Flying Officer (Pilot) 173548 Walter James Shaw

Family details:
Son of Ernest and Emily Mary Shaw, of St. Helens. Lancashire.

Census details:
1939 Register. Unfortunately Walter J is redacted. Widowed father Ernest Shaw born 06/06/1887 a Colliery Worker Underground (Coal Mine) is living at 40 New Cross Street, St Helens . Mother Emily M. died in 21/11/1938 (see headstone photo)

22-23 April 1944, Lancaster I LL887 HW-H, 100 Squadron (Bomber Command) from took off from RAF Grimsby near Waltham. The operational target was Dusseldorf, Germany. Took off from Grimsby at 2246 hrs. believed to have crashed close to the Belgian-Dutch frontier. Crew. P/O. W J. Shaw (Died) Sgt. W H. Lynch pow F/S. K. Morgan RAAF pow F/S. R. Brookes evaded Sgt. J. Ensor (Died) P/O. G H. Williams (Died) Sgt. R A. Bacon pow The Dusseldorf mission: 596 aircraft - 323 Lancasters, 254 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitos - of all groups except No 5. 29 aircraft - 16 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters - lost, 4.9 percent of the force. 2,150 tons of bombs were dropped in this old-style heavy attack on a German city which caused much destruction but also allowed the German night-fighter force to penetrate the bomber stream. The attack fell mostly in the northern districts of Dusseldorf. Widespread damage was caused. [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/173548ShawWJ.jpg[/pic][caption]A dedication to Flying Officer (Pilot) Walter James Shaw at St Helens Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]