Pixley, Asa Nelson Died
Personal Information
| Rank | WO1 |
| Forename(s) | Asa Nelson |
| Surname | Pixley |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 34 |
| Date of Death | 18-04-1945 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Albert Henry Pixley and Alberta Etta Pixley (née Buck), of Rouleau, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
| Serial Number | JB922 |
| Markings | EQ-H |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | 10A. N. 13. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 226 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | R/125451 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 6 |
| Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
| Squadron Motto | For freedom |
| Trade | WOp/AG |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
| Location | Pixley Bay, Saskatchewan |
| Country | Canada |
| Memorial Type | Bay |
| Memorial Text |
| Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
| Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose, 419 Moose, 427 Lion, 429 Bison. Also, to the many Civilians who supported them during their term of duty in North Yorkshire. We remember too the RAF Squadrons who preceded the Canadians from 1940 - 1942; 7 - 10 - 35 -77 - 102 - 219. To those who paid the supreme sacrifice, we will remember them. Dedicated June 19, 1993 |
| Location | Allerton Park Castle, Allerton, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Memorial Garden dedicated to the 4272 personnel of 6 (RCAF) Gp based at Allerton Castle who gave the ultimate sacrifice during WWII to preserve our freedom |
Miscellaneous Information
| Date of crash 10/7/43 |
| Asa was born on 18 May 1909 at Rouleau, Saskatchewa. His father was a farmer born at Merrickville, Ontario where his mother was also born. He attended Amherst S.D. school 1915-1923 and again 1923-1925. The sports he joined in were baseball, hockey and swimming. From 1925 onwards he carried out a variety of farm work until 1929 when he then had his own farm until 1940. He had also spent two months working in carpentry. Asa then enlisted on 19 August 1941. |
| After training Asa was posted to the U.K. and he embarked from New York on 23 November 1942 arriving at 3 PRC on 1 December 1942. He then went on to 3 (O) AFU on 22 December 1942, 23 OTU 9 February 1943, 1659 CU 1 May 1943, and 408 Squadron 16 May 1943. Although posted as missing on 10 July 1943 Asa was actually a prisoner of war and very sadly did not lose his life until 18 April 1945. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/14 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/14 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Crouch E (F/O) | Died |
| Mellish T R (F/O) | Died |
| Prentice W R (F/S) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 09-07-1943 |
| End Date | 10-07-1943 |
| Takeoff Station | Leeming |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (43% moon) |
| Operation | Gelsenkirchen. 418 aircraft, 12 losses (2.9%). This raid was a failure. Five of the Mosquitoes could not mark the target due to faulty Oboe equipment and one dropped markers in error, causing confusion amongst the main force. Nevertheless the strategically important synthetic oil plant at Scholven was hit. |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Crashed at Essen-Kupferdreh, Germany |