURS ANGLAIS TOMBES LE 8 JUIN 1944. R.I.P." |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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 | 07-06-1944 |
End Date | 08-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Special Intelligence Services- Operations Periwinkle and Walt 3, for France |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Veauville-les-Baons, NNE of Yvetot, France |