Paul Gerard SOLON

Paul Gerard SOLON, Flying Officer, Wireless Operator Air Gunner 116679, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 98 Squadron North American B-25 Mitchell II Serial number FL693. Born 8 September 1916 at Worcester to Gilbert Charles and May Hilda Solon, nee McCulloch. In 1939 he was residing with his parents and siblings at Ronksworth Cottage, Newtown Road, Worcester.
On the 22 January 1943 he was part of a four man crew in North American B-25 Mitchell II aircraft, FL693, which took flight, with the others, from RAF Foulsham in Norfolk on a daylight bombing operation over Ghent and Terneuzen (Belgium). The target was Gent-Purfina and Sinclair oil refineries. The plane was over the target when sustained a direct hit by flax and crashed North East of Eelko, Belgium killing all on board. He is at rest with the other crew at Eeklo Communal Cemetery, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Photograph credited to