Fitz-Gibbon, George Desmond
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | George Desmond |
Surname | Fitz-Gibbon |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 30-01-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Brenton Fitz-Gibbon and Elsie Elizabeth Fitz-Gibbon (née Montillon), of Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | Z1680 |
Markings | OW- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 173. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 164 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/15533 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
George was born on 5 May 1913 at Port Colborne, Ontario. His father, born in County Kilkenny Ireland, had worked as a Civil Engineer in Buffalo, New York and Buffalo is where his mother was born. After her marriage, his mother became a British Subject. The schools he attended were in Fort Erie, Ontario: 1919-1927 (public) followed by Wintermute. Street school (High School) 1927-1933. He had a sister Mary and three brothers: John Ord, living in Sault St.Marie, Lieutenant Maurice, in the 11th Canadian Provost Corps, and Private F. G. in 11th Canadian Tank regiment. His sport interests were mainly hockey and rugby but he also enjoyed swimming, fishing and the high jump. George started off working at his own Insurance Agency as a Salesman (1935-1937) but there wasn’t enough work so instead he became an Assayer’s assistant at Kerr Addison Gold Mines on Larder Lake, Timiskaming, Ont.from 1937-1940. He then enlisted on 2 July 1940. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and later arrived at 3PRC on 20 April 1941. He was then at 2 S.S, 28 April 1941, 103 Squadron 17 August 1941, 22 OTU 4 May 1942. He was posted missing from 425 Squadron on 30 January 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-01-1943 |
End Date | 30-01-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Dishforth |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Hamburg using cloud cover. 148 aircraft. This was the first H2S attack of the war and the equipment did not fare well, leading to scattered bombing and little significant damage, except a bridge which brought the rail system in the city to a standstill for several days. |
Reason for Loss | Presumed lost over the sea |