Vivian Howe

Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Sergeant Air Gunner 1184247

Parents: Joseph Percy and Daisy Twiddy Howe

Home address: 31 High Street, Staple Hill

Date of birth: 1920

Place of birth: Mangotsfield

Date of death: 09/11/1942

Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Hanover War Cemetery, Niedersachsen, Germany. Commemorated on Bristol Grammar School Roll of Honour. Not commemorated on a local memorial.

Age: 22

Further information:

Vivian was born at Mangotsfield, the son of a printer and the middle child of three with an older sister and a younger brother. He Attended Bristol Grammar School from 1930 to 1936.

Vivian enlisted in the RAFVR in 1940, then in 1942 was stationed with 218 (Gold Coast) squadron at RAF Downham Market. At 17:55 hours on the 9th November 1942, Vivian and a crew of seven led by Squadron leader Peter Hickling DFM, took off in Stirling Bomber W7475 from Downham Market on a mission to bomb Hamburg. The force of 213 aircraft despatched on the raid included 19 Stirlings. The aircraft were hampered by cloud, icing and winds that had not been forecast and there was no clear marking or indication of Hamburg. Only 150 aircraft dropped bombs and many of their bombs reportedly fell in the River Elbe or in open country. 15 aircraft failed to return including Vivian’s Stirling, which was shot down by flak and crashed at Huffe Farm near Lashorst at 21:15 hours. There were no survivors. All seven crew members died and were originally buried in a communal grave in the North corner of Alswede Cemetery Germany and in 1947 their bodies were transferred and reburied at Hanover.

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/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
http://aircrewremembered.com/hickling-peter.html