Stafford, Leonard
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Leonard |
Surname | Stafford |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of George W. and Ada Stafford, of Newark, Nottinghamshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW383 |
Markings | LK-K Bar |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Chièvres Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 40. |
Epitaph | TO THE MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON. "THY WILL BE DONE" |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 246 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 2221029 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 578 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | For all who served in 578 Squadron Royal Air Force Burn 1944 - 1945 |
Location | Methodist Church, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text |
Location | Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH in Glass topped wooden cabinet |
Memorial Text | In memory of all 578 Sqn Aircrew who failed to return from Ops at RAF Burn |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/17 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2050/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-08-1944 |
End Date | 13-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Burn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (30% moon) |
Operation | Russelsheim to bomb the Opel motor factory, with normal PFF marking (unlike the concurrent Braunschweig raid). 297 aircraft, 20 losses (6.7%). Only slight damage was inflicted with may of the bombs falling in open countryside. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Chapelle a Ois, WSW of Ath, Belgium |