Archer, Jack Colin
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Jack Colin |
Surname | Archer |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Archer and Agnes Archer (née Shields), of Toronto, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR658 |
Markings | EQ-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 181. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 123 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/141130 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
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. |
Location | Village Centre, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 408 (Goose) and 426 (Thunderbird) Squadrons of R.C.A.F |
Miscellaneous Information
Jack was born on 4 October 1922 in Toronto. Both of his parents were born in Scotland and they married in Edinburgh in 1919. His father was a Stationary Engineer.They lived at 82 Kent Road in Toronto. He had a sister Audrey May and a half brother David Bruce Archer. David was with the Canadian Signal Corps at Simcoe. Jack attended the Duke of Connaught School 1929- 1938 where he gained his High School Entrance, Junior and Senior Matric and B.Sc.degree. He then worked as a clerk 1938-1939 in a grocery store, and as a chocolate moulder for Neilson’s Ice Cream. Between 1939-1940 he took on odd jobs labouring and then was a shipper for British Drug Houses 1940-1941. Jack’s sporting interests were hockey and rugby. He also enjoyed hunting and shooting. He was a prominent member of the Kentish Cricket Club and also the Riverdale Club. |
He enlisted on 6 November 1941 and after initial training embarked from Canada for the U.K. on 28 October 1942. After arriving and going to 3 PRC on 6 November 1942, he was at 23 OTU on 8 December 1942, 1659 CU on 25 March 1943 and then reached 408 Squadron on 8 April 1943. He was killed a little less than a month later. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-05-1943 |
End Date | 05-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Dortmund. 596 aircraft,- the largest 'non-1000' raid of the war so far and the first major attack on Dortmund. 31 losses (5.2%) with a further 7 crashing due to bad weather at their bases, taking the total loss rate to 6.4%. PFF marking was accurate but backup marking was not. Also, decoy fires attracted many of the bombs. Severe damage was nevertheless caused to much of the central and northern areas of the city, including the Hoesch and Dortmunder Union steelworks. At least 693 people were killed, including 200 PoWs. |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |