McGee, James
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | James |
Surname | McGee |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-12-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James McGee and Ivy McGee (née Brown), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | PB678 |
Markings | TL-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 251. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 208 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/95373 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
James was born at Toronto, Ontario on 6 March 1923. His father was born in Glasgow, Scotland and worked as an electrician and his mother was born in Toronto. He had one brother Roderick and two sisters Jean and Agnes. The schools he attended were Norway School, 1929-1931, Roden School 1931-1936, and Lansdowne School 1936-1939. He then went on to Central Technical school between 1939-1941 (all in Toronto). The sports he took part in were hockey, baseball, rugby and swimming. Between 1941-1942 he worked as a Stockkeeper for T. Eaton Company before enlisting on 24 September 1942. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Halifax on 22 October 1943, arriving at 3 (RCAF) PRC on 31 October. He then went through 19 OTU on 16 November 1943, 41 Base 31 March 1944, 78 Sqn 26 June 1944, 41 Base 31 August 1944, 78 Sqn 26 October 1944 and 35 Squadron on 6 November 1944. Sadly James then lost his life on 23 December 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/24 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/23 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-12-1944 |
End Date | 23-12-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Köln- to attack the Gremberg railway yards. This raid went badly wrong. The force was split into three formations, each led by an Oboe equipped master and a similarly equipped Mosquito reserve master. Improved weather meant that the crews could bomb visually and the order was given. Tragically, the order did not reach S/L R A M Palmer's aircraft and they carried on unawares, being hit by flak on their approach but dropping their bomb load nonetheless. Soon afterwards they were set about by fighters and the aircraft was downed in the target area. S/L Palmer was posthumously awarded a VC for his valour. |
Reason for Loss | Collided with another 35 Sqn Lancaster (PB683 TL-H) on outbound leg while over the Kent coastline. Both aircraft fell into the sea |