Watts, Ronald Everest
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ronald Everest |
Surname | Watts |
Gender | M |
Age | 33 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John and Florence May Watts, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Husband of Kathleen Mary Watts. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB280 |
Markings | LQ-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Schoonebeek (Oud Schoonebeek) General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 3. Row 1. Grave 736. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 261 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1818766 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1789/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1789/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-01-1944 |
End Date | 02-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Gransden Lodge |
Day/Night Raid | Night (41% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 421 Lancasters, 28 losses (6.7%). German fighters were directed to the main bomber stream early in the approach and the German controller was not deceived by the Mosquito diversion on Hamburg. However, the night-fighters were not particularly effective over the target and the flak was also restricted in height due to their presence. Berlin was cloud covered once again and the sky-marking was not especially accurate. Bombing was scattered but mainly in the southern suburbs. Only 21 houses and one industrial building were destroyed and 79 people killed. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on outbound leg and crashed at Nieuw Schoonebeek, Holland |