Paton, Charles Andrew
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Charles Andrew |
Surname | Paton |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-09-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of David Paton and Mary Ann Paton (née Anderson). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7770 |
Markings | LQ-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row A. Grave 23. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 223 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/93472 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Charles was born on 17 October 1919 at Ferrydenby, Montrose, Scotland. His father was born in Scotland and his mother, who was deceased by the time of Charles's enlistment, in England. His father worked as a Mail Carrier. He had at least one brother and he owned a shop. He went to Ferryden schools both primary and Public and then at the Montana Academy, 1931-1935 taking both Matric and Technical subjects. Charles enjoyed swimming, tennis, baseball, fishing and shooting and his hobbies were drawing and painting. He worked as a messenger, parcel and shipman for about one year and was then a printing apprentice for four years from 1937 onwards. |
He enlisted on 27 February 1941 and arrived at 3PRC in the U.K. on 20 February 1942. He then went to 3 (0)AFU 14 April 1942, 22 OTU on 11 May 1942 and 405 Squadron 29 July 1942. Charles sadly lost his life on 17 September 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/31 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-09-1942 |
End Date | 17-09-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Topcliffe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 369 aircraft, 39 losses (10.6%). Bombing was scattered but this was a successful raid on a difficult target. Considerable damage sustained at the strategic Krupps works and bombs also fell in neighbouring Wuppertal and Bochum |
Reason for Loss | Flame damper burnt through on port inner engine shortly before the bombing run, then the oxygen supply failed. Nevertheless, the raid was successfully completed and a course set for home. Later attacked by a night-fighter, setting fire to the port wing. |