Menzies, Howard John
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Howard John |
Surname | Menzies |
Gender | M |
Age | 30 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Edward Bessette and Minnie Belle Bessette (née MacMillan), of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Husband of Edith Rose Bessette (née Kreps), whom he married on 6 May 1943 at Moncton, New Brunswick. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LK811 |
Markings | QO-N |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | XVI. B. 11. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 211 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/86541 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 432 (Leaside) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Gordon was born at Vernon, British Columbia on 4 March 1914. His father was a fruit farmer born in British Colombia. His mother was born in Nova Scotia and sadly died on Christmas Day in 1923. His next-of-kin was shown on his enlistment papers as an aunt, Lillian MacMillan, his father being estranged. The schools he attended were General Wolfe 1921-1929, King Edward 1930-1932 and Lord Byng 1933-1937. He then went to the University of British Columbia 1937-1938 where he studied Arts followed by the University of Washington 1939-1940 and studied chemistry. The sports he enjoyed were rugby, golf and baseball and his hobby was photography. Gordon worked as a labourer at Pantoon Bridge Builders, Seattle, 1939-1940, at Austin Company, Seattle, Washington during 1940 also as a labourer and then at Orchard Point, Washington as a mechanic machinist during 1941. He then enlisted on 18 February 1942 in Vancouver. |
After enlistment and initial training, Gordon was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Halifax on 16 May 1943 arriving at 3PRC on the 24th. He then continued to 15 (P) AFU 22 June 1943, 18 (P) AFU 27 July 1943, 22 OTU 24 August, 61 Base 19 November 1943 and 420 Squadron 1 February 1944. Gordon was to lose his life later that month on 26 February 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-05-1944 |
End Date | 28-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (31% moon) |
Operation | Bourg-Leopold to bomb the military camp. 331 aircraft, 10 Lost (3.0%). The use of Oboe helped to pinpoint the target exactly resulting in serious damage to the target. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Budel, WNW of Weert, Holland |