Flying Officer Joseph Edward Adams (178513) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War Two. Born on 5th December 1914, he was the son of Joseph Edward Adams and Margorie Mursland Adams (née Clydesdale) of Belfast, Co. Antrim, and the husband of Maude Adams of Belfast, Co. Antrim.
He died on 6th November 1944 aged 29 years old. He was the Pilot of Lancaster ND555 EM-D with RAF 207 Squadron. The crew took off from RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire on a raid over Gravenhorst, Germany.
This crew had an older average age than most other Bomber Command crews with 4 of the men over 30 years old. They were due to soon complete their operational tour with more than 28 sorties completed.
Remembering the crew of Lancaster ND555
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Joseph Edward | Flying Officer | Pilot | RAFVR 178513. Killed aged 29 years old. |
| Birch | Sidney Harold | Pilot Officer | Air Bomber | RAFVR 187731. Killed aged 36 years old. |
| Ewing | Leslie Ernest | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | RAFVR 1613477. Killed aged 22 years old. |
| Mackinnon | Kenneth Ewan | Sergeant | Flight Engineer | RAFVR 1569752. Killed aged 23 years old. |
| Stevens | William Harry Read | Sergeant | Air Gunner | RAFVR 1897046. Killed aged 31 years old. |
| Summers | Kenneth James | Pilot Officer | Air Gunner | RAFVR 188029. Killed aged 30 years old. |
| Wickens | Thomas Roy | Pilot Officer | Navigator | RAFVR 186429. Killed aged 31 years old. |
Joseph Edward Adams’ grave is in Section 24, Row G, Collective Grave 5-10 of Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. His headstone bears the inscription:
His memory now our greatest treasure.