Spiers, Wilfred Roland
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Wilfred Roland |
Surname | Spiers |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-09-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | LW232 |
Markings | EY-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 4. B. 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 246 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1487715 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at this airfield and gave their lives during World War II |
Location | External, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | 78 Sqn 4 Group Bomber Command Yorkshire 1939 - 1945 To All Who Served |
Location | Internal, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board, Memorial Chapel featuring Cross made from Halifax wreckage |
Memorial Text | The 78 Sqn Memorial in the Churchyard was dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on 7th September 1986. RAF Breighton, two miles from this church was the Sqn's home from June 1943 to May 1945 |
Location | Outside "B" Hangar, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of all who have lost their lives serving with 78 Sqn Royal Air Force "Nemo Non Paratus - Nobody Unprepared" |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/78 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/77 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-09-1943 |
End Date | 23-09-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (34% moon) |
Operation | Hanover- the first of four large raids. 711 aircraft, 26 losses (3.7%). Five American B-17s also took part. Visibility was good but strong winds hampered the marking efforts and consequently the bombing by the main force. No local report is available but it is unlikely that significant damage was caused. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have been hit by flak in the target area and crashed out of control. The order to abandon was given but Sgt Spiers was trapped in his turret, as a result of which the pilot stayed at his controls and the flight engineer and mid-upper gunner went to the aid of Spiers. Tragically, all Lost their lives in their attempt to save him |