Watson, Ian Reay
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Ian Reay |
Surname | Watson |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-06-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Watson, and of Jermie R. Watson, of Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | V9993 |
Markings | GV-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Raalte General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 5. |
Epitaph | HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 260 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/77490 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | |
Squadron | 1652 CU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-06-1942 |
End Date | 26-06-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Marston Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (90% moon) |
Operation | Bremen. 960 Bomber Command aircraft were joined by 102 from Coastal Command. The stiff wind that kept cloud cover away by day dropped, allowing cloud to form over the target and made identification difficult. Attack mainly centred on the Focke-Wulf factory and the A. G. Weser and Deschimag shipyards. Gee equipped markers lit fires which most bombers then bombed, making the results more impressive than the Essen 1000 bomber raid. Very high OTU losses due to old aircraft and inexperience, making total losses 5%. 91 Group lost 11.6% of its aircraft |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Luttenberg, Holland |