Ewen, John Bruce
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | John Bruce |
Surname | Ewen |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Donald William Ewen and Ida Ewen (née Brotherton) of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW690 |
Markings | AL-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Choloy War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 2A. C. 16. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 162 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/88360 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
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
John was born at Hamilton, Ontario on 12 April 1923. His father, the manager of Crescent Oil Company, was born in Brooklyn, New York and his mother was born in England. He had two brothers: Donald William Jnr. and Harold Frederick and one sister, Beverley June. John attended Earl Kitchener school in Hamilton, 1930-1939 (Entrance), and Westdale Collegiate, Hamilton 1939-1941 (Lower School). His sport interests were football, hockey, baseball and basketball. He worked as a Timekeeper at Thomas Irwin & Son during 1941 and then worked for his father at Crescent Oil Company as a Shipper between January and September 1942. |
John then enlisted on 30 September 1942 and after training, embarked from Canada on 16 July 1943, arriving in the U.K. at 3 PRC on 23 July 1943. From there he went to 1659 CU on 3 August 1943, and 429 Squadron on 10 September 1943. John sadly lost his life on 15 March 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-03-1944 |
End Date | 16-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (69% moon) |
Operation | Stuttgart. 863 aircraft, 37 losses (4.3%). The bomber stream made its approach through France, crossing the German border as late as possible, delaying the point at which the German fighters were able to enter the stream. PFF marking was well short of the target, possibly due to the strong winds as the conditions were clear. Although some of the early bombing fell in the city, much of the later bombing fell outside. Damage was light- 88 deaths and 203 injuries. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down east of Vesoul, France by night fighter flown by Lt. Kurt Matzak of 12./NJG 1. |