Pilot Officer Herbert Gracey (155208) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War Two. He was the son of John Gracey and Mary Jane Gracey (née Armstrong) of Belfast, Co. Antrim.
At 1800hrs on 2nd October 1943, Gracey’s crew took off from RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire. While on a mine-laying sortie, they came under attack from a Junkers JU88 and a Messerschmitt ME109. Cannon shell holes perforated the Halifax’s starboard rudder. The RAF crew returned fire and claimed the Junkers JU88. The crew returned their damaged plane to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire at 0113hrs on 4th October 1943.
Herbert died on 21st January 1944 aged 22 years old. On this date, bombers of RAF 10 Squadron including Handley-Page Halifax HX165 took off for a raid on Magdeburg, Germany. The raid was unsuccessful and the loss rate, particularly of Halifax’s was high. HX165 came down at Schoningen, south-by-southeast of Uslar, Germany.
Remembering the crew of Halifax HX165
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon | Reginald Robinson | Pilot Officer | Pilot | RAFVR 155761. Killed in Action. |
| Brown | John Lewis | Sergeant | Navigator | RAFVR 658828. Survived. |
| Gracey | Herbert | Pilot Officer | Bomb Aimer | RAFVR 155208. Killed in Action. |
| Harris | SV | Sergeant | Wireless Operator | RAFVR 1130017. Survived. |
| Perrett | Frederick Charles | Sergeant | Air Gunner | RAFVR 1586043. Killed in Action. |
| Dunbar | William Alexander | Sergeant | Flight Engineer | RAF 614225. Killed in Action. |
| Paul | Henry Alfred | Sergeant | Air Gunner | RAFVR 1320130. Killed in Action. |
Herbert Gracey’s grave is in Section 6, Row F, Grave 14-18 of Hanover War Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. His headstone bears the inscription:
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.