Thornley, John
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John |
Surname | Thornley |
Gender | M |
Age | 32 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-01-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas and Florence Thornley, of Hazel Grove, Cheshire. Husband of Ann Thornley, of Hazel Grove. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NA237 |
Markings | ZA-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. C. 12. |
Epitaph | HE GAVE THE GREATEST GIFT, HIS UNFINISHED LIFE, FOR ALL HE LOVED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 254 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 2225156 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 10 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Melbourne, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial Stone & Plaque |
Memorial Text | No 10 Squadron, 4 Group Bomber Command, WWII 1939-1945. This memorial was erected at the entrance to the former RAF Station Melbourne by ex Members and Friends of the Squadron to honour the memory of all personnel who died in the service of their Country |
Location | Melbourne Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Runway Light in Concrete Base |
Memorial Text | Let this landing light be a memorial to all those 1,000 aircrew and 120 aircraft that left this very point never to return so that we may return again and again in freedom to enjoy York Motor Sport Park |
Miscellaneous Information
The four surviving crew all became PoW |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-01-1945 |
End Date | 17-01-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Melbourne |
Day/Night Raid | Night (10% moon) |
Operation | Magdeburg. 371 aircraft, 17 losses (4.6%). Bomber Command claimed a successful area raid with 44% of the built-up area of the town being destroyed. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Hörsum, SSW of Hildesheim, Germany |