Seeley, Francis Gerald
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Francis Gerald |
Surname | Seeley |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 10-04-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry Arthur Seeley and Bertha Ann Seeley (née Bateman), of Marmora Township, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | PB903 |
Markings | BM-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. F. 10. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 239 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/95252 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 433 (Porcupine) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Miscellaneous Information
Francis was born at Marmora Township, Ontario on 25 October 1925. Both parents were born in Ontario, his father, a farmer at Ivanhoe and his mother at Springbrook. He had brothers Harry Bateman and John Frederick and sisters Annie and Laura. Francis attended Salem School 1931-1939 followed by Colbourne High 1939-1941. His sport interests were swimming, riding, canoeing, rugby, and baseball amongst others and he enjoyed building model boats. Between 1941-1942 he worked at home on the farm and then worked for the Canadian Doughnut Company at Trenton, as a Doughnut flour mixer from 1942 until enlisting. |
After enlisting on 16 September 1943 and initial training, he was posted to the U.K., embarking from Halifax on 2 June 1944. He arrived at 3(RCAF) PRC on 11 June 1944, then went to 24 OTU 11 July 1944, 61 Base 27 September 1944 and then 433 Squadron on 6 January 1945. Francis so sadly lost his life on 10 April 1945, still aged only nineteen years. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1862/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1862/31 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 10-04-1945 |
End Date | 10-04-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Leipzig- to attack the Engelsdorf and Mockau railway yards |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak just before the aiming point, causing a fire in the starboard inner engine. The aircraft lost height and there was a small explosion, turning the aircraft onto its back. Hit the ground and exploded |