George Russell V.C.

George Russell was a Flight Lieutenant Navigator during WWII. He was in 109 Sqdn of the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and came from Leven in Fife. 109 squadron joined forces
with 582 squadron after 582's formation in April 1944.

George was my mums cousin and he used to bring bananas back from Gilbrator for them.

On 23rd December his aircraft took of from Little Staughton in Huntingdon at 10.27.

It was shot down by flak in the target area - one member of the crew was taken prisoner - the rest
of the crew including George were killed.

The aircraft he was in was a Lancaster Bomber of 582 Squadron and was shot down over
Cologne - the Pilot was awarded the Victoria Cross and George was awarded the DFC along
with another two members of the crew.

Only two of the crew however are recorded in the 109 Squadron Memorial Book - the squadron
leader and George.

The aircraft was leading a formation of Lancasters to attack the marshalling yards at Cologne in
daylight. Before the target was reached heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered and two of the
aircrafts engines were set on fire. The squadron leader ignored the risk of fire and explosion and
kept straight on , he made a perfect approach and his bombs hit his target. The aircraft was last
seen spiralling to the earth in flames.

Flight Lieutenant 129583. Nav.

109 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died Saturday 23 December 1944. Age 21.
Son of James and Susan Wilson Russell, of Leven, Fife.
Buried: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany.
Ref. Joint grave 14. C. 13-14.
F/L Russell was attached to 582 Sqdn at the time of his death.