Name
Edward Wilkins
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
26/02/1943
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
1250736
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
9 Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Panel 169.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Biography
His Service Number was 1250736 and he served with 9 Squadron flying Lancaster bombers from Waddington south of Lincoln. On the night of his death, he took off in a Lancaster III ED 520 WS-T for a raid on Nuremberg. All seven of the crew were lost without trace. He was probably an Air Gunner. Weather conditions during the raid were poor and the Pathfinders were late with their marking. 337 aircraft took part and 9 aircraft were lost. 300 buildings were damaged.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 169 of the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing at Egham in Surrey.
He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Henry Wilkins and husband of Dora Rose Wilkins of Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, ‘RAF Squadrons’ by C.G. Jefford, ‘Bomber Command Losses’ by W.R. Chorley, ‘Bomber Command Diaries’ by M. Middlebrook & C. Everitt
