Somerscales, Stanley Alan
Personal Information
Rank | S/L |
Forename(s) | Stanley Alan |
Surname | Somerscales |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 23-04-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John and C. E. Somerscales, of Keelby, Lincolnshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ578 |
Markings | MP-I |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Maastricht General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row 2. Grave 114. |
Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 245 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 136222 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 76 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Behind old Main Guardroom, former Holme On Spalding Moor Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In Remembrance of the aircrew members from the UK,Australia,New Zealand,Canada and Norway,who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in operational sorties against the enemy from 76 Sqn 1941-1945 and to the ground personal who lost their lives by enemy |
Location | All Saints Church, Holme On Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window and Roll of Honour within Wooden Box with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | S G Window In memory of 76 Sqn R.A.F / Roll of honour In memory of those members of 76 Sqn R.A.F who were killed on active service 1939-1954 |
Miscellaneous Information
Won his DFC with 10 Squadron in 1942 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/652/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/652/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-04-1944 |
End Date | 23-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Holme-on-Spalding-Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Düsseldorf. 596 aircraft, 29 losses (4.9%). 2150 tones of bombs were dropped, causing considerable damage, mainly to the northern districts. 56 large industrial premises were hit, of which 7 were destroyed. More than 2000 homes were destroyed, 883 people killed and 593 injured, although these figures were compiled before all the missing had been dug out. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak setting fire to the on-board incendiaries. Abandoned at 19500' and crashed near Gulpen, Maastricht, Holland |