Findlay, Jack Chisholm

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Personal Information

Rank F/O
Forename(s) Jack Chisholm
Surname Findlay
Gender M
Age 31
Decorations
Date of Death 03-10-1943
Next of Kin Son of John Findlay and Mary Findlay (née Chisholm). Husband of Mildred Wilhelmina Frederika Findlay (née Wesenberg), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whom he married in Toronto on 29 June 1935. Father of Joan Marguerite Findlay, born on 30 January 1937.
FINDLAY JC

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Handley Page Halifax V
Serial Number LK637
Markings

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country United Kingdom
Burial/Memorial Place Ripon Cemetery
Grave Reference Sec. H. Grave 356.
Epitaph THY WILL BE DONE

IBCC Memorial Information

Phase 2
Panel Number 163

Enlistment Information

Service Number J/24182
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Group 6
Squadron 427 (Lion)
Trade Air Gunner
Country of Origin Canada

Miscellaneous Information

The pilot was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while the injured flight engineer was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for their actions on this night, Gazetted on 9th November 1943. The citation reads: "Flight Lieutenant Laird and Sergeant Cardy were pilot and flight engineer respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Kassel one night in October 1943. During the operation the bomber was hit by a hail of bullets from an enemy fighter. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Laird coolly and skilfully outmanoeuvred the enemy aircraft and set course for this country. Two of his crew had been killed, however, and Sergeant Cardy was wounded in the arm and in the eye. In spite of intense suffering, this gallant airman refused to leave his post and executed his normal duties until he finally fainted through loss of blood. Later, when he again recovered consciousness, he attempted to do as much as he could to assist his captain in the homeward flight. By a superb effort Flight Lieutenant Laird succeeded in reaching base where he effected a safe landing in difficult circumstances. This officer displayed outstanding skill, courage and tenacity, while Sergeant Cardy's exemplary conduct and great fortitude were beyond praise."
Jack was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 23 June 1912. Sadly both parents died but Jack continued to live in Glasgow until the age of fourteen. He went to Eastbank Academy for nine years. He had three sisters, May, Jessie and Lily. His sport interests were wrestling, football and PT instruction. Jack worked as a Sales Manager at United Cigar Stores, Toronto, for six years and at Robert Simpson Co. for three years as an assistant Sales Manager.
Jack enlisted on 22 September 1939 and after training embarked for the U.K. where he arrived on 18 March 1943. He was at 23 OTU on 4 May 1943, 1659 CU 27 July 1943 and 427 Squadron on 25 August 1943.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/24
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/23

Fellow Servicemen

Rogerson J T (P/O)

Last Operation Information

Start Date 03-10-1943
End Date 04-10-1943
Takeoff Station Skipton on Swale
Day/Night Raid Night (21% moon)
Operation Kassel
Reason for Loss Attacked from below by an unseen enemy aircraft at approx 2000 hrs while flying over the Zuider Zee, Holland. The rear turret was extensively damaged and the fuselage was raked with cannon fire, killing both the rear gunner and wireless operator and also injuring the flight engineer. The Halifax also caught fire but after pilot put the aircraft into a steep diving turn the airflow put out the fire. The intercom was disabled in the attack as was the hydraulic system and also the bomb doors were damaged initially preventing them being jettisoned. On the return flight a 2000lb bomb fell through the damaged bomb doors but this then opened the doors to allow the rest of the larger high explosive bombs to be jettisoned. Having made contact with flying control they had initially received instruction that the aircraft be abandoned and not landed (since some bombs were still aboard and a belly landing was the only viable option with the undercarriage stuck up). However, the flight engineer, who was by then in and out of consciousness, managed to instruct others how to locate and then cut hydraulic pipes that would allow the undercarriage to lower and lock down. Realising that the seriously injured flight engineer would probably not survive a parachute descent the pilot opted instead to try to land the aircraft to give a better chance of survival. They landed at Skipton on Swale airfield at around 22.40hrs but some incendiary bombs then ignited on landing and set the aircraft on fire. The five remaining crew members made a safe escape from the aircraft and the fire was soon put out.

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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.