Pexton, Harold Cass
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | Harold Cass |
Surname | Pexton |
Gender | M |
Age | 31 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 30-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Reginald and Marion Pexton, of Driffield, Yorkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR851 |
Markings | TL-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 120. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 225 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 81650 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary's Church, Watton, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | The East window is to the memory of Flt Lt Harold Cass Ben Pexton D.F.C of Watton Abbey and 4 members of his crew Pathfinders 35th SquadronBomber Command, Sqd Ldr C.F.Andrews D.F.C, Sgt C D Hughes, Sgt W D R Walters, Sgt E F J Willis who failed to return |
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Known as Ben. Born in Whixley, York and attended Bridlington School. |
At his Christening, Pexton had been given a gift of a silver spoon and fork engraved with his initials. Because he had died unmarried, his parents decided to give it as a Christening gift to Sgt. Weldon's daughter, Suzette, in 1946. This has now been passed on to a second Suzette- Sgt. Weldon's granddaughter. Sgt. Weldon was the surviving wireless operator. (reproduced from the Battle of Hamburg by Martin Middlebrook, Pg 289). |
Pexton’s brother (Wg Cdr Richard Dunning Pexton) commanded 61 Sqn and survived the war, earning a DFC and AFC. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-07-1943 |
End Date | 30-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (4% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 787 aircraft, 17 losses (2.2%). For the second consecutive raid, Brig. Gen. Anderson, the commander of the American 8th Air Force, flew as an observer on this operation. PFF used H2S to mark the target but were approximately 3km east of the centre of the city but was at least concentrated, leading to concentrated bombing with little creepback. This raid caused a firestorm resulting from very high summer temperatures and low humidity following a particularly dry spell. Most of the fire crews were in the west of the city following the raid of three nights earlier and few could make the journey to the new fires due to rubble blocking roads. The fires quickly joined into one mass of fire, drawing so much oxygen into the area that it caused storm-force winds. The fire raged for over three hours after the raid and only subsided when all combustible material was consumed. Approximately 40000 civilian deaths mostly from asphyxiation resulting from lack of oxygen. The raid led to an exodus of over 1.2 million people fearing another raid. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by both flak and a night-fighter flown by Fw. Wilhelm Kurreck, of 8./NJG3, and crashed at Podendorf, near Moisburg. |