Machesney, Gerald Rowland
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Gerald Rowland |
Surname | Machesney |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Alexander Machesney and Clara Louisa Machesney. Husband of Orma Myrtle Machesney, of Creemore, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV871 |
Markings | BM-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. H. 28. |
Epitaph | THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 202 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/89107 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 433 (Porcupine) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1862/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1862/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-02-1944 |
End Date | 25-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Schweinfurt- the first raid on this particular target (the centre of ball-bearing manufacture in Germany). 734 aircraft, 33 losses (4.5%). A new tactic was introduced where the bomber force was split into two waves separated by two hours. The first wave Lost 22 aircraft (5.6%) but the second Lost only 11 (3.2%) of which only 4 were shot down. Poor PFF target marking led to local reports quoting 'nominal damage'. Note that there had been a raid comprising 266 8th Air Force B-17s the night before so it is difficult to attribute damage levels. |
Reason for Loss |