Memorial Wall at the International Bomber Command Centre. Credit Tim Doyle

LOSSES DATABASE

The IBCC Losses Database records the details of 67,500 Bomber Command deaths, including pre- and post-war, Mediterranean and the Second Tactical Air Force, and provides one of the most comprehensive registers of these losses in the world.

The work to create this document has taken a team of volunteers four years to complete. Led by our Losses Archivist and volunteer, Dave Gilbert, the team has cross referenced data from innumerable sources including national and international Rolls of Honour, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Squadron Association logs, the Chorley Volumes and Prisoner of War records.

The database now contains over 7.2 million individual pieces of information and helps detail the human story behind each loss. Work on the database is a continuing process and the aim is to record every single loss of those who served or supported Bomber Command during World War II.

The database will also grow as a result of the research on Coastal and Far East Commands.

In July 2022, we launched the Memorials Project on the Losses Database, which records memorials, across the UK and beyond, dedicated to those who served in Bomber Command. This includes over 3,000 photographs of monuments across the World.

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SEARCHING THE DATABASE

When searching our database, first select the fields you would like to include using the ADD SEARCH FIELD button. You can choose as many or as few as you wish although, like all search engines, it’s best to put in less information to begin with and only include more fields if you need to narrow down your search.

By default, searches will include all the losses currently listed:

Bomber Command (across its entire existence, 1936 to 1968)
Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
Mediterranean bombing losses (not including coastal and maritime)

Note that only wartime Bomber Command losses are currently included on the Walls of Names at the Centre, although more will be added once fundraising is complete.

If you wish to limit your search to a particular Command, theatre or era, click on Advanced Search Filters and select accordingly, then click the Search button.

If your search doesn’t produce the results you were expecting it could be that your relative served in one of the other Commands or theatres that also flew bombers, for example:

Coastal Command worldwide (due to be added Q1 2026)
Transport Command
Air Command South East Asia

A search for the squadron number on the internet should clarify in which Command your relative served.

SEARCH LOSSES DATABASE

What’s New

Keep up to date with new information we’ve recently added:

Pre-War Losses
Post-War Losses
Gravestone Inscriptions (Epitaphs)
UK Memorials including locations and images
European Memorials are being introduced country by country

Special Thanks

Here we thank the people who have recently gone the extra mile to help expand the database:

The Epitaphs Project Volunteers
Anne Doward
Jagan Pillarisetti of RAF Commands
Wessel Scheer from Nunspeet, Netherlands
Mark Haycock
Paul Markham
Mark Hanson

Appeals for help:

We’re always looking for new information to add. Here are the specific areas we’re looking for help with at the moment. If you can help, please drop us a line at [email protected]

We’re looking for local History Groups and Societies to help us increase the biographical information we hold on each of the losses who hailed from your local area. To find out how you can help click here

IBCC MEMORIALS PROJECT: Credits

The various phases of this project have been achieved with the kind co-operation of many, many volunteers who have contributed their time and effort over many years. All the named individuals below have kindly allowed their images to be reproduced with their permission.

NB: This project is planned to remain live, allowing for new material to be sourced and added. As a result, the various phase credits will be updated accordingly as required.

Tony Hibberd – IBCC Memorials Archivist

PHASE 1: (All known memorials in the UK to Bomber Command front line units & personnel)

PHASE 2: (Canadian natural memorials to Bomber Command personnel)

Gordon Crossley | Norman Malayney (Legion House Museum)

PHASE 3: (All known memorials in the UK to Bomber Command second line units & personnel)

PHASE 4: (All known miscellaneous Bomber Command memorials in the UK)

PHASE 5: (All known overseas Bomber Command memorials – various nations)

AUSTRIA

David Cole | Kevin Ruane | Stefan Zwingli

BELGIUM

CZECH REPUBLIC

Sharon Christensen

DENMARK

FRANCE

LUXEMBOURG

Pam Leblanc | Dean Towlson | Steven Volckaerts

NORWAY

THE NETHERLANDS

POLAND

Martin Blythe | Klaus Steffensen | Steven Volckaerts

SWEDEN

Lars Alkvist | Rosandra Nilsson | Roland Pedersen | Bengt Persson | Greater Copenhagen Nordostra Skane

SWITZERLAND

Michael Cotton Clark | Stefan Zwingli

** Additional other nations to be added over the coming months **

SEARCHING THE DATABASE

What’s New

Special Thanks

Appeals for help:

Next: Digital Archive

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