Trafford

Born during the September quarter 1922 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/1103,
the son of Edward John & Evelyn Grace Billington (nee Mendes).

Air Bomber.

Flying with 15 Sqn, they took off at 23.55hrs from R.A.F. Mildenhall,
Suffolk, in a Stirling Mk.III, No. BK815 LS-V on a bombing operation to
Krefeld.  They are believed to have been shot down by flack, coming down
near Melsele Oost Vlaanderen, 11 km NE of St-Niklaas, Belgium.     One of
the crew survived to become a P.O.W., whilst 6 of the crew of 8 were buried
in Schoonselhof Cem, Antwerpen on the 24th June.    The other crew member
was originally buried at Fort 3 at Borsbeek, but exhumed in December 1945
and buried together with his fellow crew members.

705 aircraft took part in this raid - 262 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, 117
Stirlings, 105 Wellingtons and 12 Mosquitos.   17 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters
and 9 Stirlings were lost. 12 of the aircraft lost were Pathfinders.  2,306
tons of bombs were dropped.   A large area of fire became established and
burned out of control for several hours.  The whole of the centre of the
city, approximately 47%, was burrnt out.   5,517 houses were destroyed;
1,056 people were killed and 4,550 injured.  72,000 people lost their
homes.

MV Memorial - Joined the Metro-Vicker's Company as an Apprentice in
December 1939. Joined the RAF in July 1941 and commissioned as a Pilot
Officer in July 1942.   Promoted to the rank of Flying Officer in 1943.  
KinA on air operations over enemy territory in June 1943.