Trafford

Born at Oswaldwistle, Lancashire on the 23rd May 1915, the birth being
registered during the September quarter 1915 in the Blackburn R.D. -
ref:8e/626, the son of Herbert & Mary E. Watson (nee Catlow).

1921 Census - 6 Watson Street, Stretford (REALLY).  Son - aged: 6 - born:
Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire,   Head of household - Herbert Watson - Married -
aged: 43 - occ: Fitter at Metro-Vickers, Trafford Park - born:
Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire,   Also - Mary Watson - Wife - aged: 39 - born:
Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire,      Plus 1 elder sister and 1 younger brother.

1939 National Registration - 24 Stanmore Avenue, Stretford.   Head of
household - Herbert Watson - Born on the 26th November 1878 - Married -
occ: Maintenance Engineer (Millright).    Mary Watson - Born on the 15th
June 1882 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.    George Watson - Son - Born on
the 23rd May 1915 - occ: Local Government Clerk & served with the A.R.P.  
Plus 1 elder sister and 1 younger brother.

Married Ethel B.M. King during the March quarter 1940 in the Barton upon
Irwell R.D. - reg: 8c/1818.

His DFM was Gazetted on the 29th December 1942 following service with 149
Sqn.

Promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant on the 3rd October 1942 (Gazetted
22nd December 1942).   Promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutensnt on
the 3rd October 1944 (Gazetted 20th October 1944).   .   

Killed on a secret mission. Using mostly Westland Lysander short
landing/take off aircraft, Nos. 138 & 161 Squadrons delivered 101 SOE
Agents and supplies into occupied countries, returning 128.  The Lockheed
Hudson light bomber aircraft used extensively by Coastal Command were also
used to drop supplies to the Resistance movements in occupied territories.

Pilot of a Hudson Mk III Bomber - No. T9405  MA-K that took off at 21.10
hrs from RAF Tempsford on Operation "Croc"    Hit by Flak and crashed at
00.24hrs between Bokelch and Lammersfelde, south-east of Meppen, Germany.

F/O J.M. Hartman was also killed in the crash, but 3 others were taken
prisoner.

This was the last Hudson to be lost on a sortie with Bomber Command.   161
Sqn left Bomber Command soon after this sortie, but continued to use
Hudsons on clandestine missions until the end of the war.  For further
details of 161 Sqn - see "We Landed at Midnight" by Hugh Verity, published
by Ian Allan.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in Stretford Cem, which
states that he was buried in Lingen Cem, Germany.