Spring, Joseph Vernon
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Joseph Vernon |
Surname | Spring |
Gender | M |
Age | 18 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frank and Elizabeth Warren Spring, of Manchester. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EH989 |
Markings | WP-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Oxford (Botley) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot I/2. Grave 182. |
Epitaph | AGE SHALL NOT WEARY NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 246 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1477332 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 90 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Westcott Technology Park, Westcott, Buckinghamshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memoriam. These young Airmen lost their lives on 15th March 1944 in a mid-air collision |
Location | Roadside location, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of XC Sqn, No 3 Bomb Group flying operations from here with the Mk 1 Stirling Bomber December 1943 until May 1943 |
Location | St. Mary & All the Saints Church, Little Walsingham, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Henry Philip Lee Warner AFC DFC. Only Son of Philip Henry & Mary King Lee Warner. Actg S/L RAFVR killed in action over Germany Aug 26th 1944 in his 32nd year |
Location | Village Green, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial atopped with Inscribed Silver Sun-Dial |
Memorial Text | For all those who served their country as part of XC Sqn RAF |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember them |
Miscellaneous Information
At 18 he was exceptionally young to have been a pilot. His service number suggests he joined up in October 1941, making him just 15 which seems highly unlikely he would have been accepted for pilot training. His family believe he was actually 21 (ref www.bombercrew.com) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/732/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/732/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-03-1944 |
End Date | 16-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tuddenham |
Day/Night Raid | Night (69% moon) |
Operation | Amiens- to bomb the railway yards. |
Reason for Loss | Collided with a Wellington X (LN660 from 11 OTU) while preparing to land. Crashed at Astwell Park, Northamptonshire |