Lewis, George William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | George William |
Surname | Lewis |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 06-12-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Trower Lewis and Edith Alicia Lewis, of Dudley, Worcestershire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | de Havilland Mosquito IV |
Serial Number | DZ371 |
Markings | XD-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 88. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 198 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1233715 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 2 |
Squadron | 139 (Jamaica) |
Trade | Observer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 06-12-1942 |
End Date | 06-12-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Marham |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Operation Oyster. Eindhoven- Philips radio and valve factory (by day). 93 aircraft, 17 losses (18.2%), although the loss rate for the underpowered Venturas was 19% even higher. The 8th Air Force operated a diversionary raid to Lille using Spitfires as escort. A low level raid in clear conditions led to very accurate bombing and the factory was extensively damaged. The raid was deliberately planned for a Sunday when few employees would have been on site. Full production took 6 months to achieve due to the level of damage. Of the aircraft that successfully returned an extraordinarily high number (23) sustained bird strike damage! |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak and crashed in the North Sea off Den Helder on the return leg |