Gilson, Kenneth Edric (Sergeant)
Killed in Action 1944-February-26
Birth Date: 1922
Born:
Parents: Son of Clifford Edric Gilson and Cassandra Jeanette Gilson, of Holcombe, Somerset
Spouse:
Home: Holcombe, Somerset, England
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
50 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Sic Fidem Servamus Thus we keep faith
Base
RAF Skellingthorpe
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
902433
Holcombe, Somerset, England
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Lancaster LL791
Mission
Lancaster Mk.I LL791
Bombing Augsburg Germany 1944-February-25 to 1944-February-26
50 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Skellingthorpe
50 Squadron (Sic Fidem Servamus) RAF Skellingthorpe. Lancaster BI aircraft LL 791 VN-O was attacked by two night fighters during an operation against targets in Augsburg, Germany. A fire started in the bomb bay when incendiaries caught fire, which was also fed by hydraulic fluid and with the bomber uncontrollable, the order to bail was given. The aircraft crashed near Embermenil, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Sergeant KE Gilson (RAFVR) was killed when he bailed from the aircraft, possibly due to a parachute malfunction
Pilot Officer J Acthim (RCAF), Flight Sergeant J Ansell (RAAF, Flight Sergeant DT Balmanno (RAAF), Sergeant TJ Taylor (RAF) and Pilot Officer WH Taylor (RAF) and Sergeant HS Cammish (RAF) survived and evaded with the aid of the French Underground until five of the six were captured 1944-04-21 at Luchon, near the French-Spanish border, part of a group of 30-35 evaders who were captured at this time and became Prisoners of War. Only Sergeant Cammish continued to escape capture as an Evader
Lancaster serial: LL791
Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
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
Lancaster Bomber
WikipediaLancaster LL791 Mk.I - Bombing Augsburg Germany - 1944-02-25 to 1944-02-26
Squadron: 50 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-02-25
Completion Date: 1944-02-26
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Augsburg Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Skellingthorpe
Take Off Time: 18:37
Squadron Code: VN-O
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: France
Crash Specifics: Embermenil, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: unspecified
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group February 25/26, 1944
19 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 44 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 432, and 433 Squadrons, on an attack at Augsburg. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 76,000 lbs of high explosives and 184,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused.
While the above crews went to Augsburg, 50 Halifaxes from 419, 428,429, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to KielBay. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, sowing 78@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
50 Squadron (Sic Fidem Servamus) RAF Skellingthorpe. Lancaster BI aircraft LL 791 VN-O was attacked by two night fighters during an operation against targets in Augsburg, Germany. A fire started in the bomb bay when incendiaries caught fire, which was also fed by hydraulic fluid and with the bomber uncontrollable, the order to bail was given. The aircraft crashed near Embermenil, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Sergeant KE Gilson (RAFVR) was killed when he bailed from the aircraft, possibly due to a parachute malfunction
Pilot Officer J Acthim (RCAF), Flight Sergeant J Ansell (RAAF, Flight Sergeant DT Balmanno (RAAF), Sergeant TJ Taylor (RAF) and Pilot Officer WH Taylor (RAF) and Sergeant HS Cammish (RAF) survived and evaded with the aid of the French Underground until five of the six were captured 1944-04-21 at Luchon, near the French-Spanish border, part of a group of 30-35 evaders who were captured at this time and became Prisoners of War. Only Sergeant Cammish continued to escape capture as an Evader
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
