The Long Road, Trials and Tribulations of Allied Airmen Prisoners from Stalag Luft VII (Bankau) to Berlin June 1944-May 1945 by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Raymond Crompton, pages 27
Reavill, Ralph (Squadron Leader)
Killed in Action 1944-May-25
Birth Date: 1917
Born: Nottinghamshire, England
Parents: Son of John and Florence Margaret Reavill, of Nottingham
Spouse:
Home: Nottingham, England
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
158 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Strength In Unity
Base
RAF Lissett
Rank
Squadron Leader
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
122816
Home
Nottingham, England
Target
Aachen Germany
Temporary Burial
Villa Neuhaus Cemetery near Aachen, Germany
Remains were later exhumed from this location and reburied
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Halifax LV918
Mission
Halifax B.Mk.III LV918
Bombing Aachen Germany 1944-May-24 to 1944-May-25
158 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Lissett
158 Squadron RAF (Strength in unity) RAF Lissett. Halifax BIII aircraft LV 918 NP-O was coned by searchlights (Flakscheinw Regiment 113) and hit by heavy flak (3-6/schw Flak Abt 514, 2/schw Abt 525 (Eisb) and Schw Flak Battery z b v 5780). The Halifax exploded over the targets and crashed in Aachen, Germany
Four crew members were killed in action and three survived to become Prisoners of War
Flight Lieutenant R Reavill (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant C C Fox DFM (RAFVR), Flying Officer W J Rogers RAF and Flight Sergeant R E Hardwick (RAFVR) were killed in action
Flying Officer D A Stewart (RCAF), Flying Officer J E Hounam DFM (RAFVR) and Sergeant F A Spriggs (RAFVR) survived to become Prisoners of War
Four other 158 Squadron Halifax II aircraft and crews were lost on this operation: LW 118 NP-X, HX 320 NP-A, LW 653 NP-T and LW 720 NP-W
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
24/25 05 1944 158 Squadron Halifax III LV918 NP:O Flt Lt Ralph Reavill
Halifax LV918 B.Mk.III - Bombing Aachen Germany - 1944-05-24 to 1944-05-25
Squadron: 158 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-05-24
Completion Date: 1944-05-25
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Aachen Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Lissett
Take Off Time: 22:55:00
Squadron Code: NP-O
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: Aachen
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery: 3-6/schw Flak Abt 514, 2/schw Abt 525 (Eisb) and Schw Flak Battery z b v 5780
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group May 24/25, 1944
30 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the 2 rail yards at Aachen. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 810,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, one rail yard was severely damaged with some damage to the others.
While some of the group attacked Aachen, 45 Halifaxes from 426, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the Coastal Gun Batteries at Trouville. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 7,500 feet, releasing 421,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was successful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
158 Squadron RAF (Strength in unity) RAF Lissett. Halifax BIII aircraft LV 918 NP-O was coned by searchlights (Flakscheinw Regiment 113) and hit by heavy flak (3-6/schw Flak Abt 514, 2/schw Abt 525 (Eisb) and Schw Flak Battery z b v 5780). The Halifax exploded over the targets and crashed in Aachen, Germany
Four crew members were killed in action and three survived to become Prisoners of War
Flight Lieutenant R Reavill (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant C C Fox DFM (RAFVR), Flying Officer W J Rogers RAF and Flight Sergeant R E Hardwick (RAFVR) were killed in action
Flying Officer D A Stewart (RCAF), Flying Officer J E Hounam DFM (RAFVR) and Sergeant F A Spriggs (RAFVR) survived to become Prisoners of War
Four other 158 Squadron Halifax II aircraft and crews were lost on this operation: LW 118 NP-X, HX 320 NP-A, LW 653 NP-T and LW 720 NP-W
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
24/25 05 1944 158 Squadron Halifax III LV918 NP:O Flt Lt Ralph Reavill