Briggs, Herbert Henry
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Herbert Henry |
Surname | Briggs |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Herbert Fletcher Briggs and Elizebeth Ann Briggs, of Gateshead, Co. Durham. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VI |
Serial Number | RG502 |
Markings | DY-Q Q-Queenie |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Czech Republic |
Burial/Memorial Place | Prague War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave II. B. 11-12. |
Epitaph | ABIDING PEACE TO THOSE WHO HAVE BORNE THE BURDEN, FAITH TO THOSE WHO CARRY ON |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 135 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1672935 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 1924 In Gateshead. He had two siblings: a brother Frederick Briggs and a sister Aileen Briggs, married Shadforth. |
This was the first Mk VI Halifax to be lost on operations. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/811/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/811/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 05-03-1945 |
End Date | 06-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (62% moon) |
Operation | Chemnitz- continuation of Operation Thunderclap. 760 aircraft. Severe icing conditions over home bases cost 9 aircraft, especially from 426 Sqn. A further 22 aircraft were lost on the operation. The centre and south of the city were badly damaged by fire. Several important factories were destroyed, including the Siegmar tank engine plant. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Volyne, SSW of Strakonice, Czechoslovakia |