Halifax Bomber Memorial
Balkholme
Yorkshire, England
Halifax Bomber Memorial, Balkholme
Inscription -
578 Squadron Royal Air Force
On the night of 20/21 July 1944
twenty-six Halifax bombers of No 578 Squadron Royal Air Force
took off from Burn to attack the German synthetic oil refinery
at Bottrop in the Rhine valley of Germany.
Six aircraft were lost during the raid
two of which, on their return, collided in mid air
and fell to earth near this place. These were no survivors.
The crew members were:
Pilot Officer William Davidson Pilot : age 20
Sergeant Eric Stanley Clark Navigator : age 21
Sergeant Leslie Matthewman Bomb Aimer : age 21
Sergeant Harold James Watkins Wireless Operator : age 23
Sergeant Edward Roxby Flight Engineer : age 22
Sergeant Thomas Scott Barnett Mid-Upper Gunner
Warrant Officer Albert Leonard Page Rear Gunner : age 23
Flight Lieutenant Maurice Charles Day Pilot : age 20
Flight Sergeant Ambrose Christopher Pugh Navigator : age 33
Sergeant Lewis Randall Barber Bomb Aimer : age 21
Sergeant Jack Stanley Francis Morrish Wireless Operator : age 21
Sergeant John Smith Flight Engineer : age 30
Sergeant Kenneth Nicholson Mid-Upper Gunner : age 32
Sergeant Derrick Arthur Roland Parham Rear Gunner : age 19
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE AND RISE IN GLORY
This was the most disastrous single operation mounted by the Squadron
resulting in the loss of six aircraft, the death of thirty six precious airmen
with four others being taken as prisoners of war.
A further two airmen managed to evade capture by the enemy.
On seperate plaque -
578 Squadron Royal Air Force
Accuracy
January 1944 - Burn - March 1945
The 578 Squadron Burn Association
Wishes to place on record, appreciation, respect and thanks
to the people of this area of Yorkshire
for their splendid cooperation in providing this site
and contributing the practical and financial assistance
to enable this memorial to be completed in so short a time
6 May 2006.
The GPR holds 14 person records for the war memorial.
The status of the photographing of the war memorial is believed to be complete.
There have been 2796 requests for photographs for the war memorial.
The latest details for the war memorial were added on 28 April 2017