West, Arthur Dennis
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Arthur Dennis |
Surname | West |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Husband of Ruby Irene West. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | LW264 |
Markings | KN-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. C. Row E. Grave 10. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 262 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1803260 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Miscellaneous Information
Fourteen oak trees were formally commemorated on Newlands Farm, onto which both aircraft crashed, in November 1984- each is named after one of the airmen |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/41 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/40 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-11-1943 |
End Date | 23-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Elvington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (22% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 764 aircraft- the largest raid on Berlin so far and the last to include Stirlings which had not fared well in recent raids on the city. Bad weather again kept the night-fighters at bay and as a result 26 aircraft were Lost (3.4%). The target was completely cloud-covered but despite the weather, this was the most successful raid on Berlin of the war. An unseasonably dry spell led to several firestorms and there was an immense area of destruction. At least 3000 houses were destroyed along with 23 industrial premises. 175000 people were bombed out and the list of municipal buildings damaged or destroyed is too long to include. The famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was hit this night- it is a famous landmark in Berlin to this day because it was deliberately only part-restored. Five Siemens factories and the Alkett tank works were destroyed, the latter having been moved to Berlin from the Ruhr after its destruction earlier in the conflict. |
Reason for Loss | Collided with a 102 Sqn Halifax (LW333 DY-K), both aircraft crashing at Barmby Moor, Yorkshire |