Howe, Thomas Edward George Died
Personal Information
| Rank | P/O |
| Forename(s) | Thomas Edward George |
| Surname | Howe |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 20 |
| Date of Death | 22-06-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Harry Edward Howe and Estella May Howe (née Royce), of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
| Serial Number | ND986 |
| Markings | PG-S |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | 7. E. 12. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 52 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | J/88198 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 619 |
| Trade | Air Gunner |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
| Location | Dunholme Lodge Farm, Dunholme, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Brick Pillar with Inscribed Stone Tablet & Metal Lancaster Sculpture |
| Memorial Text | R.A.F. Dunholme Lodge In memory of those who served here 1942 - 1946 |
| Location | St. Peter's Church, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served with 619 Sqn during WW2 |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-654
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-654" |
| Location | On village war memorial, Salbris, 41 - Loir-et-Choir Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed marble tablet |
| Memorial Text |
En reconnaissance aux 49 aviateurs des Sqn's 44, 49, 106 en 619 de la RAF morts pour notre liberte le 8 Mai 1947
Translation "Thank you to the 49 airmen of 44, 49, 106 and 619 Sqn's RAF who died for our freedom on May 8 1947" |
Miscellaneous Information
| Thomas was born on 29 May 1924 at Ottawa, Ontario. His parents were both born in Ontario, his father in Toronto who was a civil servant and his mother in Ottawa. He had one married sister. The schools he attended were Hopewell Public 1930-1939 and Glebe Collegiate 1939-1942. Some of the sports he took part in were baseball, tennis, swimming and football and his hobby was airplane modelling. He was still a student so had no occupation. |
| Thomas enlisted on 19 October 1942 and after initial training he embarked from Halifax on 26 August 1943, arriving in the U.K.at 3 PRC on 2 September 1943. He then went to 11 OTU on 21 September 1943, 31 Base 14 January 1944, 51 Base 27 March 1944, and 619 Squadron on 22 April 1944. Thomas sadly lost his life on 22 June 1944 shortly after his 20th birthday. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2131/26 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2131/26 |
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.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Crawford K E (P/O) | Died |
| Cutting J (Sgt) | Died |
| Galloway K A (F/O) | Died |
| Loose W A (Sgt) | Died |
| Rackley G N (P/O) | Died |
| Ward A R (Sgt) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 21-06-1944 |
| End Date | 22-06-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Dunholme Lodge |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (2% moon) |
| Operation | Wesseling synthetic oil plant |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Hit by flak and fell into the Rhine between a road bridge and a rail bridge at Duisburg. |