Sgt Wilfred Lloyd Canter would go on to fly for the Israeli air force post-war. He was killed when his Dakota crashed 24 October 1948. Fiche d'évadé - Réseau Comète Sgt Lloyd William McKenzie: MCKENZIE LLOYD - Winnipeg Free Press Passages Nothing seems to come up for F/Sgt James Stuart Murray of Thorburn, NS. Regards, Dave
"HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE" A wonderful and appropriate epitaph. The sense of loyalty, unselfishness and commitment that would prompt a 20 year old to sacrifice himself remains a source of awe and amazement to me. Most of the entitled, self absorbed 20 year old's today would find it unfathomable.
A Captain of Aircraft at 20 with a sense of duty, not only to his crew, but further then to still have the clearness of thought for those innocent civilians before himself is quite unbelievable. Though as we know, many others also did their duty nobly. What a wonderful member of the human race was lost that night. I wonder if his parents or other family ever knew this: The pilot, the P / O Australian Ian Cumming MacKenzie was killed in the crash. Originally buried in the municipal cemetery of La Neuvilette it now rests Clichy North Military Cemetery near Paris. A monument to him was erected at the corner of Avenue Jean (sic) MacKenzie and National Avenue - The Neuvilette, just outside of Reims, on the D944 road to Laon.
Great information Dave. P/O Canter had an extremely remarkable few years after his evasion and later death in Israel in 1948. Geoff.
Well, after a lot of searching, the question "Did his family know of this memorial" has been answered in no uncertain terms. His mother visited his memorial in 1972. Another with his RAAF cousin some years later. The memorial is quite overwhelming. The information on the page very extensive. All French wording is translated underneath in English. Le souvenir de la 2ème GM dans la Marne et dans les Ardennes - Le monument Mackenzie de Reims présenté par Jean-Pierre Husson Pilot Officer Ian Cumming MacKenzie has been remembered with great thanks by the citizens of La Neuvilette.
Flying Officer J.A. Wilding and Sgt. J.F. Andrew F/O Wilding and Sgt. Andrew were killed on September 9th, 1944, flying Halifax VII NP681 with 426 Squadron RCAF, returning from a raid to Le Havre. Flying Officer John Archibald Wilding, 23, was from New York, New York, and flight engineer, Sergeant John Frank Andrew, 22, from Abermule, Wales. “On the 9th. September, 1944, F/O J.A. Wilding and Sgt. J.F. Andrew of No. 426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, by remaining at the controls of their damaged and bomb laden aircraft steered it clear of Wallingford to crash and explode in open fields. Their supreme sacrifice and conspicuous gallantry almost certainly saved the lives of many of the town’s inhabitants. These roads have been named after them and this plaque has been erected in grateful thanks by the Borough of Wallingford. ‘Their name liveth for evermore.’” ARCHIVED - News | Royal Canadian Air Force | News Article | ‘An astonishing act of bravery’ Crew of Halifax VII NP681 OW-J. No.426 RCAF Squadron. Lost 9 September 1944 F/O. J A. Wilding DFC RCAF + Sgt. J F. Andrew + F/O. E N. O'Meara RCAF F/S. R M. Irving RCAF F/S. R T. Thompson RCAF F/S. G W. McCreary RCAF F/S. P W. MacKay RCAF. Injured
From Hugh Halliday's Honours and Awards: WILDING, F/O John Archibald (J27908) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.426 Squadron - Award effective 1 December 1944 as per London Gazette dated 12 December 1944 and AFRO 293/45 dated 16 February 1945. Home in Bronx, New York (but described as a British national), born 17 December 1920; theatre usher, 1936-1941, and then a file clerk in Ottawa; enlisted in Ottawa, 11 May 1942. Posted to No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto on enlistment. To No.4 Manning Depot, Quebec, 3 July 1942. To No.5 ITS, Belleville, 13 September 1942; graduated 7 November 1942 and promoted LAC but not struck off strength until 5 December 1942. Taken on strength of No.13 EFTS, St. Eugene, 6 December 1942; graduated 6 March 1943 and posted to No.8 SFTS, Moncton; graduated and commissioned 25 June 1943. To “Y” Depot, Halifax, 10 July 1943; embarked from Canada 16 July 1943; arrived in Britain 22 July 1943; to No.11 (P) Advanced Flying Unit, 31 August 1943; attached to No.1534 Beam Approach Training Flight, 28 September to 5 October 1943; to No.24 OTU, 11 January 1944; to No.61 Base, 17 April 1944; to No.426 Squadron, 13 May 1944. Killed in action 9 September 1944 (Halifax NP681, OW-J); see Mention in Despatches entry. Award presented to next-of-kin, 5 May 1945. This officer has taken part in many sorties to heavily defended targets in Germany, including Hamburg, Stuttgart and Kiel. On three occasions his aircraft has been attacked by enemy fighters and during one sortie to Stuttgart eight separate attacks by hostile aircraft were encountered and his aircraft badly damaged. In the face of the enemy Flying Officer Wilding has consistently displayed courage and determination to complete his mission. A fine captain of aircraft, he has destroyed one Focke Wulf 190. Directorate of History and Heritage file 181.009 D.1633 (Library and Archive Canada RG.24 Volume 20603) has recommendation drafted 5 September 1944 when he had flown 20 sorties (109 hours 45 minutes). 19 May 1944 - Franceville (4.30, second pilot) 22 May 1944 - Le Mans (4.40, second pilot) 24 May 1944 - Trouville (4.10) 31 May 1944 - Au Feure (5.20) 12 June 1944 - Cambrai (5.10) 15 June 1944 - Boulogne (3.40) 24 July 1944 - Ferfay (4.30) 25 July 1944 - Stuttgart (8.35) 28 July 1944 - Hamburg (5.45) 31 July 1944 - Foret le Croc (4.10) 3 August 1944 - Foret de Nieppe (3.30) 5 August 1944 - St. Leu d’Esserent (4.40) 7 August 1944 - Totalize 5 (4.45) 9 August 1944 - Foret de Nieppe (4.00) 10 August 1944 - La Pallice (6.55) 12 August 1944 - Montrichard (5.20) 12 August 1944 - Falaise (4.05) 15 August 1944 - Brussels airfield (4.05) 16 August 1944 - Kiel (5.20) 18 August 1944 - Connantre (6.25) Flying Officer Wilding has completed 20 sorties to heavily defended enemy targets including Hamburg, Stuttgart and Kiel. On three occasions his aircraft has been attacked by fighters and while attacking Cambrai one FW.190 is claimed as being shot down. On another trip to Stuttgart, eight separate attacks by fighters were encountered and the astrodome of his aircraft was shot away. In all operations Flying Officer Wilding has shown a complete disregard for personal danger and has pressed home his attacks with great determination. He has always maintained a cheerful disposition in any situation, no matter how difficult, and his keenness and energy have been an inspiration to the rest of the squadron and have bolstered their morale greatly. He is a fine captain and takes great pride in doing the best possible work at all times. He is strongly recommended for the award of the non-immediate Distinguished Flying Cross. WILDING, F/O John Archibald (J27908) - Mention in Despatches - No.426 Squadron - Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1478/45 dated 21 September 1945. DHist file 181.009 D.4431 (RG.24 Vol.20649) has recommendation for MiD dated 12 October 1944. He had flown 20 sorties (109 hours 45 minutes). NOTE: The RAF flight engineer, Sergeant John Francis Andrew, stayed to help Wilding, was killed, and was also recommended for a posthumous MiD. Also, there is an undated recommendation for a DFC stating that on three occasions his aircraft had been attacked by fighters; that during a raid on Cambrai (12 June 1944) his bomber had been attacked by a FW.190 (claimed shot down) while on raid to Stuttgart (25 July 1944) there were eight attacks by fighters which shot away the astrodome. The recommendation cites 20 sorties (109 hours 45 hours), 19 May to 18 August 1944. This suggests the squadron tried to get him a DFC and when they failed they went for a posthumous MiD. Two streets in Wallingford are named for Wilding and Andrew. Flying Officer Wilding was the pilot of a Halifax aircraft which crashed close to the village of Wallingford in Oxford the ninth of September 1944, returning from an abortive sortie on Le Havre, when all aircraft returned to their bases, carrying their bomb loads. On the return the aircraft caught fire and being unable to extinguish the flames the order to abandon aircraft was given by the pilot. The rear gunner was having difficulties in getting out of his turret and Flying Officer Wilding told him to take his time as he would stay with the aircraft until all were safely out; the rest of the crew with the exception of the flight engineer bailed out successfully. The pilot, realising the possible resultant damage to life and property because of the bomb load he carried, remained with the aircraft and successfully guided it away from the village of Wallingford where it crashed in an open field. This very commendable action in this respect undoubtedly saved the lives of many civilians and also extensive damage to the village. For this he is recommended to be Mentioned in Despatches (posthumously). The crew of NP681 on 9 September 1944 consisted of F/O Wilding (pilot, killed), F/O E.H. O’Meare (navigator, uninjured), Flight Sergeant R. Irving (air bomber, uninjured), Flight Sergeant R.T. Thompson (wireless operator, uninjured; later commissioned and awarded DFC), Sergeant J.F. Andrew (RAF, flight engineer, killed), Flight Sergeant P.W. MacKay (mid-upper gunner, uninjured) and Flight Sergeant G.W. McCreary (rear gunner, slightly injured). Other crews watching reported that the port outer engine had burst into flames; five parachutes were then seen before the wing exploded and the aircraft turned over, diving into the ground and exploding on impact. Wilding was reported as having flown 89 hours on type and 410 hours total - which does not agree with figure cited above A technical report stated that the No.7 cylinder of the affected engine had blown off and oil had been ignited by the exhaust. A fuel tank had been the source of the explosion in the wing. The Base Commander, No.62 Base, subsequently wrote: This type of engine failure is increasing with disturbing rapidity and the loss of lives and material is no longer a negligible amount. So it is urged that immediate steps be taken to rectify all the aircraft at present using Hercules engines manufactured by Standard Motor Car Company. The website “Lost Bombers” describes the loss in the following manner. Halifax NP681, No.426 Squadron (OQ-J), target Le Havre, 9 September 1944. NP681 was initially issued to No.420 Squadron. Airborne at 0621 hours of 9 September 1944 from Linton-on-Ouse to attack the garrison. Crashed at 0903 2 miles southeast of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, due to a fire in the port outer engine which in turn led to structural failure of the wing. The captain stayed at his controls aided by his Flight Engineer, Sergeant Andrew, to keep the Halifax as stable as they could to enable the crew to successfully abandon. They would have been unable to abandon themselves. Full crew were F/O J.A.Wilding, DFC, RCAF (killed); Sergeant J.F.Andrew (killed); F/O E.N.O'Meara, RCAF; Flight Sergeant R.M.Irving, RCAF; Flight Sergeant R.T.Thompson, RCAF; Flight Sergeant G.W.McCreary; RCAF; Flight Sergeant P.W.Mackay, RCAF injured). ANDREW, Sergeant John Francis (RAF 1199065) - Mention in Despatches - No.426 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 June 1945. Unit identified in DHist file 181.009 D.1725 (RG.24 Volume 20607). Flight Engineer. See the Mention in Despatches entry for F/O J.A. Wilding, RCAF. DHH file 181.009 D.4431 (Library and Archives Canada RG.24 Volume 20649) has the following recommendation, date uncertain, drafted when he had flown 17 sorties (82 hours). Sergeant Andrew was the flight engineer of a Halifax which caught fire and crashed near Wallingford, Oxford, on the 9th of September 1944. The pilot had given the order to abandon aircraft and all the crew complied with the exception of Sergeant Andrew. Undoubtedly, Sergeant Andrew, who had plenty of time to leave the aircraft, stayed with his pilot in an effort to assist him in making a safe landing. This was not effected, but through the efforts of this NCO and his pilot, the lives of many villagers and their property were saved, at the expense of their own. For his devotion to duty and commendable courage it is recommended that he be mentioned in despatches, posthumously.
Flying Officer Leslie Manser VC F/O Manser was killed on May 30th, 1942, flying Manchester L7301 D-Dog with 50 Squadron RAF, on a raid to Cologne. Flying Officer Manser, age 20, was born in New Delhi in 1921. His father was an engineer working in the Post and Telegraph Department in colonial India. The 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne on the night of 30 May 1942. From the start, Manser and his crew faced problems with the assigned aircraft. Manchester L7301, was unreliable and in poor condition. After setting out at 2250 on May 30, they found they could not reach the altitude they had been told to fly at. As he came over the target, his aircraft was caught in searchlights and although he bombed the target successfully from 7,000 ft (2,100 m) it was hit by flak. In an effort to escape the anti-aircraft fire he took violent evasive action, this reduced his altitude to only 1,000 ft (300 m) but he did not escape the flak until he was clear of the city. By this time the rear gunner was wounded, the front cabin full of smoke and the port engine overheating. Rather than abandon the aircraft and be captured, Manser tried to get the aircraft and crew to safety. The port engine then burst into flames, burning the wing and reducing airspeed to a dangerously low level. The crew made preparations to abandon the aircraft, by then barely controllable and a crash inevitable. The aircraft was by now over Belgium and Manser ordered the crew to bale out, but refused the offer of a parachute for himself.. He remained at the controls and sacrificed himself in order to save his crew. As the crew parachuted down they saw the bomber crash in flames into a dyke at Bree, 13 mi (21 km) north east of Genk in Belgium. Leslie Manser had sacrificed his life by remaining at the controls of his aircraft in the knowledge that to do otherwise would have resulted in the almost certain death of his crew. For his sacrifice, courage, and determination, Leslie Manser was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. P/O Barnes was taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war in a German prison camp. Friendly Belgians found the other five. Sgt Baveystock, P/O Horsley, Sgt King, Sgt Mills and Sgt Naylor all evaded capture and made their way back to the UK. The testimonies of the five evaders were instrumental in the posthumous award of the VC. Manser was the brother-in-law of British Army Captain John Neil Randle who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in 1944. On part of the old RAF Skellingthorpe airfield where Manser flew his last sortie from a new Primary School was built. It was opened in 1981 and named The Leslie Manser Primary School.
This is Cyril my great uncle in the USA. He is in the middle, this photo is one from his personal photo album. Anne-Marie Thank you for posting this - Cy was my great uncle.
P/O Charles E. Porter Pilot Officer Charles Edward "Pat" Porter RCAF was killed on March 27, 1943, at age 23, flying a 419 "Moose" Squadron Halifax DT634, VR-E on a raid to Berlin. He is buried in the Hamburg Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Germany. Son of Herbert and Helen C. Porter, of Manson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. "The Pilot P/O Porter was wounded during the attack but still managed to feather the engine. Now with two engines feathered he placed the aircraft in a dive to help extinguish the fire in the port engine. Within the Halifax fire had broken out in the Wireless Operators station and within the bomb bay. The fire in the Wireless station was extinguished but the fire lower down in the bomb bay was still burning. P/O Charles Porter gave the order to bail out. Both escape hatches were found to be jammed either by flak, damage from the attack or just frozen. Bishop, Taylor and London worked with axes to free the hatches. At the front of the aircraft Sweanor had opened the pilots escape hatch and made sure Porter had his chute. He is reported to have told Porter to get himself out as he did not believe they had much hope. The other hatch finally was opened and the crew left, by the time Sgt. London left the aircraft they were at 1,500 or maybe 1,000 feet. Sweanor the last to leave had only 600 feet or less. His chute only opened just as he hit the tops of the trees. P/O Porter still at the controls unable to escape as the Halifax continued it's dive. And his crew believed strongly that he did remain at the controls to save them. Leaving himself no chance of bailing out. " 419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax DT634
Pilot Officer Ralph Lonsdale, RNZAF P/O Lonsdale, age 21, was killed on 6th October 1942, flying a 149 Squadron Stirling OJ-S (N3755) on a raid to Aachen. The aircraft ran out of fuel as it returned to England. Lonsdale ordered the crew to bale out, staying at the controls until all had left the aircraft. He was unable to make good his escape and died in the crash at Arnold's Oak Farm, Eastling, Kent. He was buried at Maidstone Cemetery, Kent, United Kingdom. He was the son of Herbert and Clara Lonsdale (nee Webster), of Essondale, British Columbia. F/O R Lonsdale - Pilot, Sgt Radomaki. P.A. - Observer, Sgt Reynolds. G.S. - W/T -A.G., Sgt Brigden. J. - Air Gunner flying as Mid Upper, Sgt Hill. C. - Flight Engineer, Sgt Tulley. V.W. - Observer/Bomb Aimer flying as Front Gunner, Sgt Summerson. W A. - Air Gunner flying as Rear Gunner.
21 year olds like him flying huge planes like the Stirling plus being responsible for their crews. Amazing
Indeed. A level of dedication, responsibility and leadership that is hard to fathom for that age. My former CEO had secured his flying wings before he joined the RCAF so, at age 19, he was flying B-24's from India on 9-10 hour sorties across Southeast Asia with a crew of 9.
Many of the B-24 pilot stories that I've read say that it was very difficult to fly. Stuff like, "It would fight you all the way to the target and back" and "You could never relax at the controls." Flying 10 hours over the Himalayas must have been very rough.
They often had two pilots for the longer trips. That may have been part of the reason. Many bombing runs were at low level as well. Dick told me that he once met the ambassador from Thailand at a business reception and was asked if he had ever visited the country. His classic reply was, "Yes, I've been to Bangkok seven or eight times but it was dark and people were shooting at me so I never stayed long".
