Whitehead, Alfred
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Alfred |
Surname | Whitehead |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Date of Death | 31-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis William Whitehead and of Martha Alice Whitehead (Nee Hardy), of Sheffield. Husband of Freda Whitehead, of Sheffield. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB706 |
Markings | F2-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 4. J. 16. |
Epitaph | GOD TAKES OUR LOVED ONES FROM OUR HOMES BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 263 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 2206975 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 635 |
Squadron Motto | Nos ducimus ceteri secunter (We lead, others follow) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2155/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2155/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-03-1944 |
End Date | 31-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Downham Market |
Day/Night Raid | Night (45% moon) |
Operation | Nuremberg. 795 aircraft, 95 losses (11.9%)- the highest of any raid. High-cloud was expected to offer protection to the bomber stream but the target would be clear for the bombing run. A Mosquito meteorological flight had predicted that in fact that would not be the case, but the raid went ahead anyway. The German controller ignored the diversionary raids and had his fighters circling close to the route of the main force, using Tame Boar tactics. Consequently, the fighters engaged the bombers before they reached the Belgian border. The clear conditions allowed the fighters to pick off bombers at will with 82 of the 95 bombers being Lost on the outbound leg. Strong winds meant that some of the bombers went off the intended route and as a consequence many bombed Schweinfurt in error, some 50 miles from Nuremberg. The problem as exacerbated by two PFF aircraft dropping markers in Schweinfurt. Overall, the raid was a failure and little damage was caused. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak near Westerburg and crashed at Mademülen, SW of Driedorf, Germany |