Richard Stephen Sprackman

Memorial: Wick - Wick Tabernacle United Reformed Church

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Medals: 1939–45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Sergeant 1315858

Parents: A. Sprackman

Home address: Aldbourne Road, Baydon

Pre-war occupation: Not known

Date of birth: 1923

Date of death: 18/10/1943

Buried/Commemorated at: No known grave but is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial near Windsor. Also commemorated on the War Memorial St Bartholomew’s Wick and Abson and the War Memorial at St Nicholas Church Baydon

Age: 20

Further information:

Richard joined the RAF and served with the 619 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a wireless operator on a Lancaster bomber. His aircraft had taken off from Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire and was flying over Hanover in Germany when it was caught by a searchlight, hit by flak and shot down by German night fighter pilots. The plane crashed in the centre of Hanover and all 8 crew members were killed.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
http://www.glosgen.co.uk/
http://www.baydon.org/generalcontent/Baydon%20Men%20who%20fell%20in%20the%201914-18%20and%201939-45%20Wars.pdf
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=216265
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/