Campton, Clifden Homer Foch Died
Personal Information
| Rank | P/O |
| Forename(s) | Clifden Homer Foch |
| Surname | Campton |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 25 |
| Date of Death | 02-11-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of James Campton and Ruth Anna Campton (née King) of Montreal, PQ, Canada |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VII |
| Serial Number | LW199 |
| Markings | OW-C |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | 17. F. 20. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 141 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | J/95160 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 6 |
| Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
| Squadron Motto | On wings of fire |
| Trade | Air Bomber |
| 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 | Allerton Park Castle, Allerton, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Memorial Garden dedicated to the 4272 personnel of 6 (RCAF) Gp based at Allerton Castle who gave the ultimate sacrifice during WWII to preserve our freedom |
Miscellaneous Information
| Clifden was born at Montreal, P.Q. on 8 November 1918. His father was born in Northern Ireland and was a ship’s worker and his mother was born in Ireland. He was one of six children. Sisters Ruth and Moyra and a third sister, Deirdre, who had died in 1944. Brothers Mark Edgar and J/95225 Albert Spencer Blair. Albert also sadly lost his life in the service of Bomber Command on 7 January 1945. He attended Rosemount Public School and Gilson Public in Montreal 1923-1930 (primary). Then West Hill High School 1930-1932, Montreal. His sport interests were baseball and hockey. Clifden worked as a clerk for National Sales and Distribution between 1932-1938. He was then a security clerk 1939-1940, part time, a ticket man and stock keeper 1938-1940 doing winter work at YMCA and a Blind maker for 3 months in 1940. He then took on piece work for Canadian Vickers Ltd. where he was employed until enlisting. |
| He enlisted on 10 October 1941 and after training embarked for the U.K. on 1 November 1943. He arrived at 3PRC (RCAF) on 10 November 1943, 3(0)AFU 15 February 1944, 82 OTU 11 April 1944, 61 Base 25 June 1944 and on to 426 Squadron 6 October 1944. Clifden was to lose his life from there the following month 2 November 1944. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/22 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/22 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Grundy E H (Sgt) | Died |
| Harrison R W (F/O) | Died |
| Scott R B (P/O) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 02-11-1944 |
| End Date | 03-11-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (92% moon) |
| Operation | Dusseldorf. 992 aircraft, 19 losses- 4 of which crashed behind Allied lines (0.4%). Most of the bombing fell on the northern suburbs with more than 5000 houses being destroyed . 7 industrial premises were destroyed and 18 seriously damaged, including some important steel works. At least 678 people were killed. This was the last significant raid on Düsseldorf. |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Hit by flak |