Lambert, William Thraves
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Thraves |
Surname | Lambert |
Gender | M |
Age | 36 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 23-12-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Caroline Lambert. Husband of Barbara Alice Lambert, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | de Havilland Mosquito XVI |
Serial Number | ML998 |
Markings | HS-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 11. A. 16. |
Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 196 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 145181 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 109 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to former Airfield Site, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to RAF Little Staughton, including 109 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet, Roll of Honour, Gp & Sqn Badges |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to those who served at RAF Little Staughton during WW2, including 109 Sqn |
Location | RAF Wyton Memorial Gardens, Wyton, Cambridgshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those who served at RAF Wyton during WW2, including 109 Sqn |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/855/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/855/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-12-1944 |
End Date | 23-12-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Little Staughton |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Köln- to attack the Gremberg railway yards. This raid went badly wrong. The force was split into three formations, each led by an Oboe equipped master and a similarly equipped Mosquito reserve master. Improved weather meant that the crews could bomb visually and the order was given. Tragically, the order did not reach S/L R A M Palmer's aircraft and they carried on unawares, being hit by flak on their approach but dropping their bomb load nonetheless. Soon afterwards they were set about by fighters and the aircraft was downed in the target area. S/L Palmer was posthumously awarded a VC for his valour. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a fighter in the target area |