A Birks Memorial Bar to Navigator Bainbridge RCAF who was Downed by a Night Fighter over Plittersdorf

Sterling silver, officially engraved (P/O G.H. BAINBRIDGE / R.C.A.F. / DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE / 25 APR. 1944), 14.5 mm x 67 mm, light contact, near extremely fine. Footnote: George Harvey Bainbridge was born on October 12, 1923, the son of George Bainbridge and Nellie May Bainbridge of Medicine Hat, Alberta. The Avro Lancaster Mark III DV244 aircraft was delivered to C Flight, 12 Squadron in August 1943, then transferred to the newly formed 626 (Royal Air Force) Squadron on November 7, 1943 at Royal Air Force Station Wickenby, and was assigned to a strategic bombing role. Before its transfer from 12 Squadron, as PH-E, it had taken part in key operations, including: to Berlin on September 3-4, 1943, to Mannheim on September 23-24, 1943 and to Hanover on October 18-19, 1943. Once with 626 (Royal Air Force) Squadron, the aircraft was re-designated as DV244 UM-L2. J/86239 Pilot Officer (Warrant Officer 2nd Class, Navigator) George Harvey Bainbridge, Royal Canadian Air Force was a member of a crew of seven that departed RAF Wickenby for a night raid of Karlsruhe, Germany, at 21:23 on April 24, 1944. The crew included two Royal Canadian Air Force airmen: J/86027 Pilot Officer (Warrant Officer 2nd Class, Pilot) Victor Hector Bernyk and J/25353 Flying Officer (Bombardier) Paul Frank Korbyl, along with four airmen from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve: 1322496 Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) Rowland Henry Crystal, 1537068 Flight Sergeant George Henry Davies, 1561655 Sergeant (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) James Gerrard Hodge and 1691004 Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Jack Wilson. In the early hours of April 25th, the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Plittersdorf, six kilometres northwest of Rastatt. Bainbridge was Killed in Action, on April 25, 1944, at the age of 20, along with the other six crew members. All seven were buried in Durnbach War Cemetery in Durnbach, Germany, near Munich, Grave Reference: Collective Grave 3. H. 21-25. Bainbridge is commemorated on page 241 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. When lost, the aircraft had accrued a total of 205 flying hours and was one of three 626 Squadron Lancasters lost during this operation. The seven crew members are remembered on the 626 Squadron Roll of Honour, dedicated to the 338 airmen who lost their lives while serving with 626 Squadron between November 1943 and August 1945. (C:28)