Stefanchuk, John James
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | John James |
Surname | Stefanchuk |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 10-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mike Stefanchuk and Anna Stefanchuk (née Chubey), of Stuartburn, Manitoba, Canada. |
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. 6. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 247 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/58757 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Stefanchuk Lake, Manitoba; Within Sand Lakes Provincial Park |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
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 |
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
John was born on 30 January 1921 at Stuartburn, Manitoba. His father was born in Austria and was a farmer, his mother born in Stuartburn. He had a brother Peter, who was shown as next-of-kin on his enlistment papers. He attended Stuartburn school 1928-1937 followed by Tolstoy and Emerson 1937-1939. He then attended Dom. Prov Vocational school where he studied carpentry and fitting. Between 1936-1939 John also worked as a farm labourer during the school holidays. |
He enlisted on 3 May 1940 and on completion of his training was posted to the U.K. where he arrived at 3 PRC on 2 September 1942. He then continued to 9 (0) AFU. 14 September 1942 and 23 OTU on 14 January 1943. John was sadly to lose his life 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 |