Dudley, Gordon H.
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Gordon H. |
Surname | Dudley |
Gender | M |
Age | 30 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert Lorne Dudley and Katherine Dudley (née Leach), of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Lillian Irene Dudley (née Lougheed), whom he married at Fort William on 15 August 1942. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK644 |
Markings | ZL-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 4. C. 13-19. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 157 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/51858 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 427 (Lion) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
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. |
Miscellaneous Information
Gordon was born on 15 April 1913 at North Bay, Ontario. His father, who was deceased by the time of Gordon's enlistment, was born at Westmeath and his mother at Brockville, both in Ontario. The schools he attended were Harvey Street Public, 1919-1927, North Bay Collegiate 1927-1932, North Bay Collegiate Institute 1932-1933 (drafting course) and the University of Toronto 1938-1939. His main sport interests were boxing and track. Gordon was an underground worker in a mine for 9 months, then an instrument man for ten months with the Department of Transport, then worked in another mine as a field man for six months, finishing off at Northdale Construction as a rigger. |
He enlisted on 26 May 1940 and after training was posted to the U.K.,embarking from New York on 9 March 1943. He arrived at 3 PRC on 18 March then went on to 3(0) AFU 1 June 1943, 24 OTU 29 June 1943, 1659 CU 6 October 1943 and 427 Squadron on 8 November 1943. Sadly he was to lose his life on 21 December 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/28 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/27 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-12-1943 |
End Date | 21-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (39% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 650 aircraft, 41 losses (6.3%). The German controllers were able to accurately plot the route as soon as the main force left the English coast and were therefore able to deploy night-fighters at many points along its route. A diversionary raid on Mannheim failed to draw off many fighters until the main raid was over. The target was mainly cloud covered whereas the forecast had predicted clear conditions. Marking did not, therefore, go to plan. The Germans used both decoy fires and also decoy target indicator. By a twist of good fortune, considerable creepback resulted in the bombing coming back over the city. Many public and municipal buildings were hit including many schools. 23000 people were bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter flown by Hptm. Martin Becker and crashed at Weilmünster/Hessen. |