Hiles, Waldo Harry Bentley
Personal Information
Rank | S/L |
Forename(s) | Waldo Harry Bentley |
Surname | Hiles |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | DSO, DFC |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Husband of Elizabeth Shanley. They married in Witney, Oxfordshire, the marriage being registered in Q4 1940. Father of Jenkin Waldo Hiles (born 15 October 1938 in Islington). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EH925 |
Markings | IC-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 118. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 182 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 121330 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 623 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Miscellaneous Information
He was a staff officer at 3 Group HQ at Exning House, Suffolk |
His DSO was promulgated without citation in the London Gazette on 11 June 1943 |
On 20 February 1945, Waldo’s wife collected his Distinguished Service Order from the King at Buckingham Palace. It must have been a mixed day of emotions for Elizabeth. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Downham Market |
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 | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed south of Zossen |