Finch, Ernest Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ernest Arthur |
Surname | Finch |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Henry Finch, and of Maud Constance Finch, of East Ham, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW192 |
Markings | DY-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Buren General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 1-7. |
Epitaph | GOD'S GREATEST GIFT REMEMBRANCE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 163 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1894312 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
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 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-06-1944 |
End Date | 17-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Sterkrade to bomb a synthetic oil plant, despite a poor local weather forecast The target was indeed covered in thick cloud and the PFF markers were not easily visible. Bombing was scattered as a result and there was little impact on production. The bomber stream passed within 30 miles of the Tame Boar night-fighter beacon that was being used that night, resulting in large bomber losses on the approach. Total losses for the night were 31 aircraft (13.6%) although losses among certain squadrons were higher still- notably 77 Sqn which Lost 7 of its 23 aircraft (30.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot about by a night-fighter and exploded, scattering debris over an area including Bourmalsen and Buren, WNW of Tiel, Holland |