Twigge, Gerald Andrew
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Gerald Andrew |
Surname | Twigge |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Percival Allen Twigge and Beatrice Alice Twigge (née Thomas), of Ryerson, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD273 |
Markings | ZA-Y |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Denmark |
Burial/Memorial Place | Aabenraaa Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Allied Mil. Plot. Row 4. 18. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 256 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/88703 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 10 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Twigge Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
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
Gerald was born on 9 January 1921 at Ryerson, Saskatchewan. His father was a carpenter born at Ottawa and his mother was born at Brockley, Kent, England. He had a sister Mabel and brothers Fred, Harold , Clayton, Robert. The schools he attended were Maryfield, 1929-1935 (grade 8) and 1935-1939 (grade 12). The sports he enjoyed were hunting, skiing, swimming, softball and football. Gerald worked with the family firm at Maryfield with painting and carpentry and was there until enlisting on 19 June 1941, at Regina. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 28 October 1942 arriving at 3PRC on 6 November 1942. He then went to 9 (0) AFU 1 March 1943, 10 (0) AFU 20 April 1943, 1663 CU 8 August 1943, 102 Sqn 25 September 1943, 1652 CU 23 October 1943, 102 Sqn 105 Squadron on 19 November 1943. Sadly Gerald was to lose his life on 29 January 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-01-1944 |
End Date | 29-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Melbourne |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 677 aircraft, 46 losses (6.8%). The diversionary raids drew off a significant number of fighters but the German controller was able to re-group the over the target and many aircraft were Lost as a result. The cloud was broken and some ground marking was possible and despite claims by Bomber Command that the bombing was concentrated, the local report says otherwise. Nevertheless, around 180000 people were bombed out and an unusually high proportion of public and administrative buildings were hit, including the Chancellery. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Abenra, Denmark |