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Collins, Gordon Robert (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1944-March-31

Male Head

Birth Date: 1924 (age 20)

George Henry & Ethel Jemina Collins

Home: Stratford-on-Avon, England (parents)

Service
RAFVR
Unit
622 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Bellamus Noctu We wage war by night
Base
RAF Mildenhall
Rank
Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Air Gunner (Mid-Upper)
Service Numbers
1869001

Took off from Mildenhall at 22:30 in Lancaster Mk III (Sqn code GI-D Bomber Command)on an operation to Nuremberg Germany.

Lancaster ND-767 was involved in a mid-air collision with 427Sqn Halifax LV-923 ZL-W returning from operations over Nuremberg, Germany.

Killed on ND-767, includes Collins: Pilot Officer John Percival Merritt RCAF J/85569 KIA Hotton War Cemetery grave VIII. E. 8. Sergeant Raymond John Asplen RAF KIA Hotton War Cemetery Belgium grave VIII. E. 3. Sergeant John Coup RAF KIA Hotton War Cemetery grave VIII. E. 4. Sergeant Henry Fredrick Page RAF KIA Hotton War Cemetery grave VIII. E. 9. Pilot Officer Eric Pickin RAF pilot KIA Hotton War Cemetery grave VIII. E. 5. Flight Sergeant Cleveland Julian Schmidt RAAF KIA Hotton War Cemetery grave VIII. E. 6.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Commonwealth War Graves Commission International Bomber Command Centre

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Sergeant Gordon Robert Collins was exhumed and reburied.

Home
Google MapStratford-on-Avon, England (parents)
Target
Google MapNuremberg Germany
First Burial
Google MapCemetery at Rosee/Jusaine, Namur, Belgium
Re-Burial
Google MapWar Cemetery
grave VIII E 7

Lancaster ND767

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.III ND767

GIRAF RoundelD
Delivered to No. 622 Sqn (GI-D) Mar 1944. Missing on operation to Nuremberg 30/31 Mar 1944. The aircraft collided with a Halifax LV923 of No. 427 Sqn. They were part of the losses of 108 aircraft on this raid, and were 89th down. The crew were on their 5th operation (Middlebrook).

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