Heaton, Albert Kencil
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Albert Kencil |
Surname | Heaton |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Date of Death | 29-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry Gore Heaton and Mary Beulah Heaton (néé Trott), of Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK740 |
Markings | WL-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 9. H. 16-21. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 180 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/19464 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Squadron Motto | In excelsis vincimus (We conquer in the heights) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Albert was born on 27 March 1917 in Windsor, Ontario. His father was a National Defence Inspector at Chrysler Corporation and was born in Harrow, Ontario and his mother was born in Bothwell. Ontario. He had one brother, John Beverley Heaton, an accountant, who was also serving with the RCAF. Albert spent six years at High School, two at a Commercial school, and then a year at University. He also spent three years in the High School Cadets and had a St. John Ambulance Certificate. |
He enlisted on 17 June 1941 and after training was sent to the U.K. He arrived at 3PRC on 2 March 1943, 23 OTU on 9 March 1943, 432 Sqn on 27 May 1943, 408 Sqn on 21 June 1943 and 434 Squadron on 25 August 1943. |
The sports he was involved with were boxing, shooting, swimming, cycling, and weight lifting and he enjoyed riding. Albert had also been an Athletic Amusement Director. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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 | 28-01-1944 |
End Date | 29-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 677 aircraft, 46 losses (6.8%). The diversionary raids drew off a significant number of fighters but the German controller was able to re-group the over the target and many aircraft were Lost as a result. The cloud was broken and some ground marking was possible and despite claims by Bomber Command that the bombing was concentrated, the local report says otherwise. Nevertheless, around 180000 people were bombed out and an unusually high proportion of public and administrative buildings were hit, including the Chancellery. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by Hauptmann Friedrich Tober of NJG3 despite the valiant attempts of S/L Linnell to avoid his repeated attacks. Crashed at Linde, Germany |