Howell, John Edward
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | John Edward |
Surname | Howell |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-07-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Bert Carlysle Howell and Grace Elizabeth Howell (née McManus), of Robsart, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ641 |
Markings | LW-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 250. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 185 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/90958 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 425 (Alouette) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed metal plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Miscellaneous Information
John was born at Robsart Saskatchewan on 27 September 1924. His father was a Smelter in a lead department and both parents were born in Iowa, USA. He had brothers Joseph, Thomas, Benjamin and Henry and a sister Elma who was a Wren. There were also five deceased siblings, one sister in 1912 and four brothers between 1910 and 1929. John went to Kitchener (Rural) School between 1937-1941 and enjoyed all sports in moderation including baseball, golf and tennis. Between leaving school in 1941 and enlisting in 1942 he worked in a flour bakery as a baker and shipper. He had earlier also spent a few months working for a Smelting company at Trail, as a smelterman. |
He enlisted on 13 October 1942 and after training embarked from New York on 8 October 1943, arriving in the U.K. at 3 PRC on 17 October. He then went through 82 OTU 9 November 1943, 61 Base 19 March 1944 and 425 Squadron on 29 April 1944. Sadly he was only nineteen years old when he lost his life on 29 July 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-07-1944 |
End Date | 29-07-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (56% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 307 aircraft. German night-fighters appeared on the return leg leading to 22 losses (7.2%). This was the first raid on Hamburg for a year and was not well concentrated. The Germans were unable to determine the aiming point from the bombing results. Most of the bombs fell on areas devastated during 1943. |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |