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No. 434 Bluenose Squadron RCAF was formed at Tholthorpe in Yorkshire in June 1943, flying Halifax mkV. In December 1943 they moved to Croft upgrading to Lancasters in 1944. The squadron returned to Canada in June 1945.
Airfields at which No. 434 Squadron were based:
- Tholthorpe 13 June 1943 to 11 Dec 1943
- Croft. 11 Dec 1943 to 15 June 1945
My Dad, P/O W Thompson is 3rd from left, with his pilot "Chappy" Chapman and other members of the crew.
My dad served at Croft with 434 Squadron, 6 bomber Group, as a tail gunner on Halifax's. My Dad's pilot was F/O Chapman, known to the crew as "Chappy". I still have much of my Dad's memorabilia, Medals, OPP's wings button compass, etc. and also have his original fibre Dog tags. DAD, remusterd, after the War, and made the R.C.A.F a career until 1966 when he retired, and went to work after with Bristol Aerospace (now known as Magellan) owned in part by Rollsroyce of England.
The crew were:
- F/O C.K. Chapman. pilot
- F/O A.W. Dunn. nav
- F/O E.L. Vawter. bomb aimer.
- P/O W.R. Williams, DFM. W/op
- P/O W.E. Thompson. rear gunner
- P/O H.A. Whish. Midupper gunner
- P/O C.A. Matthews. Flight Eng
My uncle, P/O J. W. Donnelly RCAF served with the 434 Bluenose Squadron. He was in Croft from December 1943 until he died on 20th February 1944. He belonged to the Murray crew. They flew Halifax V LL-255 coded WL-V and they failed to return after leaving Croft at 23.35 on 19th February 1944. Their last known whereabouts was over Stendal, Germany. They were headed to Leipzig. His crew were F/O Murray , Sgt J Dove, F.O W D Hayter, P/O C. Broadfoot, Sgt R E McGregor and Sgt A G Pearce. They apparently crashed near Stendal where all were first laid to rest. Since 1945, their remains have been taken to Berlin where they were buried in the city's 1939-1945 War Cemetery.
My Father, FO Bernard "Red" McGouran RCAF of Toronto Canada served with the 434 from June 1943 to November 1944. From his flight log I count 43 bombing missions.
John McGouran
I found this photo in my late mothers album, I am unsure, but think he could be Alfred George Rowe, DFC RCAF, killed over Essen on 11/3/1945. He was in 432 squadron and in 434 squadron when killed.His parents were Alfred James and Agnes Rowe. His wife was Pearl Cranston Rowe, all of Toronto, Ontario. He also worked at the bank of novia scotia. The reason I think the photo could be him is that my late father ,Vernon Simms, was in the airforce volunteer reserve as a flight ltnt. But after the war wrote he history text books, the dedication in the front of one is- to flight-lieutenant George Rowe,d.f.c.r.c.a.f.,bomber command."qui procul hinc et ante diem periit,sed miles,sed pro patria" killed 1945. I have been on all the wargrave sights and he is the only george I can find. Can anyone identify this lovely picture and clarify if he is the same man.
Update: The photo is George Rowe, the same photo of him appears on the Bomber crew website along wth the story of his crew. The Last Mission Of Lancaster KB-834
Photographs
If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served.
- F/O Edson G Armour. Navigator RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- Victor Baker Flt Eng. (d. 20th Jan 1944)
- P/O Robert E Ballentine. Air Gunner RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- Richard "Dick" Bell. RCAF.
- P/O C. Broadfoot (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- Colin Cassey W/Op (d. 20th Jan 1944 )
- F/O C.K. Chapman. pilot Read his Story
- James Clinksgill pilot RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944)
- F/O Thomas Donovan Copeland. bomb aimer (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story
- Sgt Walter Cotton. W Opp/Air Gunner RAFVR (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- Sgt R T Cox RAF
- Sgt P R A Dack RAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 )
- P/O J. W. Donnelly (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- Sgt J Dove (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- P/O W C Drumm RCAF
- F/O A.W. Dunn. nav Read his Story
- F/O David C Evans. Pilot RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- F/LT Raymond John Fern. pilot. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story
- Murray Flewelling, DFC. Read his Story
- David Gilliam. Air gnr. (d. 20th Jan 1944 )
- F.O W D Hayter (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- Ron "Dutch" Hulland RAF Flight Engineer.
- P/O Geoffrey Hutt. Flight Eng RAFVR (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- P/O Donald E Jackson. Air Bomber RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- Charles Jones bomb aimer (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin)
- P/O William Jones. flt eng. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story
- Mike Alexander Laffin Read his Story
- F/O Joe Richard Latremouille. RCAF W/OP (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story
- Edwin McCaffrey Mid up gnr RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944)
- F/O Bernard "Red" McGouran Read his story
- Sgt R E McGregor (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- Sgt J A McKenna RAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 )
- P/O C.A. Matthews. Flight Eng Read his Story
- F/O Henri Bernard Marceau. rear gnr. Read his story
- Sgt G C Mould RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 )
- F/O Murray (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- Sgt A G Pearce. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story
- Sgt E J C Porter (d. 20th Jan 1944)
- P/O Joseph S Sleighter. Air Gunner RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- F/LT Alfred George Rowe D.F.C. nav. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story
- F/O William Russel L "Rus" Sloan navigator Read his story
- F/O Gibson Scott. mid up gnr.(d. 11th March 1944) Read his story
- Sgt Clarence V. Soderstrom Read his Story
- P/O Douglas A Thicke. Pilot RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story
- P/O W.E. Thompson. rear gunner Read his Story
- F/O E.L. Vawter. bomb aimer. Read his Story
- P/O H.A. Whish. Midupper gunner Read his Story
- P/O W.R. Williams, DFM. W/op Read his Story
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to a soldier or regiment please get in touch.
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