Blanchard, Joseph Jerome
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Joseph Jerome |
Surname | Blanchard |
Gender | M |
Age | 30 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Peter James Blanchard and Euphraisine Blanchard (Chaisson), of Tignish , Prince Edward Island, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK971 |
Markings | WL-Y |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 249. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 132 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | C/19462 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Joseph (known as Jerry Joseph) was born at Tignish, Prince Edward Island on 29 May 1913. His father was a car salesman and his mother was born at Tignis. He had two married sisters, Alma and Antoinette, and two brothers Alphonse and Joseph. Another sister Maria had died. He attended St. Roach D4 school 1919-1929. His sport interests were boxing, swimming and baseball. He was unemployed between 1929-1936. Between 1936-1937 he worked as a clerk for R.J. Holman’s Ltd, and was a Salesman for Enamel Heating Co, 1937-1938. Between 1938 and 1940 he worked at Harding Motors also as a Salesman. |
Joseph then enlisted on 26 August 1941. After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Halifax on 28 March 1943 arriving at 3 PRC on 5 April 1943. He then moved on to 408 Sqn 16 April 1943, 1659 CU. 18 July 1943, and 434 Squadron 19 August 1943. Joseph sadly lost his life on 15 February 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-02-1944 |
End Date | 16-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (63% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 891 aircraft- the largest raid on Berlin and in fact the largest 'non-1000' raid of the war. The bomb tonnage dropped was also a record at 2642 tons. 43 aircraft losses (4.8%). The bomber stream was tracked by the German controllers as soon as it left the English coast but a swing to the north over Denmark for the approach was effective as it was out of the range of many fighters. The controller ordered that Berlin be kept free of fighters to allow the flak batteries the full range of altitudes but many ignored the order and attacked bombers over the target. Berlin was cloud covered but the bombing was reasonably concentrated, although some bombs fell on outlying towns and villages. Damage was extensive with over 1000 houses and 526 temporary accommodation barracks destroyed. Some of the most important war industries were hit and 320 people were killed. The relatively low death toll is a reflection of the fact that large-scale evacuations had taken place by now. |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |