Widdowson, Alan Charles
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Alan Charles |
Surname | Widdowson |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-02-1945 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ351 |
Markings | NP-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 20. B. 26-27. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 264 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1881231 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1050/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1050/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-02-1945 |
End Date | 22-02-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Lissett |
Day/Night Raid | Night (77% moon) |
Operation | Worms. 349 aircraft, 11 losses. The only large raid on this town of the war. 1116 tons of high explosives were dropped and the town was said to be 39% destroyed. 64% of the buildings were destroyed including the cathedral and many municipal and cultural buildings. 239 people were killed and 35000 bombed out (from a population of just 58000) |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Dirmstein, SW of Worms. F/S Widdowson successfully baled out his parachute caught in one of the engines and he was dragged down with the aircraft. His body was found alongside the crash site. |