126821, Flying Officer (Navigator), Frederic William BILSON
Aged 32
"Ducimus" - We lead).
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Frederic William BILSON was born on 22nd July 1912 in Christchurch, Hampshire (Christchurch Q3-1912 2B:1243), son of Frederick E and Helen L.BILSON
(née PAGE). His mother died in 1937 in Bournemouth. He was a member of the 3rd Bury St.Edmunds Scout Group (Culford School).
Frederic married Audrey BARNES in Bournemouth in 1937.
In the 1939 register, a pharmacist, he was with his wife Audrey [21-6-1914] at 1 Lansdowne Crescent, Bournemouth (there is one closed record). His widower father and sister were at 33 Lonsdale Road, Bournemouth. Father [23-8-1859] was a pharmacist MPS, sister Marjorie [9-9-1915] later Mrs BOOTH His will places him at 1 Lansdowne Crescent, Bournemouth, widow Audrey. The Culfordian relates that he was at the East Anglian School from September 1924 until 1929. His father became President of thePharmaceutical Society and Fred, after qualifying as a pharmacist, entered his father's business in Bournemouth. Not exactly shining at games, he was however an excellent swimmer and a keen Scout. His widow Audrey served with a bomber squadron in the R.A.F. |
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405 Squadron was a member of No.8 Pathfinder group from March 1943, operating from RAF Gransden Lodge from April 1943, and on Avro
Lancasters from August 1943.
On 8th October 1943, Avro Lancaster III, ser.no.JA980, call sign LQ-Z, took off from RAF Gransden Lodge at 23:15 for a raid on Hanover (the "fire storm" night). Homeward, the aircraft was attacked by a night fighter ar 02:20 and crashed 50 kilometres west of Hanover on the east bank of the River Weser, near Engem. Two of the crew managed to bale out and were captured, but 5 men died. Their bodies were recovered from the wreckage and buried in the churchyard at Steinbergen-Rinteln. The crew were:- Pilot - Sq.Ldr Murray Staney Fuller (Buck) SCHNEIDER [22] R.C.A.F ...kia Navigator - F.O Frederic William BILSON [32] R.A.F.V.R....kia Flt Engineer - Sgt J J (Jock) CONNOLLY R.A.F.....baled out PoW Air Bmdr - F/O Joseph Greig TAYLOR [23] R.N.Z.A.F...kia W/Op/Air Gnr - Flt/Lt Cecil Ambrose (Flatspin) FARNUM R.C.A.F....baled out. PoW Air Gnr - W.O. John Alfred Nelson HUCKER [28] R.C.A.F. kia Air Gnr - Fl/Lt Richard Trent BOTKIN MID [30] R.C.A.F. kia Frederick was a regular member of this crew, only missing one sortie. Reputed to be an exceptionally good navigator, he was lost on his 26th mission. All five killed were originally buried in Steinbergen Village Cemetery but moved to Hanover War Cemetery on 12th August 1947. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details