Flight Sergeant Charles Cullen

Flight Sergeant Charles Cullen - 153 Squadron

Flight Sergeant Charles Leslie Cullen RAFVR

Flight Sergeant Charles Cullen was serving as Bomb Aimer on board Lancaster Mk.III PB636 coded P4-D during an operation to Duisberg January 22/23, 1945. The aircraft left Scampton at 1645hrs and failed to return, the aircraft and crew were lost without a trace.

The crew consisted of:

Name	Service	Trade	Hometown	Age
F/L Alan Jones DFC	RAF	Pilot	Stoke Newington,London	26
Sgt Sydney Strettle James	RAFVR	Flight Engineer	Wimbledon, Surrey	39
F/Sgt Jack McDonell	RAAF	Navigator	Ormond, Victoria, Australia	20
F/Sgt Charles Cullen	RAFVR	Bomb Aimer	Lincoln	24
W/O John Edwin Bateup	RAAF	W/Op/AG	Gunning, New South Wales	22
Sgt Albert Simpson	RAFVR	Air Gunner	Preston,Lancs.	24
Sgt Reuben Trafford	RAFVR	Air Gunner	Scunthorpe, Lincs.	20

Flight Sergeant Charles Leslie Cullen, known as "Les", was born on the 8^th of December 1920 to Charles Ernest and Aileen Emma Cullen of Lincoln He was one of four brothers, Des, Fred and Albert. He married his wife, Muriel on the 14^th of October 1941 and they had a son David.

Before enlisting he was employed as a policeman. He did his pilot training in South Africa in 1942 and was sent to Canada for more training in 1943.

Charles and his crew have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Photo courtesy of David Cullen, research by Linda Ibrom