LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer William MATHER DFM
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 157746 (RAF)
Born: Location, Date unavailable
Enlisted in the RAF: Date unavailable
Unit: No. 49 Squadron (RAF), RAF Fiskerton
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 49 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ME808), Belgium, 22 June 1944, Age unknown
Buried: Sshoonselhof Cemetery, Belgium
CWGC Additional Information: No further information
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Commemorative Roll, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
On 22 June 1944, Lancaster ME808 took off from Fiskerton to attack Wesserling, France. The aircraft blew up in mid-air over Loenhout, Belgium, possibly having been shot by a night fighter. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of ME808 were:
Squadron Leader Leonard Edgar Cox (113418) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flying Officer William Edward Day (155911) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer James McGregor Freckleton DFM (149671) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Alfred Hambly (144652) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer John Herbert Ingram (160955) (RAFVR)
Flying Officer Mervyn James DFC (146930) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer William Mather DFM (157746) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator)
References:
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
International Bomber Command Centre Website