Collyer, John William
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | John William |
Surname | Collyer |
Gender | M |
Age | 31 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James and Ethel Moss Collyer. Husband of Agnes Allan Collyer, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW463 |
Markings | C8-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Herwen en Aerdt (Tolkamer) General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row A. Grave 16. |
Epitaph | TOO DEARLY LOVED TO EVER BE FORGOTTEN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 147 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/23976 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 640 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Collyer Lake, Manitoba; 5km NW of Wekusko Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Normandy Barracks, Leconfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Metal Sculpture Brick Pillars and Inscribed Sqn Badges |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those who flew from RAF Leconfield, including 640 Sqn |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Beverley, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those of 640 Sqn who were killed during WW2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2216/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2157/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-06-1944 |
End Date | 17-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leconfield |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Sterkrade to bomb a synthetic oil plant, despite a poor local weather forecast The target was indeed covered in thick cloud and the PFF markers were not easily visible. Bombing was scattered as a result and there was little impact on production. The bomber stream passed within 30 miles of the Tame Boar night-fighter beacon that was being used that night, resulting in large bomber losses on the approach. Total losses for the night were 31 aircraft (13.6%) although losses among certain squadrons were higher still- notably 77 Sqn which Lost 7 of its 23 aircraft (30.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and feel on the north bank of the Waal near Tolkamer, SE of Arnhem, Holland |