KRAMER |
Marcus |
Pilot
Officer 77345, 600 Squadron, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve. A pharmacist from Thorpe Bay Essex,
he was born in Bermondsey in 1911 and active in the local Jewish
community, son of Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Kramer of 3, Marine Parade,
Southend-on-Sea. He joined the RAFVR in March 1939, and was commissioned
in Feb. 1940. On May 10th 1940 he flew as gunner with PO R C Haine
with 6 Blenheims on an attack on Rotterdam (Waalhaven) aerodrome,
just captured by German paratroops that morning. After the attack
they were shot down by 110’s but he evaded capture and was
evacuated with his crew by the Royal Navy. He was awarded the DFC
on 9th July 1940 [LG Issue 34892 published 9 July 1940. Page 13
of 78], but he was killed in action on 21st May 1941 with 29 Squadron,
aged 29 years. Son of Emanuel and Rosie Kramer, of Thorpe Bay, Essex.
M.P.S. His name is on the Runnymede memorial Panel 29. His AJEX
card states that the Jewish Chaplains wrote to the father who replied
that “his plane was seen to crash into the River Severn near
Chepstow and his tunic was washed up almost immediately” and
is therefore believed to be dead. Also that the “Times”
reported his death on the 31st December 1941 first in a list of
RAF casualties under "previously reported misisng beleived
killed on active service, now presumed killed on active service"
and then in a separate artilce "FALLEN OFFICES - ROYAL AIR
FORCE":
FLIGHT
LIEUTENANT MARCUS KRAMER, D.F.C., previously reported missing, believed
kill;ed, now presumed killed on active service, was born at Bermondsey
in 1911. He enlisted as an untrained air observer in the R.A.F.
Volunteer Reserve in 1939, and was gazetted to a commisison in 1940.
On July 8, 1940, as a pilot officer, he was awarded the D.F.C. for
gallantry and devotion to duty during air operations.
In
the 1911 census his mother Rosie (aged 23, married 4 years) and
father Emanual Iaged 28, Wholesale draper) were living at 225 Southwark
Park Road, Bermondsey, London SE.
Information
supplied by Kees Stoutjesdijk, of the Dutch foundation called WO2GO,
details
of this crash are to be found on their website.
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