Stedman, Benjamin Howell
Personal Information
Rank | Tech Sgt |
Forename(s) | Benjamin Howell |
Surname | Stedman |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | Purple Heart |
Date of Death | 21-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Hailed from Illinois |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND367 |
Markings | OF-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Margraten US Military Cemetery |
Grave Reference | |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 247 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 10601625 |
Service | United States Army Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Miscellaneous Information
Originally joined RCAF under service number R/137271 . Transferred to USAAF but continued to fly with RCAF whilst awaiting transfer to USAAF and was killed in action. |
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-01-1944 |
End Date | 21-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Bourn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (27% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 769 aircraft, 35 losses (4.6%). Once again the German controller was able to get fighters into the stream early on the approach and they scored steadily throughout the night until the stream left the mainland. The Germans had now learned not to be deceived by minor diversionary raids. Berlin was completely cloud covered and, although sky-marking went to plan and H2S sets showed that the east of the city was hit, Berlin recorded no bombing whatsoever. It is not clear whether this was deliberate concealment of the extent of the damage or whether the raid simply missed the city completely. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have crashed at Zahrensdorf on the River Elbe, SE of Hamburg |