Washbourne, Gordon
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Gordon |
Surname | Washbourne |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick and Florence Washbourne, of Perth, Western Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | HK548 |
Markings | KO-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 262. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 260 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 427175 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 115 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Lancaster Industrial Estate, Witchford, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Slate Tablets & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In honour of those who served during the Second World War 1939 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
115 Squadron lost six Lancasters and the lives of 36 aircrew on this operation |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/891/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/891/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-06-1944 |
End Date | 08-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Witchford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Achères- to attack railway yards. Part of a 337 bomber strong force to bomb various lines of communications behind the Normandy beachhead. There was less cloud cover than the previous night with all targets being accurately bombed and fewer civilians killed. Because the targets were further inland than recent raids, the German night-fighters had a greater opportunity to infiltrate the bomber stream and as a result, losses were higher. 28 aircraft were Lost (8.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Massy, SE of Versailles |