Sergeant G. W. Howes
12 Sqn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1168632
Killed in action, 13 March 1942, France. Aged 21.
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George William Howes was the son of William R. and Phoebe E. Howes of Thetford, Norfolk. As a boy George and his family spent two years in Australia. The family then moved to Lodge Cottage, Kettlewell Hill in Horsell. George first attended Horsell C of E school before spending four years at the County School. After leaving school he worked at Woking Post Office.
After enlisting George trained as a radio operator, and then to retain a comradeship he transferred to front gunner duties. He took part in several operational flights over enemy territory including one to Brest in France when the plane he was in returned on only one engine.
George served with 12 Sqn. based at RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire. He was aboard Wellington Mk. II (Z8578) when it took off on the evening of 13 March 1942 together with 18 other aircraft on a bombing mission to Dunkirk. Z8578 and one other aircraft were lost that night.
The crew of Z8578 that night were:
Flt. Sgt. Leslie M. Scott (RNZAF) - Aged 25 from Auckland. KIA.
Sgt. Richard A. Hudd - KIA.
Pilot Officer Frederick W. Jones - Aged 32 and married. KIA.
Sgt. George W. Howes - Aged 21 from Horsell. KIA.
Sgt. Leslie R. Meager - Aged 21 from London. KIA.
Flt. Sgt. J. A. L. Giroux (RCAF) - Aged 24 and married, from Montreal. KIA.
George Howes has no known grave and is remembered on the Air Force Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey (panel 86) and on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.
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Last updated 25 August 2009
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Woking News and Mail
Woking County School magazine
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