Preston, Charles William
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Charles William |
Surname | Preston |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Date of Death | 04-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles and Ellen Preston, of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR734 |
Markings | NP-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 10. D. 1. |
Epitaph | UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 228 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/119661 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Squadron Motto | Strength in unity |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Preston Bay, Manitoba; The eastern fringes of Sattelberger Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Bay |
Memorial Text |
Location | Chaussee de Bruxelles, Loncin Ans, Liege Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Stone memorial & inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text |
HOMMAGE A L’AVIATION MILITAIRE. ICI LE 4.7.1943. SONT MORTS DES MEMBRES DE L’EQUIPAGE DE L’AVIAN H.R.734 DE LA R.A.F. REMEMBER
Translation "A TRIBUTE TO MILITARY AVIATION. HERE ON 4.7.1943. MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE R.A.F. AVIAN H.R.734 REMEMBER DIED" |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/37 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/36 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-07-1943 |
End Date | 04-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Lissett |
Day/Night Raid | Night (2% moon) |
Operation | Cologne- region on the east bank of the Rhine where most of the industry was located. 653 aircraft, 30 losses (4.6%). Accurate ground marking by Oboe equipped Mosquitoes leading to another very significant blow to this Ruhr city. 20 industrial and 2200 homes completely destroyed and 588 people killed. A further 72000 people were bombed out. This was the first time the 'Wild Boar' technique had been used, in which the flak height was limited to allow night-fighters to fly over the main force and pick out aircraft in silhouette against the fires below. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed NE of Tienen, Belgium |