Dawson, Gordon Forbes
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Gordon Forbes |
Surname | Dawson |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Date of Death | 15-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas James Dawson and Isobel Caroline Dawson (née Forbes), of Cookstown, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Gwendoline Doris Dawson (née Joiner). Marriage 5 August 1944 at Worminghall, Buckinghamshire, England. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | HK595 |
Markings | KO-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 4. B. 1. |
Epitaph | TILL MEMORY FADES AND LIFE DEPARTS YOU LIVE FOR EVER IN OUR HEARTS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 154 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/89896 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 115 |
Squadron Motto | Despite the elements |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Lancaster Industrial Estate, Witchford, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Slate Tablets & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In honour of those who served during the Second World War 1939 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Gordon was born at Cookstown, Ontario on 6 June 1922. Both parents were born at Orangeville, Ontario and his father worked as a druggist. He had three brothers, Grant, Alan and Douglas. Sadly, his brother J/90321 P/O Douglas James Dawson lost his life from 115 Squadron on 17 September 1944- see http://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/207038. The schools Gordon attended were Cookstown Public 1929-1935 and Cookstown Continuation 1935-1939. He involved himself in a lot of sporting activities including rugby, hockey, basketball, baseball, boxing etc.and athletics and track and field. Gordon worked as a welder for Canadian General Electric 1940-1941. |
He enlisted on 14 July 1941 and after training embarked for the U.K. He arrived at 3PRC on 12 June 1942, at 115 Sqn 17 January 1943, 11 OTU 4 October 1943, and eventually at 115 Squadron on 5 October 1944. It was from here that Gordon sadly lost his life on 15 November 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/892/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/892/7 |
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 | 15-11-1944 |
End Date | 15-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Witchford |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Dortmund- to attack the oil plant. 177 Lancasters, all from 3 Group, 2 of which were lost. G-H was used since the target was cloud-covered. The raid is thought to have been a success. |
Reason for Loss | Collided in mid-air with NN706, also from 115 Squadron, killing all of the crew in both aircraft. This aircraft unuslly had a crew of nine. A second pilot and third air gunner were included, the latter operating the mid-under gun. |