Preston, Arthur Charles
Personal Information
Rank | LAC |
Forename(s) | Arthur Charles |
Surname | Preston |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles Francis and Ethel May Preston of West Ealing. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7823 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | South Ealing Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. E.E. Row J. Grave 8. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 228 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1356244 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | PFNTU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Peter's Church, Upwood, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of PFNTU Halifax W7823 which failed to gain height after take off and crashed on 25th January 1944 |
Location | On Grass Verge, Ramsey Rd, Upwood, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | From RAF Upwood, crews from 139 and 156 Sqns, No 8 Pathfinder Group marked targets for Bomber Command |
Location | Tythe Farm, Warboys, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the Pathfinder Force Navigation Training Unit, RAF Warboys 1944 to 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Died of his injuries. Date of crash 25/1/44 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 26-01-1944 |
End Date | 26-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Upwood |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training- target indicator dropping exercise |
Reason for Loss | Failed to gain height after takeoff and within seconds, crashed through trees and crashed just beyond, in a mass of flames. |