257127 Sgt George Edward Gadd Royal Air Force 101 Squadron from:Dunstable (d.3rd April 1943) George Gadd was mid upper gunner on Lancaster Bomber W I4923 from RAF Ludford Magna. He was killed by flak 3rd of April 1943 in a raid over Essen in Germany. The rear gunner and one other crew member were also killed. The pilot managed to get the plane back to England, RAF Holme on Spalding in the Moor, although it was severely damaged. They returned safely at 0335 albeit badly damaged by Flak.
The story was told in several newspapers at the time although unfortunately we have lost the copies.
George told my father on a previous leave that he knew that their chances of survival were very small and that it was almost taboo in the mess to ask after a missing face.
The tragedy was that our parents went up to Yorkshire, arriving by bus. They thought George was at the bus stop. On arrival it was the Padre with news of his death. They were not allowed to see the body.
George is buried in Dunstable cemetery.
He started work in typewriter repairs and then at AC Sphinx Dunstable.
He made a name in amateur boxing, topping the bill on one occasion.
George was engaged to Lilian Smith (one of 4 daughters of the local farmer) while at RAF Holme on Spalding in the Moor. She became a friend of the family for some time after George's death. Several times I went and worked on their farm in Yorkshire. She eventually married a South African diamond magnate.
My parents suffered in that George's brother John volunteered at the age of 17, becoming first a mid-shipman and then sub lieutenant on Landing Tank Craft. Fortunately he survived the war.
On Dday his was the third ship with tanks to land. The first tank slued sideways on the exit board. The army commander gave the order for the second tank to push the first into the sea so the other tanks could land! I do not know if the tank crew drowned or survived.
I was very proud of both of my brothers. John started work at Leighton Buzzard Gas Board as an apprentice. He worked his way up to becoming Chairman of the North Thames Gas Board. He was awarded the C.B.E. in 1988 and died in 1995.
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