Andrew, George Varnum
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | George Varnum |
Surname | Andrew |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Arthur Conway Andrew and Elizabeth Harriet Andrew (née Varnum), of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Esther Andrew (née Jones), of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | LL630 |
Markings | OW-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 10. E. 9-13. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 123 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/19070 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
George was born on 11 January 1923. George had siblings Robert, Florence and Muriel. Twin siblings George Edwin and Ralph Varnum died on 12 October 1912 in infancy. George’s father worked as a Harbour Master and lived in College Avenue N Sarnia. They later moved to North Christina Street in Sarnia. The Schools George attended were..George Street Public School 1929-1936 and Sarnia Technical School 1936- 1940, where he studied Electrical, Drafting, Machine shop and Economics. He was specialising in electricity. George also spent two years in the school Cadet Corps as a Lieutenant. |
He enjoyed playing Rugby, Hockey and Baseball. He married his fiancée Esther Jones on 13 September 1941 at Chatham, New Brunswick |
George enlisted on 3 March 1941 and had tried to join earlier but was told he was too young. Embarking on 25 September 1942, he arrived in the U.K. and went to 3 PRC Bournemouth on 9 October 1942. He was at 22 OTU on 27 October, finishing up at 426 Squadron on 20 February 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1841/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1841/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-12-1943 |
End Date | 21-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (39% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 650 aircraft, 41 losses (6.3%). The German controllers were able to accurately plot the route as soon as the main force left the English coast and were therefore able to deploy night-fighters at many points along its route. A diversionary raid on Mannheim failed to draw off many fighters until the main raid was over. The target was mainly cloud covered whereas the forecast had predicted clear conditions. Marking did not, therefore, go to plan. The Germans used both decoy fires and also decoy target indicator. By a twist of good fortune, considerable creepback resulted in the bombing coming back over the city. Many public and municipal buildings were hit including many schools. 23000 people were bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter flown by Lt. Ludwig Wirtz over Güls, near Koblenz, Germany. |