Bessette, Bertie Joseph August
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Bertie Joseph August |
Surname | Bessette |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Norbert Joseph Bessette and Ludivine Marie Bessette (née Labossiere), of Wawotta, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BF474 |
Markings | LS-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Eerme Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | D. Coll. grave 13-20. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 130 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/94993 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Bertie was born at Wawotta, Saskatchewan on 5 July 1919. His father was born in Somerset, Manitoba and worked as a farmer and his mother was born at St. Leon, Manitoba. He had one sister Florette Marie. The schools he attended were Wawotta No. 14, 1926-1937 followed by Wawotta High School, during 1937. His sport interests were baseball, hockey, and softball and riding was his hobby. Bertie then worked with his father at home on the farm until enlisting on 19 April 1941. |
After initial training he was posted to the U.K and embarked from Canada on 20 July 1942 arriving at 3PRC on 30 July. He was then at 7 AGS 18 August 1942, 1483 Conversion Flight on 10 September 1942 and 15 Squadron on 10 October 1942. Sadly Bertie was then to lose his life the following year on 16 April 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/56 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/55 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-04-1943 |
End Date | 17-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (87% moon) |
Operation | Mannheim. 271 aircraft, 18 losses (6.6%). Accurate PFF marking followed by a successful raid. Production stopped at 41 industrial premises. 130 deaths and almost 7000 bombed out. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed 20km ESE of Laon, France |