Cairns, John Caldwell
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | John Caldwell |
Surname | Cairns |
Gender | M |
Date of Death | 10-04-1944 |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB709 |
Markings | PH-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 210. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 16 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 53886 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 12 |
Squadron Motto | Leads the field |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Wickenby Airfield, Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial with Sculpture of Icarus & Information Board |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Wickenby No1 Group Bomber Command 1942-1945 In memory of one thousand and eighty men of 12 & 626 Squadrons who gave their lives on operations from this airfieldin the offensive against Germany and the liberation of occupied Europe Per ardu |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/168/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/168/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-04-1944 |
End Date | 10-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Wickenby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Mine laying in Baltic waters |
Reason for Loss | Aircraft took off from Wickenby at 2123 hrs tasked with laying mines in the Baltic area. Aircraft crashed into the sea near Esbjerg harbour, Denmark. One body that of Keates was found near Blavand lighthouse on the 13th April 1944. Two days later he was buried at Esbjerg Fourfelt Cemetery. The rest of the crew are commemorated at Runnymede |