Sergeant
Andrew Cresswell was serving on board Wellington Mk.X HE-440 coded
SE-Y for an operation to Duisberg on May 12/13, 1943. The aircraft
crashed near the border between Germany and the Netherlands, there
were no survivors. The crew are buried in the cemetery at
Winterswijk in the Netherlands.
Sergeant Andrew Cresswell RAFVR was
23 years of age at the time of his death, he was the son of
Andrew and Elsie Cresswell. Andrew was born on 9th December 1919
in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and worked as a chargehand at
Fischer Bearings in Wolverhampton before volunteering for the RAF,
he was unmarried. Andrew's grave has been adopted by the students
attending Queen Wilhelmina School at Winterswijk, Holland, they
lovingly tend to his grave and lay flowers.
The other
crewmembers were:
|
Name |
Trade |
Service |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Sgt. George Wood |
Pilot |
RAFVR |
23 |
North Shields |
|
Sgt. Edward Gummer |
Navigator |
RAFVR |
20 |
Accrington, Lancashire |
|
Sgt. Innis Mobley |
Bomb Aimer |
RAFVR |
21 |
Yardley Wood, Birmingham |
|
Sgt. Thomas Smith |
Rear Gunner |
RAFVR |
26 |
Leigh, Lancashire |
The last Photo taken of Andrew. Andrew's Crew, Andrew is at the back at the far right. Sgt. Thomas Smith is front row left, Sgt. George Wood in the centre. The two other men with Observer's brevets are Sgt. Mobely and Sgt. Gummer. The first telegram recieved by Sgt Cresswell's family. Second telegram received by the family. The letter confirming Andrew's death. The original marker at Andrew's grave. The headstone currently marking Andrew's grave. The last page of Andrew's logbook, showing the time of take off and failure to return.
The last Photo taken of Andrew.
|
