Swarbrick, John
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | John |
Surname | Swarbrick |
Gender | M |
Age | 32 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 20-07-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Madge Swarbrick, of Preston, Lancashire, England. Husband of Marion Swarbrick, of Cadley, Preston. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED908 |
Markings | 6O-Z |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave O. 7-10. |
Epitaph | WITH A CHEERY SMILE AND A WAVE OF THE HAND, HE WANDERED INTO AN UNKNOWN LAND (Extract from He Is Not Dead by James Whitcomb Riley) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 250 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 125743 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 582 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to former Airfield Site, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to RAF Little Staughton, including 109 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | In memory of 109 and 582 Sqns. At R.A.F. Little Staughton |
Miscellaneous Information
On attachment from 109 Sqn |
His DFC (effective 19th July 1944) was won whilst with 109 Squadron. Gazetted 25th January 1946. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-07-1944 |
End Date | 20-07-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Little Staughton |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Fôret du Croc- to attack a flying bomb site. Part of a 369 aircraft raid on six V-bomb launch and storage sites. All were successful except Fôret du Croc, which comprised 20 of the bombers due to the Oboe leader, 582 Sqn Lancaster ED908 6O-Z, being shot down on the bombing run. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down on the bombing run, exploding with considerable force |