Blane, John Donald
Personal Information
Rank | W/C |
Forename(s) | John Donald |
Surname | Blane |
Gender | M |
Age | 32 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-07-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert and Rachel Blane. Husband of Marguerite Merkel Blane, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV997 |
Markings | QB-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Kiel War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 2. E. 20. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 132 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | C/198 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 424 (Tiger) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Skipton on Swale, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the Canadian personnel who served at RAF Skipton on Swale during WW2, including 424 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
The surviving five crew members all became PoW |
Skipton on Swale Commanding Officer. Succeeded W/C Martin and was himself succeeded by W/C Roy, who was in charge only until mid-August 1944 when he was shot down and became a PoW. Such was the turnover of staff at the time, even among the most senior ranks. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1835/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1835/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-07-1944 |
End Date | 29-07-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (56% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 307 aircraft. German night-fighters appeared on the return leg leading to 22 losses (7.2%). This was the first raid on Hamburg for a year and was not well concentrated. The Germans were unable to determine the aiming point from the bombing results. Most of the bombs fell on areas devastated during 1943. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Wesselburener, WSW of Heide, Germany |