Oakley, Ernest James
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ernest James |
Surname | Oakley |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 14-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James William Oakley and Annie Maria Oakley (née Fisher), of Toronto, Ontario. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | LL679 |
Markings | J1-J2 |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 8. G. 12-18. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 220 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/190931 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 514 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John the Evangelist, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial and RoH |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 514 Sqn who served at RAF Waterbeach 1943-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Ernest was born in Toronto on 17 September 1915. Both parents were born in England and his father, who died in 1933 had been a painter. He was one of nine children: William Henry, R/69598 Cpl Oakley AE RCAF, B5967 Spr Oakley F, RCE Overseas and five sisters Frances, Anne, Maude, Rose and Mildred. Ernest went to the Duke of Connaught 1930-1931, High School (Entrance), Junior Matric and one year Commercial at Earl Gray Tech 1932-1933. He enjoyed swimming and photography. Ernest was a Buffer 1940-41, worked in the stockroom of the United Drug Co. during 1941 and then undertook general factory work with George Allan & Co. during 1942 before enlistment. |
He enlisted on 11 September 1942 and after early training Embarked from Halifax for the U.K. on 26 August 1943. He arrived in England and 3PRC On 2 September 1943, 82 OTU 21 September, 1651 CU 29 October 1943, 1678 CF 28 December 1943 and eventually 514 Squadron on 5 January 1944. Just nine days later, Ernest very sadly lost his life. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1979/9 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1977/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-01-1944 |
End Date | 15-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Waterbeach |
Day/Night Raid | Night (82% moon) |
Operation | Brunswick. 498 aircraft, all but two of them Lancasters. First major raid on this town of the war. 38 Lancasters Lost (7.6%). The German controller tracked the bomber stream from just off the English coastline and many German fighters entered the stream over Bremen, continuing to score hits until the stream left the Dutch coast on the return leg. Pathfinder losses were unusually high (11 aircraft). The raid was not successful even though the town was not expansive alongside most targets. Many bombs fell in open countryside or in neighbouring towns. Only 10 houses destroyed. 14 deaths on the ground. |
Reason for Loss |