Preston, Francis Albert (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Action 1943-August-23
Birth Date: 1920-October-30
Born: Clifton Hill, Yarra City, Victoria, Australia
Parents: Son of Harold Claude and Hannah Mary Preston, of Henley Beach
Spouse:
Home: Henley Beach, South Australia
Enlistment: Adelaide, South Australia
Enlistment Date: 1941-February-27
Service
RAAF
Unit
100 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Sarang Tebuan Jangan Dijolok Malay
Base
RAF Grimsby
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
407972
Henley Beach, South Australia
PRESTON Francis Albert 407902 I Aviation Heritage Museum
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Lancaster LM333
Mission
Lancaster Mk.I/III LM333
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-August-23 to 1943-August-23
100 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Grimsby
100 Squadron RAF (Sarang tebaun jangan dijolok) RAF Grimsby. Lancaster BIII aircraft LM 333 HW-V was struck by heavy flak from a Marine Flak Battery crossing the Dutch coastline on the way to attack targets in Berlin, Germany. The port outer engine failed and the order to bail was given before the bomber exploded and crashed near De Franschman between Bergen and Bergen aan Zee, Noord-Holland
Pilot Officer FA Preston (RAAF) and Sergeant H Chadwick (RAFVR) were killed in action
Warrant Officer Class 1 JJ Adelstein (RCAF) and Sergeant J Noble (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Sergeant EJ Gargini (RAFVR) and Warrant Officer EA Henry (RAFVR) survived, evaded for a time but were captured and became Prisoners of War
Sergeant R Fidler (RAFVR) survived as an Evader, avoided capture and eventually made his way back to the UK 1944-01-23
Lancaster LM333 Mk.I/III - Bombing Berlin Germany - 1943-08-23 to 1943-08-23
Squadron: 100 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-08-23
Completion Date: 1943-08-23
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Berlin Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Grimsby
Take Off Time: 23:30;00
Squadron Code: HW-V
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Netherlands
Crash Specifics: near De Franschman between Bergen and Bergen aan Zee, Noord-Holland
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery: unspecified
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
100 Squadron RAF (Sarang tebaun jangan dijolok) RAF Grimsby. Lancaster BIII aircraft LM 333 HW-V was struck by heavy flak from a Marine Flak Battery crossing the Dutch coastline on the way to attack targets in Berlin, Germany. The port outer engine failed and the order to bail was given before the bomber exploded and crashed near De Franschman between Bergen and Bergen aan Zee, Noord-Holland
Pilot Officer FA Preston (RAAF) and Sergeant H Chadwick (RAFVR) were killed in action
Warrant Officer Class 1 JJ Adelstein (RCAF) and Sergeant J Noble (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Sergeant EJ Gargini (RAFVR) and Warrant Officer EA Henry (RAFVR) survived, evaded for a time but were captured and became Prisoners of War
Sergeant R Fidler (RAFVR) survived as an Evader, avoided capture and eventually made his way back to the UK 1944-01-23