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Crabtree, Edward Jeptha (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1943-September-22

Male Head

Birth Date: 1922 (age 21)

Abraham Booth and Mabel Eunice Crabtree

Home: Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia

Service
RAAF
Unit
9 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Per Noctem Volamus (Through out the night we fly)
Base
RAF Bardney
Rank
Pilot Officer
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
Pilot
Service Numbers
409385

Took off from Bardney at 18:56 in Lancaster Mk I (Sqn code WS-N Bomber Command0 on an operation to Hanover Germany.

The aircraft was coned by searchlights and hit by flak and crashed at Bad Münder am Deister, Niedersachsen Germany sixteen miles south-west of Hanover.

Killed includes Crabtree: Sgt Dennis Everest RCAF R/173859 KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 4. E. 7. WO2 Nelson Albert Noble RCAF R/119448 KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 4. E. 5. Sgt Vincent Hirst-Gee RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 4. E. 16. Sgt James Breeds Hood RAF KIA Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Sunderland Ward 26. Sec. R.C. Grave 796. Sgt Victor James Lander RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 4. E. 4. Sgt Malcolm John MacRitchie RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 4. E. 9. Sgt George Alastair Sales RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 4. E. 17.

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew on Lancaster Mk.I R5700

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

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)
last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I R5700

Delivered to No. 106 Sqn (ZN-G),Jun/Jul 1942. Stored at No. 5 MU Jan 1943 to Jun 1943. Then with No. 9 Sqn (WS-N). Missing on operation to Hanover 22/23 Sep 1943. 397 operational hours.


9 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF) Per Noctem Volamus

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