Colvin, James Mackenzie
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | James Mackenzie |
Surname | Colvin |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Date of Death | 24-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick James Colvin and Mary Jack Colvin (née MacKenzie), of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Husband of Mildred Joan Colvin (née Sennen), whom he married on 11 August 1942 at Tellsonburg, Ontario. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JB841 |
Markings | EQ-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 3. C. 17. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 147 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/7430 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Squadron Motto | For freedom |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Location | Village Centre, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 408 (Goose) and 426 (Thunderbird) Squadrons of R.C.A.F |
Miscellaneous Information
James was born at Edmonton, Alberta on 30 September 1914. Both parents were born in Scotland, his mother in Airdrie and his father, who was deceased by the time of James's enlistment, in Falkirk. He worked as a C.N.R. Accountant. His father died 1919/1920. He had one married sister. The schools he attended were Oliver, 1922-1928 (public), Victoria 1928-1932 (High school), Westmount High 1929-1930 (grades 9-12 Jnr. Matric), followed by McDougal 1932-1934 (Commercial). James worked as a clerk/cashier at North Western Utilities Ltd, Edmonton, between 1934-1940. The sports he enjoyed were golf, skiing, bowling, swimming and gym work. |
He enlisted on 15 October 1940. On 21 September 1942 he was at 3PRC, and then at 12 ( P) AFU 16 October 1942, 23 OTU on 8 December 1942, 1659 CU 25 March 1943 and at 408 Squadron on 10 April 1943. Sadly James lost his life the following month on 24 May 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/9 |
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.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-05-1943 |
End Date | 24-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (78% moon) |
Operation | Dortmund. 826 aircraft- the largest since the 1000 bomber raids. 38 aircraft Lost (4.6%). PFF met with clear conditions and marked the target accurately, leading to a good raid. Much devastation was wreaked across large parts of the city. In particular the Hoesch steelworks were put out of action. 624 were killed. This was the last sizeable raid on Dortmund for exactly one year. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Bergkamen, NE of Dortmund, Germany |