McGrath, Gerald
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Gerald |
Surname | McGrath |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Addison Lemuel McGrath and Mary Ann McGrath (née Mc Elroy), of Maugerville, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | BB283 |
Markings | VR-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Escoublac-la-Baule War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 2. G. 4. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 208 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/99387 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 419 (Moose) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Former St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Memorial Tablet on Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to Nos 419, 420 and 428 Sqns RCAF who flew from RAF Middleton St George during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Gerald was born at Maugerville, Sunbury, New Brunswick on 14 June 1916. His father, a farmer, was born at Lower Maugervill and his mother at Bath, New Brunswick. The schools he attended were Lower Maugerville, 1922-1931. Then at the same school he studied advanced work, 1931-1935. He then worked as a teacher at other schools between 1936-1938 and between 1939 and 1941 Gerald was a teacher at Grand Falls. He then enlisted on 7 June 1941. The sports he had joined in were football, baseball and hockey. |
After training Gerald was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 20 July 1942 arriving at 3 PRC on 30 July. He then continued to 7 AGS 15 September 1942, 23 OTU 20 October 1942, 1659 CU 30 January 1943 and 419 Squadron 27 February 1943. Sadly Gerald was then to lose his life on 28 March 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1822/28 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1822/27 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-03-1943 |
End Date | 29-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (51% moon) |
Operation | St. Nazaire. 323 aircraft, 2 losses. An Oboe marked attack on the docks area with good bombing accuracy |
Reason for Loss | Shot down in the vicinity of Nantes, France |