Armstrong, John Marshall
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Marshall |
Surname | Armstrong |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-10-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Owen Hartley Armstrong and Ida Maud Armstrong (née Marshall) of Kingston, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Husband of Florence Elliott (née Gates). Marriage at Port Williams on 24 August 1941. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | X3943 |
Markings | KW-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Saffron Walden Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Compt. 39. Grave 15. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 124 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/88084 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 425 (Alouette) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed metal plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Miscellaneous Information
425 Sqn first operational night |
John was born on 28 July 1915 at Kingston, Kings County, Nova Scotia. Both parents were born in North Kingston and his father was a farmer. He had four siblings: sisters Winifred Viola and Gertrude Pauline and brothers Manning Reginald and Douglas Owen. He attended Kingston school 1920-1929 (regular) and 1929-1931 (regular, grade XI). He then went to Acadia University 1931-1932 (engineering), followed by Maritime Business College, 1934-1935 (Commercial Business). He had High School Entrance and Junior Matric. John worked for George A. Chase , General Merchants and Exporters in Port Williams from 1935-1940 as an Accountant/bookkeeper. His sport interests were hockey, swimming, baseball, basketball, and tennis. |
After enlisting and initial training, John embarked for the U.K. and arrived at 3PRC on 24 March 1942. From there he went on to 3 AOS 25 April 1942, 22 OTU on 26 May 1942, and 425 Squadron on 15 August 1942. Sadly he lost his life two months later on 5 October 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 05-10-1942 |
End Date | 06-10-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Dishforth |
Day/Night Raid | Night (18% moon) |
Operation | Aachen. 237 aircraft, 10 losses (3.9%) with a further 6 losses on takeoff from England due to severe weather. Bad weather also encountered in Germany and little PFF marking had taken place. Moderate damage including a hospital and two churches. PFF marked the neighbouring town of Lutterade by mistake and much of the bombing fell there in error. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed on return leg, 8 miles NW of Braintree, Essex |