Almas, Russell Munn
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Russell Munn |
Surname | Almas |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Edward Russell Almas and Mary Josephine Almas (née Munn) of Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ377 |
Markings | AL-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. B. 18. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 122 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/93110 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 5 January 1918 in Ancaster, Ontario. He had three sisters named Mary, Dorothy and Margaret. His schooling was at Ancaster School, Hamilton, Ontario. A general course between 1927 and 1934, Westdale Collegiate 1934 to 1935, followed by Westdale Technical School, Hamilton 1935-1936 where he studied Motor Mechanics. Russell worked in various positions between 1936 and 1941 and then became a miner 1941 - 1942, employed by MacLeod Cockshift at Cockshift Goldmine at Geraldton, Ont. he worked as a Driller for two years. |
Russell enlisted in Hamilton on 27 April 1942. After completing his training in Canada, Russell embarked for the U.K. on 28 May 1943 arriving at the Personnel Reception Centre in Bournemouth on 4 June 1943. From there he worked his way through 1 PDC, 24 OTU and 1659 CU, eventually arriving at 429 Squadron. |
The sports he enjoyed playing were baseball, hockey and rugby. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-11-1944 |
End Date | 22-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (35% moon) |
Operation | Castrop Rauxel synthetic oil plant. 273 aircraft, 4 losses (1.5%). The local report states that 216 high explosive bombs hit the target along with 78 duds and many incendiaries. The resulting fire was so large that the fire-fighters could only allow it to burn out by itself. Some other local industry was also hit. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter flown by Oblt. Hubert Rauh of 3./NJG4 |