Rankin, Jack Raymond
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Jack Raymond |
Surname | Rankin |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Felix Rankin and Annie M. Rankin (née Gubbins), of Westdale, Hamilton, Ontario. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND905 |
Markings | PM-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Villers-Le-Chateau Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Mil. Plot. Row 1. Coll. grave 1. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 88 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/208112 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 103 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at RAF Elsham Wolds on 103 7 576 Squadrons 1941-45 |
Location | Anglian Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Plaques |
Memorial Text | Pillar : RAF Elsham Wolds, 1941-1945, For those who made the great sacrifice. Plaque :This tree is dedicated to all those who served with 103 Squadron Royal Air Force. Plaque : RAF Elsham Wolds, Opened in Summer 1941 as a bomber station in No1 group, it w |
Miscellaneous Information
Jack was born on 5 January 1925 at Hamilton, Ontario. His parents were both born in Hamilton and his father was employed as a steel worker. He had five brothers: Lloyd, George, Bryce, Gerald, and Norman and a sister Evelyn. He attended the Basilica Public School in Hamilton. 1930-1939 (General course) Cathedral High School 1939-1941 (Matric) Westdale High School, Hamilton, 1940-1941 (Drafting). The sports Jack enjoyed were rugby, hockey, baseball, basketball and water-polo. He worked as an Assembler at the Westinghouse Co. between 1941-1942 when he enlisted. |
He enlisted on 25 November 1942 and after training embarked from New York on 8 October 1943. After arriving in the U.K. at 3PRC on 17 October 1943 he went to 30 OTU 26 October 1943, 11 Base 15 February 1944 and 103 Squadron 12 April 1944. He lost his life less than a month later at the age of just 19. |
He had lied about his age to enlist before reaching the age of consent. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-05-1944 |
End Date | 04-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
Day/Night Raid | Night (83% moon) |
Operation | Mailly-le-Camp |
Reason for Loss | Shot down outbound by a night fighter, crashing at Villers-le-Chateau |