Spraggett, James Edward
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | James Edward |
Surname | Spraggett |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas Spraggett and Kathleen Spraggett (née Clinton), of Montreal, PQ, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster X |
Serial Number | KB758 |
Markings | NA-Z |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 5. B. 12. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 246 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/28934 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 428 (Ghost) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to fomer St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed slate tablets |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served on 428 (RCAF) Sqn at Middleton St. George during WWII, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice |
Miscellaneous Information
James was born at Montreal on 10 September 1922. Both parents were born in Ireland and are both now deceased. His married sister Rose Petch was given as his next of kin. The schools he attended were Rosemount School, in Montreal 1929-1936 (Primary), Montreal High 1936-1937, and Montreal Technical Institute 1940-1941. He then went to the Modern Business College to study junior engineering, for several months. His sport interests included boxing, swimming and fishing. Between 1937-1938 James was unemployed and then from 1938 onwards, for three years, he worked for T. Eaton and Company where he was involved in general office work and stock keeping. |
He enlisted on 18 June 1942 and after training, embarked from Halifax for the U.K. on 26 August 1943. He arrived at 3 PRC on 2 September 1943 and then continued to 9(0)AFU on 2 November 1943, 82 OTU 4 January 1944, 1664 CU 7 May 1944, ending up at 428 Squadron on 6 June 1944. Sadly on 13 August 1944 James was to lose his life. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1850/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1850/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-08-1944 |
End Date | 13-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (30% moon) |
Operation | Braunschweig. 379 aircraft, 27 losses (7.1%). This was an experimental raid with no PFF marking to determine how accurate an H2S only raid could be. The raid was not a success and bombing was very scattered. The local report classifies it as a heavy raid nonetheless. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed near Winsen, NW of Celle, Germany |