Irwin, Howard Clinton
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Howard Clinton |
Surname | Irwin |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of James Leslie Irwin and Grace Victoria Irwin (née Eckmier), of Waterloo, Ontario. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HE432 |
Markings | NA-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 174. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 187 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/11956 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 428 (Ghost) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to fomer St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed slate tablets |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served on 428 (RCAF) Sqn at Middleton St. George during WWII, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice |
Miscellaneous Information
Howard was born in Haysville, Waterloo, Ontario, on 5 October 1918. His father was born in Lucknow, Ontario and was a farmer, his mother was born in Ethel, Ontario. He had one brother, Charles Wellington Irwin. He attended the following schools: S.S.No. 10. 1925-1930 (General); Ilderton Continuation 1930-1934 (General); Ontario Agricultural College 1935-1935 (A course in Livestock). From 1934 onwards, Howard worked as a general farmer for his father. In 1937 He became the holder of ‘Domestic Championship Beef Cattle Judging ‘ at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. He took part in baseball, football, skating and dance. His hobby was the study of agriculture. |
Howard enlisted on 6 May 1941 and after training was posted to the U.K. where he arrived on 30July 1942. He then went to 10 (0) AFU. 8 August 1942, 22 OTU 1 September 1942, and 428 Squadron 19 November 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1849/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1849/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-04-1943 |
End Date | 05-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Dalton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Kiel. 577 aircraft, making this the largest raid of the war so far, with the exception of the 1000-bomber raids. 12 aircraft lost (2.1%). Thick cloud and strong winds in the target area made PFF marking difficult. Decoy fires also drew some bombing. As a result there was little damage caused |
Reason for Loss | Crashed off the Dutch coast |