Personnel Index - Detail

Name
SHACKLETON
First Names
William Clifford
Rank
P/O
Service
RAF
Service Number
101560
Crew Position
Pilot
Age
21
Date of Death
02/06/1942
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Bruno Gielis



Pilot Officer William Clifford Shackleton - image courtesy of Paula Wood

1/2 June, 1942; ESSEN:

On Monday 1 June, Bomber Command carried out a 2nd planned 1,000 bomber raid, this time to Essen. The actual force dispatched, amounted to 956 aircraft, the majority being Wellingtons. It was some Wellington crews from 3 Group that provided 'raid leaders', who were tasked to drop flares in the target area. By the beginning of June, 49 Squadron could boast 15 Manchesters on unit strength, of which 8 were detailed for the Essen raid. A ninth aircraft, a Lancaster from 49's Conversion Flight was also put on the Battle Order. The bombing of Essen proved to be very scattered, mainly due to the ground haze and layers of low cloud.
An SOS distress signal was received from P/O Bill Shackleton (R5794) and crew at 02.19hrs saying that the starboard engine was unserviceable and a fix given... sadly nothing further was received. The Manchester came to earth near Arendonk in Belgium, killing 5 members of the crew. Although specific information is currently not available, it is confirmed that Sgt's Shannon and Nolan survived to become POWs.


Manchester R5794
P/O W.C. Shackleton Pilot (Killed)
F/S R.H.H. Garratt 2nd Pilot (Killed)
Sgt G.J.A. Miles A/G (Killed)
Sgt E.A. Patey A/G (Killed)
Sgt F.W.M. Wilson A/OB (Killed)
Sgt R.C. Shannon W/AG (P.o.W.)
Sgt C.D. Nolan W/AG (P.o.W.)
 

This loss is currently being researched by Gil Geerings. 
Gil has supplied a crash location and some additional details....opens in a new window