Operation: Bucharest, Romania

Date: 27/28th July 1944 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 150 Squadron

Type: Wellington X

Serial: LP196

Code: JN-E

Base: Regina, Italy.

Location: Crucea de Piatra, Romania

Pilot: Sgt. Bert Frederick William Wilkinson 1604691 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Nav: Sgt. Edgar Leslie Price 549379 RAF Age ? Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Robert Turner 1684418 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. George Kirkby 1520933 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Gordon Joseph Crawley 1804685 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

90 Aircraft took part in this operation but only 50 Wellington managed to attack the primary target - the Prahova Oil Refinery. Bombing was scattered due to the cloud base and very few results were observed. Heavy and light flak were encountered with one aircraft being hit but managed to return.

It is thought that this Wellington LP196 was attacked by a night fighter although no claims can be attributed to this loss. The damage reported from Bucharest was that between 70 and 80 aircraft attacked in two waves, with damage to buildings in the city centre - The National Bank, the Banca Românească and Băneasa airport as well as others.

Bucharest War Cemetery - Aircrew Remembered do have photographs of the individual crew graves and free to interested parties - however, they were taken in the depths of winter and are snow covered.

Burial details:

Sgt. Bert Frederick William Wilkinson. Bucharest War Cemetery Grave 1.B.4. No further details as yet - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Edgar Leslie Price. Bucharest War Cemetery Grave 1.B.5. No further details as yet - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Robert Turner. Bucharest War Cemetery Joint Grave 1.B.6. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Ann Turner, of Preston, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. George Kirkby. Bucharest War Cemetery Joint Grave 1.B.6. Son of George Henry and Sarah Ellen Kirkby, of Hull, England.

Sgt. Gordon Joseph Crawley. Bucharest War Cemetery Grave 1.A.3. Son of Sidney Edgar Crawley, and of Matilda Clara Crawley, of Cricklewood, Middlesex, England.

With thanks to the following: Ovidiu and Sandra Saru from Bucharest, Romania, Patrick Macdonald - "Through Darkness To Light”. Also to Barry Price who drove past the cemetery and wanted to find out further information on Sgt. Edgar Leslie Price as he felt he could be related. We would appreciate any further information from the family of the navigator.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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