Oliver, John
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | John |
Surname | Oliver |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Egerton Charles Victor Oliver (a Bookkeeper and was born in Norfolk, England) and his mother was Ruth Eloise Oliver (née Rose, born in Derbyshire, England). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | HX230 |
Markings | BM-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 6. J. 19. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 220 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/89469 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 433 (Porcupine) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 27 September 1020 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Attended Allenby Public 1926-1935 and Westdale High, School of Commerce, from 3 September 1935 until 30 June 1937 where he studied commercial subjects. John worked as as a Typist and Invoice clerk at Balfour Ltd, Hamilton between 1937 and 1939 and then Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co. as a secretary and stenographer between 1939 and 1941. He also went to the Hamilton Aero Club ground School during the summer of 1940 |
John enlisted on the 23rd of February 1943 and after preliminary training, embarked from Halifax on 27 May, 1943. Arriving in U.K. on 4 June he went through 3 PRC, 6(O)AFU, 24 OTU, 61 base, 1659 Conversion Unit and then on to 433 Squadron on 9 December 1943. |
His sports included.hockey, swimming, baseball, basketball, and rugby. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1862/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1862/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 19-02-1944 |
End Date | 20-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (22% moon) |
Operation | Leipzig. 823 aircraft, 78 losses (9.5%). Excluding early returners, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9%. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany. The Kiel mine laying diversion was successful in drawing off fighters, but the German controllers only sent half of the available aircraft. As soon as the bomber stream crossed the Dutch coast they were confronted by the remaining half of the fighters and, moreover, the ones sent to Kiel were returned to join the fray. As a consequence, the fighters steadily picked off bombers all the way to this distant target. The winds were strongly than had been predicted and many bombers arrived early and had to orbit the target awaiting the Pathfinders, further increasing the likelihood of being picked off, either by flak or fighters. Leipzig was cloud covered and sky-marking had to be used. Early bombing appeared to be concentrated but later bombing less so. There was no local report nor a reconnaissance flight the following day. An American raid the following day then made it impossible to judge the effectiveness of the raid. |
Reason for Loss |