Shearer, James Maxwell
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | James Maxwell |
Surname | Shearer |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Date of Death | 07-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Walter Herbert and Clara Elsie Shearer, of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND783 |
Markings | UL-C2 |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Bayeux War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | XXIX. H. 21-26 (Coll.) |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 96 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 415721 |
Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 576 |
Squadron Motto | Carpe diem (Seize the day) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
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 | Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memo and Propeller Sculpture |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at R.A.F. Elsham Words 1941 - 1945 |
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of 576 Sqn who gave their lives in 1939 - 45 War |
Miscellaneous Information
Also on board was A/C R Ivelaw-Chapman CBE DFC AFC PSA, who became the most senior PoW during Bomber Command service. His story is told in a book entitled High Endeavour, written by his son. |
It is said that Churchill was so alarmed by the possibility of Ivelaw-Chapman being interrogated that he gave a direct order for him to be silenced 'permanently if necessary' on account of his detailed knowledge of the D-Day landing plans. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2047/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2047/11 |
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 | 06-05-1944 |
End Date | 07-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Aubigne Racan near Le Mans, France- to attack an ammunition dump. 52 Lancasters of 1 Group |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter (Fw 190A) of Schnellkampfgeswader 10. Crashed at St. Rémy du Plain (now St. Rémy du Val), west of Mamers, France |