Burke, Wesley Ray
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Wesley Ray |
Surname | Burke |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 03-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Wesley Crusoe Burke and Savanah Myma Burke (née Korgar), of Carmangay, Alberta, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | LN400 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Oxford (Botley) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot I/2. Grave 150B. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 15 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/194989 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 92 |
Squadron | 16 OTU |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Churchyard, Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to the memory of British and Commonwealth Pilots and Aircrew of No. 16 OTU Bomber Command RAF Upper Heyford |
Miscellaneous Information
Wesley was born on 1 April 1920 at Carmangay, Alberta. Both parents were American and it is possible that Wesley was an American citizen too, since he didn't swear an oath to the King when he enlisted . His father was a farmer and both were born in Kentucky. He was raised on the family farm and had one sister, Rose Stella, and six brothers. He attended Black Spring Ridge school in Alberta, 1926-1936. He then spent 1936-1939 on the farm harvesting. Wesley enjoyed boxing as a sport which is also shown as his hobby, along with an interest in aviation. He is shown as working for H.S. Parker at Carmangay as a truck driver and general work at a service station between 1939-1941, followed by 3 months as a bar tender, and ending as a grocery clerk at a Mark Creek store in Kimberly , B. C. in 1942. |
Wesley enlisted on 5 November 1942 and after training was posted to the U.K.. He embarked from Halifax on 22 October 1943 arriving at 3PRC on 31 October then went on to 16 OTU on 16 November 1943. Sadly Wesley was killed in a flying accident near Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire, England on 3 February 1944. He had volunteered to go on the night flying test when the regular member of the crew was unable to go and very sadly the aircraft crashed on take-off. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-02-1944 |
End Date | 03-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Upper Heyford |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Night flying |
Reason for Loss | On a night flying test, but having climbed to 200 feet, the starboard engine faltered and the bomber spiralled back to earth. |