Warren, Earle Freeman Died

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Personal Information

Rank F/O
Forename(s) Earle Freeman
Surname Warren
Gender M
Decorations DFM
Date of Death 07-05-1944
WARREN EF

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Avro Lancaster III
Serial Number ND449
Markings GT-M

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country France
Burial/Memorial Place Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
Grave Reference XXIV. H. 1.

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 260
WARREN EF

Location

Row -
Panel 260
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 2
Panel Number 260

Enlistment Information

Service Number J/17093
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Group 8
Squadron 156
Squadron Motto We light the way
Trade Air Gunner
Country of Origin Canada

Other Memorials

Location Warren Lake, Saskatchewan
Country Canada
Memorial Type Lake
Memorial Text
Location On Grass Verge, Ramsey Rd, Upwood, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text From RAF Upwood, crews from 139 and 156 Sqns, No 8 Pathfinder Group marked targets for Bomber Command
Location St. Mary Magdalene Church, Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Slate Tablet
Memorial Text We light the way" This tablet is placed in memory of Flight Lieutenant JL Sloper DFC and Bar, RAFVR. And in tribute to all who served with 156 Squadron Path Finders Force at RAF Warboys, 1942-1945, In gratitude.
Location Tithe Farm, Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Brick Pillars and inscribed Metal Plaques
Memorial Text From this RAF Station Warboys 156 squadrons No 8 (PFF) group, marked targets for Bomber Command 1942-1944

Miscellaneous Information

The four surviving crew members all successfully evaded capture
DFM Citation, London Gazette, 12 January 1943: "Distinguished Flying Medal Can/R 83335 Flight Sergeant William Desbro MACMONAGLE, Royal Canadian Air Force, No 15 Squadron, Can/R 114511 Flight Sergeant Earle Freeman WARREN, Royal Canadian Air Force, No 15 Squadron. In December, 1942, Flight Sergeants MacMonagle and Warren were captain and mid-upper gunner respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack a target in Germany When approaching the target, their aircraft was intercepted and severely damaged by fire from two Messerschmitt 110's. Flight Sergeant Warren although seriously wounded shot one of the fighters down in flames. By skilful evasive tactics the remaining attacker was eluded and the target successfully bombed. On the return flight another Messerschmitt no attacked and further damage was inflicted on the bomber. The attack was again beaten off and Flight Sergeant MacMonagle flew the disabled aircraft safely back to base. Throughout this hazardous operation these airmen displayed great coolness and courage".

The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1042/10
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1042/10

Fellow Servicemen

Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.

Name Outcome
Churchill H D (F/L) Died
Foster J D (F/O) Died

Last Operation Information

Start Date 06-05-1944
End Date 07-05-1944
Takeoff Station Upwood
Day/Night Raid Night (98% moon)
Operation Mantes la Jolie- to bomb railway installations. 149 aircraft claimed an accurate attack, although local reports state that portions of the town were hit with the church, the town hall and a school all being destroyed. 54 civilians were killed
Reason for Aircraft Loss Crashed at le Fidelaire, France
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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.