Birmingham, Joseph Patrick
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Joseph Patrick |
Surname | Birmingham |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Patrick Birmingham and Rose Birmingham (née Bannon) of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NA604 |
Markings | LK-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 7. F. 7-11. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 131 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/89900 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 578 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | For all who served in 578 Squadron Royal Air Force Burn 1944 - 1945 |
Location | Methodist Church, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text |
Location | Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH in Glass topped wooden cabinet |
Memorial Text | In memory of all 578 Sqn Aircrew who failed to return from Ops at RAF Burn |
Miscellaneous Information
Joseph was born at Stratford, Ontario on 11 April 1919. Both parents were born at Stratford and his father was a Cabinet maker. He had three sisters, Mary, Anna and Theresa and brothers Arnold and Justin. A third brother, John had sadly died in 1928. He attended Stratford Separate School 1926-1933 and then Stratford High School 1933-1935 (Academic). For sport he enjoyed hockey, skating and swimming and he was interested in electrical work. Joseph spent 1935-1938 farming for a Mr. G. McCullough at Stratford and then was a Salesman between 1938-1942 for Bannon Brothers and for the Fuller Brush Company . Finally, 1942-1943 he was a mechanic for International Nickel Company. |
On 15 January 1943 he enlisted and after training embarked for the U.K. on 14 December 1943. He arrived in the U.K. at 3 (RCAF) PRC on 22 December 1943 and onwards to 10 OTU on 1 February 1944, 41 Base 18 May 1944, and 578 Sqn 13 July 1944. Sadly the following month Joseph lost his life on 13 August 1944 . |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/17 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2050/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-08-1944 |
End Date | 13-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Burn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (30% moon) |
Operation | Russelsheim to bomb the Opel motor factory, with normal PFF marking (unlike the concurrent Braunschweig raid). 297 aircraft, 20 losses (6.7%). Only slight damage was inflicted with may of the bombs falling in open countryside. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Mönchbruch, Germany |