Staples, Donald Anderson
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Donald Anderson |
Surname | Staples |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John T. and Jean M. Staples, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VII |
Serial Number | NP744 |
Markings | EQ-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Leopoldsburg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | VIII. A. 6. |
Epitaph | ALWAYS THOUGHTFUL TRUE AND KIND BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 246 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/35924 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Staples Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
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 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-11-1944 |
End Date | 03-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (92% moon) |
Operation | Dusseldorf. 992 aircraft, 19 losses- 4 of which crashed behind Allied lines (0.4%). Most of the bombing fell on the northern suburbs with more than 5000 houses being destroyed . 7 industrial premises were destroyed and 18 seriously damaged, including some important steel works. At least 678 people were killed. This was the last significant raid on Düsseldorf. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed behind Allied lines, the injured being admitted to US Army 50th Field Hospital |