Birnie, Hugh Waldie
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Hugh Waldie |
Surname | Birnie |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Hugh Kelly Birnie and Hannah Elizabeth Birnie (née Parker) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VII |
Serial Number | NP683 |
Markings | OW-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 245. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 131 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/19162 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Navigator |
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
The date of death is probably incorrect- this is in fact the date on which their death was reported. Date of crash: 29/6/44 |
Hugh was born on 16 January 1922 at Toronto. His father was a printer and was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and his mother was born at Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. He had one sister, Christina. The schools he attended were Winchester Street, 1929- 1937 followed by Jarvis Collegiate, 1937-1939. His sport interests were swimming, handball and basketball. His hobby was building models. Between 1936 and 1940 Hugh worked as a Salesman for a Mr. Taylor, was was then an Usher at Century Theatre in 1940 and a First Inspector for Underwood Typewriter, 1940-1941. Finally he worked at the Central office at Bell Telephone Company, also in 1941. |
He enlisted on 29 August 1942 and after training was posted to the U.K. After training he embarked from Halifax on 28 October 1942 reaching 3 PRC on 6 November, then proceeding to 3 (9) AFU 25 November 1942, 22 OTU on 5 January 1943, 1659 CU 25 March 1943, 408 Squadron 10 April 1943, and finally 426 Squadron on 1 August 1943. Hugh then disappears from the records until shown as missing on 29 June 1944 and then as having sadly lost his life on 22 August 1944 whilst a prisoner of war. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-06-1944 |
End Date | 29-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (53% moon) |
Operation | Metz- to bomb railway yards. Part of a 230 strong bomber force to attack railway installations at both Blainville and Metz. Both targets were hit but 20 aircraft were Lost (8.7%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter. All the crew survived the crash, five initially evading capture and two becoming PoW. Two, P/O H W Birnie and P/O D S Jamieson were both subsequently captured, probably falling into the hands of the Gestapo, and were shot. |