Walne, Robert Neville
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Robert Neville |
Surname | Walne |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Capt. H. A. Walne, and Mrs. Walne, of Framlingham, Suffolk. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | DS814 |
Markings | JI-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. D. 19. |
Epitaph | THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD, AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 259 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1287750 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 514 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John the Evangelist, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial and RoH |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 514 Sqn who served at RAF Waterbeach 1943-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 26-11-1943 |
End Date | 27-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Waterbeach |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 443 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes with a 178 aircraft diversionary raid on Stuttgart. Unlike previous raids that included a diversionary element, both forces flew together over France and separated close to Frankfurt. Consequently the German controller assumed that the raid was on Frankfurt alone. As a result, the Berlin force met with few night-fighters but heavy flak fire and the scattered nature of the force by this time led to significant losses- 28 Lancasters (6.2%) and a further 14 crashed on the return leg or on return to base, leading to a total loss rate of some 9.3%. PFF target marking was 6-7 miles from the intended city centre position and as a consequence, the industrial suburb of Reinickendorf bore the brunt with 38 war related factories being destroyed and many more damaged. Berlin Zoo was also badly damaged with the result that many dangerous animals had to be shot in the streets. Approximately 700-800 deaths and total bombed out in recent raids was increased to some 417665. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Germendorf, Germany |