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I’m trying to find out more about my grandfather…his name was D. Roy Wilson..he was not a casualty of war but he was part of the all Canadian 408 good squad, maybe 6th group..
Josh
Another of the misfortunes of war, it’s far easier to search for information on the Casualties of the Second World War than the Survivors.
408 Squadron was initially in No. 5 Group and became a part of the newly formed No. 6 RCAF Bomber Group while the Squadron was based in Leeming/ Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire August 1943
Suggestion. Request a copy of your grandfathers military records. This may not be easy due to certain access restrictions, however if you persist it is possible to get information for Genealogical purposes.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/index-e.html
Good luck with your research
George R McKillop
Burnaby, BC
george_mck@shaw.ca
I am looking for information on my cousin F/S John Carl Kerr, R99687 who was killed in action, Sept. 10, 1942 when his Hambden bomber was shot down 12 miles North of Essen, Germany at Mari. What mission was he flying and any other info would be appreciated. I have visited his grave in the Riechswald Forest War Cemetery. He was 19 when he died.
Eric
In September 1942 408 Squadron was in conversion training i.e. Hampden to Halifax V. Last Hampden operational losses August 29, 1942. Aircrews of the following Pilots, Wing Commander J D Twigg, Canadian, Squadron C/O; Sergeant P L Kemp, United Kingdom; Flight Sergeant W H Gould, New Zealand and Pilot Officer L G Lyons, Australia. The Squadron moved from Balderton Nottinghamshire to Leeming Yorkshire on September 13, 1942 and the first Halifax operational loss January 29, 1943 aircrew of Pilot T C Roux, Rhodesia.
Unfortunately there is no Unit/Text information (Squadron Number and applicable Air Force) for John Carl Kerr in the CWGC Casualty details and/or the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. Hopefully you know the squadron number, if so Volume 3 of W R Chorleys Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War is your best bet otherwise you will have start with the CWGC.
Assume you initiated the digital collection relating to John Carl Kerr on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, if so congratulations.
Hope this is helpful
George R McKillop
Burnaby BC
Email: george_mck@shaw.ca
First Photo Third Row
W C McLernon
Photo Gallery WWII; Photo (41/49);
PL 31689;11/8/44.
George R McKillop
408 Squadron Commanding Officers Killed In Action Squadron History, copyright 1984
Wing Commander A C Mair Commanding Officer, October 28 1943 – November 26, 1943.
On October 6th, Wing Commander Ferris finished his tour as Squadron Commander. The new Commander W/C Alec Mair D F C was on his second tour and brought his first tour Hampden crew with him. They arrived as the month of October drew to a close, a time when the Battle of Berlin had been
stepped up and was occupying most of the Squadron’s attention.
408 Squadron flew it’s first attack on Berlin March 1st 1943, setting the course for a further 17 raids on the German Capital that would take place before the end of March 1944.
18th November 1943 – Operation Berlin,
15 aircraft from 408 Squadron joined the Main Force which consisted of 440 Lancasters on their way to bomb Berlin WC AC C Mair flying aircraft DS761 EQ-V joined them on this trip.” Source Call of the Goose.
26th / 27th November 1943 – Operation Berlin, 408 Squadron put up a total of 17 aircraft, but just 15 took off on time. Wing Commander A C Mair joined them again flying Lancaster DS723 EQ-B
Source Call of the Goose.
On November 26, 1943, less than four weeks after assuming command, Mair was killed when his aircraft was shot down over Berlin and he became the second of three 408 Squadron Commanding Officers to fall to German night fighters. The few weeks he had been with the Squadron had scarcely given the Unit time to know him and his crew.
I have been researching 144 Squadron operations, July 41 – Apr 42 a period that involved my father on operations. From his training with 16 OTU to completing his first tour. A number of 408 Squadrons connections have come to light, he trained and transferred into 144 Sqdn with a number of Canadians. Three of whom Sgts Ross, McMillan and Marshall moved on within days to 408 Sqdn. They appear on picture 4 on this web site. Would it be possible to include the image in my research. I am aware both McMillan and Marshall were killed soon after. Another period is early 1942 when a detachment from 408 Sqdn moved to North Luffenham. Do you have on record the list of Hampdens based at North Luffenham? It would be interesting to see how both squadrons operated together from the end of January until the middle of March. I have the full records for 144 Squadron but only web research on 408 Squadron. Are all the snowy photographs taken at Balderton or could some have been taken at North Luffenham!
Thanks, JohnWoodhead
Mr Goheen
My name is Del Badiuk and I am the curator of the 408 Sqn Historical archives. I’m going to have a look through the Sqn Operations Record Book for entries that detail your relative and his crew. I’ll send you copies of the entries when I am done but it could be a few weeks before I find the time. If you could send me an email regarding any other information you are looking for, I’ll see if I can find anything.
I did find an entry for “R62230 Sgt Goheen L.” posted into 408 Sqn as the Navigator on P/O D. Brown’s crew in July of 1944. I will have a look and see what else I can find.
Del Badiuk
Anyone out there have any information concerning F/Sgt Goheen 408 Sqdn Aug 1944?
Martin,
Sorry but the Hampden in the picture is EQ-D, taken 17 Sept 1941. If you would still like a copy though, email me at 408sqn.archives@gmail.com
Del
Please can I have a copy of “Hampden-Landing”. I beleive it is EQ-Q (correct me if wrong), the plane lost 22/10/41 in which my Grandfather Sgt PAG Ragg lost his life.
Thanks
Martin