Strain, Clifford Clarence
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Clifford Clarence |
Surname | Strain |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 27-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Strain and Beatrice Maude Strain (née Tamblin) of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Metty Irena Magrathe Strain (née Birkhof), whom he married on 25 November 1939. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | DG423 |
Markings | MP-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 4. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 249 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/127567 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 76 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Behind old Main Guardroom, former Holme On Spalding Moor Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In Remembrance of the aircrew members from the UK,Australia,New Zealand,Canada and Norway,who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in operational sorties against the enemy from 76 Sqn 1941-1945 and to the ground personal who lost their lives by enemy |
Location | All Saints Church, Holme On Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window and Roll of Honour within Wooden Box with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | S G Window In memory of 76 Sqn R.A.F / Roll of honour In memory of those members of 76 Sqn R.A.F who were killed on active service 1939-1954 |
Miscellaneous Information
Clifford was born on 5 January 1918 at Peterborough, Ontario. Both parents were born in Peterborough and his father was a farmer. He had five brothers and two sisters. The schools he attended in Peterborough were S.S.#3 Peterborough between 1923-1931 and Peterborough Vocational 1931- 1932. He wasn’t keen on sports but went swimming occasionally. He was working on his father’s farm between 1932-1937, and as a labourer for Canada Packers 1937-1940. He then worked as a miner, 1940-1941. Clifford finally went to work as a Shipper at A. Wander Ltd (Ovaltine Producers) until enlistment on 13 August 1941. |
After initial training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 29 December 1942. He reached 3PRC on 8 January 1943, 7 AGS 3 March 1943, 1658 CU 17 March 1943 and 76 Squadron 10 April 1943. Clifford very sadly lost his life later that month on 27 April 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/651/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/651/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 26-04-1943 |
End Date | 27-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (54% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg. 561 aircraft, 17 losses (3.0%). PFF claimed accurate marking but most of the bombs fell in the north east of the city. More than 300 buildings destroyed and 130+ fatalities |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed onto the Carlton Hotel, Amsterdam which was being used as Luftwaffe headquarters |