Charles Henry George Gale

A Pilot Officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Charles died on 11th of April 1944 aged 31. 

Charles was born at Herringfleet in 1913, a son of Charles George and Annie Elizabeth Gale. In 1921 his family lived at Priory Road, Saint Olaves. Later his family lived at 7 Station Terrace, Herringfleet. 

Charles enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1208599. On 6 April 1944 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, service number 174617. In April 1944 Charles was a Pilot serving with 30 Operational Training Unit, based at Hixon, Staffordshire. 

On 11 April he was a member of the crew of a Wellington X bomber, number HF471 'D', that took part in a night cross-country exercise. The aircraft dived into the ground, out of cloud, on the east bank of the River Ouse at Skelton, near Goole. 

WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass