Percival, Walter Reginald
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Walter Reginald |
Surname | Percival |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-04-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Walter George and Ellen Elizabeth Percival, of Blackheath, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND796 |
Markings | AA-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 4. C. 1-7. |
Epitaph | HE DIED LIKE OTHERS, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. TILL WE MEET AGAIN, REG. MUM AND DAD |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 225 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 553063 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 75 (NZ) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | A142 Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Piller and Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Former site of RAF Mepal. Home to No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp, Bomber Command, 1943-1945 |
Location | Village Centre, Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A stone memorial, donated by former members of 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF stationed at Mepal between 1943 and 1945 |
Location | St. Andrews Church, Sutton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case with brass plaque |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour. Plaque, Presented by 75(NZ) Sqn Association - UK Branch in memory of Comrades named in the Roll of Honour |
Location | St. Marys Church, Feltwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Piller and Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | A memorial to 75 (NZ) Sqn, RAF. Formed at RAF Feltwell in April 1940 and flew from there until June 1942. The Sqn number was presented to New Zealand becoming 75 Sqn RNZAF in October 1946 until its disbanding in December 2001. |
Location | Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Remembering No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp Bomber Command. RAF Newmarket Heath, November 1942 - June 1943 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/647/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/647/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-04-1944 |
End Date | 28-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Mepal |
Day/Night Raid | Night (29% moon) |
Operation | Friedrichshafen. 323 aircraft, 18 Lancasters Lost (5.6%). A highly dangerous raid deep into German territory in bright moonlight and only four weeks after the disastrous raid on Nuremberg, which was still fresh in everybody's minds. The target was of high importance due to its engine and gearbox plants, mainly used for German tanks. Friedrichshafen was, however, further south and barely within reach of German fighter bases. Several diversionary raids assisted with confusing the German Controllers. This was an outstandingly successful raid with excellent marking leading to an estimated 67% of the town being devastated. The gearbox plant was completely destroyed and, according to a German report, the most damaging blow to tank production of the war. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed close to Langenhardt |