Richardson, John William
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | John William |
Surname | Richardson |
Gender | M |
Age | 30 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 10-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Richardson and Deliska Richardson (née Corbel), of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Gertrude Rosina Richardson (née Dalton). Father of Deanna Norma Richardson (born 22 June 1941). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD216 |
Markings | EQ-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 15. G. 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 232 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | C/20348 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
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 |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
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 |
Miscellaneous Information
On the strength of 1659 CU and had gone along for experience |
John was born on 29 April 1913 at North Bay, Ontario. His father was a Provincial Health Inspector who was born in Scotland and his mother was born in Corbel, Ontario. He had three brothers and a sister Marguerite. He attended King Edward Public School between 1924-1930 followed by North Bay Collegiate, Institute and Technical school, 1930-1935. John enjoyed most athletic sports. He owned his own light aircraft. He worked for the North Bay Nugget newspaper as a stenographer and Press man and attended a winter Flying Training School in 1940. |
He enlisted on 26 October 1940 at Windsor and after preliminary training was posted to the U.K., arriving at 3PRC. He was then at 14 (P) AFU on 19 January 1943, 23 OTU 23 March 1943, 1659 CU on 12 June 1943 and at 408 Squadron on 5 July 1943. Sadly John lost his life just five days later, on 10 July 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
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 Loss |