Corbett, John Alexander
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | John Alexander |
Surname | Corbett |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 14-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Anthony Patrick Corbett and Mary Belle Corbett (née McDonald), of New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada. Husband of Eleanor Viola Corbett (née Gallant), whom he married at New Waterford on 3 September 1942. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | BK296 |
Markings | PT- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 181. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 148 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/88388 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 420 (Snowy Owl) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside former St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 420 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in English & French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 420 (RCAF) Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 420 Sqn |
Miscellaneous Information
John was born at New Waterford, Nova Scotia on 15 April 1915. His father was a coal miner and both parents were born in New Waterford. He had a sister Mary Jessie and a brother Francis Anthony. Another sister, Theresa had sadly died in 1929. He went to River Ryan school, Nova Scotia 1922- 1933 and then did one year Prep at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, also Nova Scotia. The sports he enjoyed were boxing and distance running. He spent seven years at the Dominion Coal company at New Waterford as a surface labourer and left in order to coach the school boxing team. Between 3 July 1938 and 16 October 1939 he was with the Cape Breton Highlanders in New Waterford. |
He enlisted on 2 May 1941 and after basic training he embarked from Canada on 25 September 1942, arriving at 3PRC on 9 October 1942. He went on to 22 OTU on 27 December 1942 then to 420 Squadron on 25 February 1943. It was from there that John sadly lost his life the following month on 14 March 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1825/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1825/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 13-03-1943 |
End Date | 14-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (52% moon) |
Operation | Mining |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |