Widdowson, Thomas Ingram
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Thomas Ingram |
Surname | Widdowson |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Tom and Ann Gertrude Widdowson, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR948 |
Markings | MH-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 2. E. 19-22. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 264 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 125598 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 51 |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Bench & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In memory of the airmen of R.A.F. 51 Sqn. (687) and 150 Sqn. (205) between 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Village Hall, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque on external wall |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF Snaith Oct 1942 - Apr 1945 |
Location | St. John the Baptist Church, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sqn Crest & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn Roll of Honour |
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Multiple Inscribed Metal Plaques, Propeller Unit |
Memorial Text | In memory of the 687 airmen of 51 Sqn, 4 Gp, Bomber Command who lost their lives flying Halifax bombers Mks 2 and 3 at RAF Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945 |
Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 51 Sqn |
Location | Grounds of Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF. In proud and undying memory of all ranks killed or missing 1939 - 1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/42 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/41 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-12-1943 |
End Date | 21-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Snaith |
Day/Night Raid | Night (39% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 650 aircraft, 41 losses (6.3%). The German controllers were able to accurately plot the route as soon as the main force left the English coast and were therefore able to deploy night-fighters at many points along its route. A diversionary raid on Mannheim failed to draw off many fighters until the main raid was over. The target was mainly cloud covered whereas the forecast had predicted clear conditions. Marking did not, therefore, go to plan. The Germans used both decoy fires and also decoy target indicator. By a twist of good fortune, considerable creepback resulted in the bombing coming back over the city. Many public and municipal buildings were hit including many schools. 23000 people were bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak at 18000' over the target and burst into flames, crashing on the banks of the River Main near Russelsheim, Germany |