Welcome to Deryk's memories...

Pilot Officer George Deryk Cribbes, sadly lost his life whilst serving with the Royal Air Force during World War II.

The records show that P/O Cribbes was undergoing flying training on Liberator aircraft with No. 111 Operational Training Unit, which was based at Oakes Field, Nassau. On 23 February 1945 he was taking part in dual instruction training on Liberator GR. V serial number BZ746 (ex USAAF Serial Number 42-40465). The aircraft had only been a few minutes in the air when it overtook Liberator III serial number FL994 (ex USAAF Serial Number 41-11702), also partaking in the training, whilst on the downwind leg of the circuit and collided with this aircraft. Liberator BZ746 crashed at 08:38 hrs some 3 miles south of Windsor Field with the loss of all of the crew, whose details are as follows:

• Flying Officer Allan Edward Hayes - Flying Instructor.  Enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).  He was of Canadian nationality.  Service number: J/19172.  Son of Cyril E. and Frances Hayes, of Preston, Ontario, Canada; husband of Jean Isobel Hayes.  Classified as Commonwealth War dead. He was 22 years old and buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D. 7.

• Flying Officer Bertie Warren Hutchings - 1st Pilot.   Classified as Commonwealth War dead.  He was 22 years old and buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D. 6.  Service number: 151528.  More information has not been found.

• Pilot Officer George Deryk Cribbes - 2nd Pilot.  Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of Argentinean nationality.  Service number: 166098.  Son of George John Cribbes Burnet and Sylvia Aida Jefferies.  Husband of Sylvia Mary Moverley of Sydenham, London.  Classified as Commonwealth War dead, he was 24 years old.  He is buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D. 5.

• Flying Officer Laurence Arthur Birkett - Navigator.  Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of United Kingdom nationality.  Service number: 174687.  Classified as Commonwealth War dead. He was buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D.1.

• Flying Officer Arthur Ian Tomlinson - Navigator.  Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of United Kingdom nationality.  Service number: 165616.  Son of Mrs. Margaret Tomlinson of Galashiels, Borders.  Classified as Commonwealth War dead, he was 22 years old.  He is buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D. 2.

• Sergeant John Raymond Birch - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.  Rank Sergeant (W.Op. - Air).  Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of United Kingdom nationality.  Service number: 1892417.  Son of Edwin James and Mildred Alice Birch, of Gloucester.  Classified as Commonwealth War dead, he was 20 years old.  He is buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West C. 1.

• Sergeant Alan Holland - Flight Engineer.  Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of United Kingdom nationality.  Service number: 1627769.  He is buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D. 4.

• Sergeant Christopher Jackson - Air Gunner. Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of United Kingdom nationality.  Service number: 1903874.  He is buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location East D. 7.

• Sergeant Geoffrey Edward Charles Richards - Air Gunner.  Enrolled in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve (RAF VR).  He was of United Kingdom nationality.  Service number: 2225323.  Son of George Weaver and Lilian Hazel Richards, of Crosby, Liverpool.  Classified as Commonwealth War dead, he was 19 years old.  He is buried at the Nassau War Cemetery in location West D. 3.

The Personnel Management Agency at RAF Innsworth holds the Records of Service (ROS) for former airmen/officers, including my uncle’s.