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20th December 1943On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Armour. W. . P/O (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Cohen Herbert Cyril. Sgt. (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Coupe L. . F/Sgt (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Heaton. William . P/O (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Hills Gordon Leonard. F/O. (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Kitchener Harry Richard. Sgt. (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Moore John Francis. Flight Sargeant (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Page S. . Sgt (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Roberts Eric James. Sgt. (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Sandes C. . F/O (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Stillman Jack Thomas. Flt.Sgt. (d.20th Dec 1943)
- Wright. Allan . P/O (d.20th Dec 1943)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about the 20th of December 1943? There are:14 items tagged 20th of December 1943 available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Stories from 20th December 1943
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Flight Sargeant John Francis Moore. Royal Air Force, 166 squadron. (d.20th Dec 1943) Just wanted to add a brief story about my uncle John Francis Moore. He joined the air force in Australia in 1941 and later went to England with the RAF.
He was with the 166 squadron and was a wireless operator/gunner on a Lancaster. His crew were part of the massive strike on Frankfurt on 20/12/43. His plane was hit, probably on the flight back by ground fire. The plane crashed in Holland, not far from the coast, on their way back to base, all were killed. He was 20 years old. His mother got the telegram 2 days before Xmas saying he was missing in action. It took 6 months for confirmation that he had died that day.
My mother never spoke much about her brother who was only 6 years older than she was, I think it was too painful to think of the waste of all those young lives.
The seven man crew are buried together in Middelharnis, in Holland. One sister went there many years ago to visit the gravesite. I recently was able to view his service file and it has the description of a witness who heard the plane circling which obviously didn't sound right. I guess the pilot knew he wouldn't make it across the channel and tried to land. They crashed near a farmhouse and from what I understand the locals buried them with great care and respect. I wish that I had tried to find out years ago more about him and his life in UK for that short time he was there. We have a picture of his crew all young men laughing and smiling. Its hard to imagine what it was like for them at that time. Kathleen Roper
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Sgt. Eric James Roberts. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 514 Squadron. (d.20th Dec 1943) Eric James Roberts was the father of Eric James Roberts, the son he never met. His wife Adelaide was pregnant when he was shot down over Frankfurt-on-Main by Hauptman Wilhelm Herget on 20/21 December 1943. They were on flight DS817 which took off from Waterbeach on the 20th December, 1943. The crash site was near a small town called Rettert where the six crew were originally buried. They are now at Rheinberg Cemetery. My husband died over 2 and a half years ago but he did get to visit Rheinberg with me and our two children. The pilot, Flight Sergeant G. J Davies survived the crash and became a POW, he escaped three times and was re-captured three times.Barbara Anne Roberts
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Sgt. Harry Richard Kitchener. Royal Air Force, 102 Squadron. (d.20th Dec 1943) Harry Kitchener was my brother, I was born the day my mother received a telegram to say he was missing, someone in the family has possible found out where he was laid to rest, which is in Rheinberg War Cemetery, but when they came back the name found was Henry Richard Kitchener, I don't know him by this name. I was told by my Mum and Dad his name was Harry. I would like to know if this is the same person, because I told my parents I would like to visit the grave before it's too late.
Editor's Note: CWGC records always list people by their full names, Harry is a familiar name for someone named Henry, and Henry Richard Kitchener is the only RAF man named Kitchener listed as killed in 1943, so it is very likely this is your brother. We would advise checking his birth certificate or the birth records to confirm his full name. If you have the telegram, it should give you his service number which would also confirm it.
Norman Williams
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Flt.Sgt. Jack Thomas Stillman. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 76 Squadron. (d.20th Dec 1943) Jack Stillman was the pilot of Halifax bomber. We believe he died whilst bombing Franfurt on 20th December 1943. He is buried in Hanover War Cemetary in Germany. Lesley O'Hanlon
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F/O. Gordon Leonard Hills. DFM. Royal Air Force , 77 Squadron. (d.20th Dec 1943) Gordon Hills was my Dad who had finished his tour and was due to come home for Christmas. However his best friend, and my godfather, Sqdn Leader Frank Bickerdyke, was asked to do a bombing mission to Frankfurt.
His crew wouldn't let him go without them so they all volunteered! Five died, including my father and my godfather and two survived. It was a nightmare of a raid I understand as the Germans were waiting for them and casualties were high.Maureen Willoughby
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Sgt. Herbert Cyril Cohen. Royal Air Force, No. 76 Squadron. (d.20th Dec 1943) Herbert Cohen was flying in a Halifax MkV on a bombing mission when he was killed.David Cohen
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