Thorburn, Archibald John
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Archibald John |
Surname | Thorburn |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-04-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Thorburn, and of Martha Connie Thorburn, of Jordanhill, Glasgow. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling I |
Serial Number | W7473 |
Markings | HA-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Marham Cemetery |
Grave Reference | War Graves Plot. Grave 16. |
Epitaph | FROM SKY TO EARTH FOR LIBERTY I FELL: I FOUGHT, I WON MY WINGS AGAIN. FAREWELL |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 253 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 960871 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 218 (Gold Coast) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Memorial Hall, Clenchwarton, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In Memory of the crew of Short Stirling W7473 of 218 Sqn. RAF Marham 23rd. April 1942 |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the squadrons based at R.A.F. Downham Market and those who have their lives during the 1939 - 1945 war |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH and Sqn Crest |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and scroll remembering the members of the Royal and Polish Air Forces who served at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/13631 (P368069/42) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1350/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1350/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-04-1942 |
End Date | 24-04-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Marham |
Day/Night Raid | Night (53% moon) |
Operation | Rostock. First of 4 such raids. 143 aircraft sent to bomb the Altstadt with incendiary devices (given their predominantly wooden construction) and a further 18 to bomb the Heinkel factory. Disappointing results despite good visibility- the Heinkel factory was not hit and most of the bomb load intended for the altstadt fell several miles away. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at King's Lynn. Loss of power from port inner engine |