Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) A. Burgess
77 Sqn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1270390
Killed in action, 31 August 1943, Germany. Aged 31.
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Arthur Burgess was the son of John and May Burgess of West End, Woking.
He served with 77 Squadron RAF which was equipped with Halifax bombers and was based at RAF Elvington near York in August 1943. Apart from bombing missions over Germany the squadron was active in ‘Gardening’ missions laying mines in the North Sea.
On 31 August 1943 a raid by 622 bombers was launched on Berlin. Halifax JB851 took to the air at 2040 from Elvington. Arthur Burgess was on board manning both the radio and guns. The plane was flown by Pilot Officer Harold Gawler (aged 20 from Taunton), the remainder of the crew were Sgt. Douglas Reid (aged 22 from Alwoodley in Yorkshire), Sgt. Arthur Cotterill (aged 26 from Willenhall, Staffs who was married), Flt. Sgt. William Homersham (aged 22 from London), Flt. Sgt. Stanley Langston (aged 21 from Belvedere, Kent), Sgt. Peter Kitchen (aged 20 from London) and Sgt. T. Todd.
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| Halifax B2 |
It was a bad night for the RAF. The Pathfinder flares were dropped many miles short of their target and enemy fighters were active over a cloudy Berlin and accounted for 47 aircraft. Three Halifax bombers of 77 Squadron failed to return.
Halifax JB851 was lost over Berlin that night in unknown circumstances. Seven of the crew were killed and now lie together in Berlin 1939-1945 cemetery. Sgt. Todd bailed out and was captured. He was interned in Stalag 4B, a PoW camp north of Dresden.
Arthur Burgess is buried in Berlin 1939-1945 Cemetery, Germany (coll. grave 6.L.23-28). He is also remembered on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.
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Last updated 4 July 2010
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Woking News and Mail
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