Manning, Albert John
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Albert John |
Surname | Manning |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-06-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Francis and Edith Ellen Manning. Husband of Joan Manning (née Barter), of Kempston, Bedfordshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | DK139 |
Markings | ZL-P P-Pampas |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 30. F. 1. |
Epitaph | GOD GAVE US MEMORIES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ROSES IN DECEMBER |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 204 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 126960 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 427 (Lion) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Miscellaneous Information
Aircraft nickname: Pampas, after the pilot's homeland of Argentina (although his parents actually lived in Norfolk!) |
The eldest of ten children. Born 4 February 1916 at Cherry Gardens, Bishop's Stortford. The family moved to Kempston, Bedfordshire in 1918 to a three bedroomed detached home with a large garden. As an infant he attended Miss Brown's School and at about eight years old he went to Priory Street Roman Catholic School in Bedford. He was in both the swimming and cricket teams there. His next school was Bedford Modern School and also enjoyed sport during his time there. His name is inscribed on the Second World War Memorial and in the Book of Remembrance at Bedford Modern School. When growing up his best friend was the son of a local farmer. The farm was in the same road as his home and he spent many hours playing and helping out with the livestock and harvests, as did his six brothers. At home, as the family expanded, he and his brothers kept rabbits. A photo survives of Albert’s large, white Angora rabbit. On leaving school he rowed with the Bedford Rowing Club. A photo shows him rowing in the Maidens Four race at Bedford Regatta. Photos of him show him to be a suave dresser as a young man and also a loving brother to his siblings, six brothers and three sisters, particularly his youngest, Betty, born in 1933 and a caring son to his parents. On the 26th February 1938 he married Joan Barter at the Catholic Church of the Holy Child and St. Joseph, Midland Road, Bedford. His wife always called him 'Johnnie'. Albert's profession was as a commercial clerk on the marriage certificate and they were both 22 years old. They bought a house nearby to his parent's home in 1939. Albert joined the RAF Volunteers Reserve in late 1939 or January 1940. He attended U/T Air Crew at RAF Northolt in the Summer/Autumn of 1941. His rank was Corporal, no. 750471. He attended RAF Penrhos, Pwilheli, North Wales for a twelve week course ('D' Sqd. No. 18, A/B Course, No. 9 AOS. Between March 1942 and May 1942 he was at No. 18 Elementary Flying Training School flying a DH82a plane. This is recorded in his RAF Pilot's Flying Log Book. In Autumn 1942 he received his commission of Flying Officer, no. 126960 and joined 427 Squadron, which was formed on 7th November 1942 at RAF Croft, Yorkshire. His role in the five man crew on Wellington III and X aircraft was bomb aimer/observer. In early May 1943, 427 Squadron moved to RAF Leeming and to Halifax V aircraft. The crew consisted of five RCAF and two RAF men. |
At the time of his death his wife was three months pregnant. She gave birth to a daughter- Denise Joan Alberta Manning on 31 December 1943 – died 2005. His wife died in 1978. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-06-1943 |
End Date | 23-06-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (70% moon) |
Operation | Mülheim. 557 aircraft, 35 losses (6.3%) A thin layer of cloud hampered PFF marking efforts which were, nevertheless accurate (as detailed by the German report on the raid). As a result the bombing was concentrated and devastated this small town. All communications were cut off from Oberhausen, on which Mülheim was dependent for emergency services. 578 deaths and 1135 homes destroyed. A post war British report put the damage at 64% of the town. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Rheinhausen on the west bank of the Rhine, SW of Duisburg |