Weatherill, Douglas Alfred
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Douglas Alfred |
Surname | Weatherill |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 24-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Alfred H. and Alice Weatherill, of South Ascot, Berkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND734 |
Markings | TL-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Coxyde Military Cemetery |
Grave Reference | VI. J. 1. |
Epitaph | GOD MUST HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FOR HE ALWAYS PICKS THE BEST |
Ribbon Stone | 0891 (Block 10, Column 18, Row 3) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 261 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 148094 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | Douglas (Punch) Weatherill 35 Sqn Eternal flight with the Angels |
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
His cousin, Bernard Weatherill KStJ PC DL, was the Speaker of the House of Commons between 1983 and 1992, who had himself served during WW2, initially as a private in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry having enlisted a few days after the start of World War II. He was commissioned into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in May 1941 and reached the rank of captain three years after that. He was attached to 19th King George V's Own Lancers, Indian Army, after being posted to Burma. He later became MP for Croydon North East (Conservative). |
Douglas had the nickname 'Punch'. He was of small stature (he was formerly a jockey) and had keen eyesight and so was chosen as a gunner. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-06-1944 |
End Date | 24-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (11% moon) |
Operation | Coubronne- to attack a flying bomb site. Part of a 412 aircraft force to bomb four V-bomb targets. All were hit but 5 Lancasters were Lost (1.2%) |
Reason for Loss | Shot down from 11000' by a night-fighter on the return leg, crashing near Dunkirk, France |