Surbiton man killed serving in WW2.
Pilot Officer Gilbert Ernest Adams DFC was the third of the five children of Ernest George Adams (b.1884) and Florence Annie Adams née Arkell (1887-1949). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1920 in the Camberwell registration district.
He joined the Royal Air Force and was serving as Warrant Officer, service number 632805, attached to No.625 Squadron when he died, aged 23 years, on 16 December 1943. In the Royal Air Force Commands website it shows that he was the wireless operator/air gunner, flying aboard an Avro Lancaster bomber aeroplane, serial number LM424, that took off at 16.21 hours on 16 December 1943 from RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire, to bomb Berlin, Germany. The Aircrew Remembered website gives details about it being shot down at 19.07 hours over Quakenbrück, Germany. Only one of the seven crew managed to bale out and was made a Prisoner of War.
He was initially buried with fifteen airmen who died that day in a communal grave in Wiesen, Germany, but on 7 July 1947 their bodies were exhumed and he was reburied in Plot 8, Row H, Collective Grave 10-16, in the Hanover War Cemetery, Harenberger Meile, 30926 Hannover, Germany.
When he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 21 January 1944 shows he was a Warrant Officer, service number 632805, serving in No.625 Squadron. In the Second Supplement to the London Gazette dated 8 February 1944 he was posthumously commissioned from Warrant Officer to Pilot Officer with effect from 16 December 1943 and his service number became 54003.
Probate records confirm that his address to have been 5 Thornton Road, Wimbledon. Administration of his estate was not granted to his father until 7 April 1945 when his effects totalled £307-5s-5d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
