Paxton, James Gordon
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | James Gordon |
Surname | Paxton |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of James and Ida Gladys Paxton, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VII |
Serial Number | RG472 |
Markings | EQ-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hotton War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | VII. A. 10. |
Epitaph | THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE FAINT" (Adapted from Isaiah 40:31) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 224 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/95397 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 408 (Goose) and 426 (Thunderbird) Squadrons of R.C.A.F |
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-03-1945 |
End Date | 02-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Köln. 858 aircraft, 9 lost. 703 aircraft in the first wave and 155 in the second although only 15 aircraft bombed in the second wave because the G-H station in England went off line. There are few details of the raid from local sources, such was the level of disarray. When the American troops arrived in the city just a few days later they found at least 400 bodies lying in the streets. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak on homebound leg, killing both airmen. The other crew members were able to bale out seconds before the aircraft exploded and crashed at Bad Godesberg, Germany |