Tycoles, Elmer Lawrance
Personal Information
Rank | WO2 |
Forename(s) | Elmer Lawrance |
Surname | Tycoles |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mike Mitchell Tycoles and Mary Tycoles (née Szmon), of Gilbert Plain, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK928 |
Markings | NA-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. G. 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 256 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/128073 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 428 (Ghost) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Tycoles Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
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
Elmer was born at Gilbert Plain, Manitoba on 25 August 1923. His father was a CNR Fireman and his mother was born at Gilbert Plains. The schools he attended were Kamsack 1929-1937 followed by Kamsack High 1939-1941. From 1937 onwards he worked intermittently for Dan’s groceteria as a grocery clerk. The sports he enjoyed were baseball and curling and his hobbies were model aircraft and reading about aviation. |
Elmer enlisted on 28 August 1941 and after training embarked from New York on 9 March 1943 for the U.K., where he arrived at 3PRC on 18 March 1943. He arrived at 3(0)AFU 1 June 1943, 19 OTU 29 June 1943, 61 Base 29 September 1943, 1664 CU 14 October 1943 and 428 Squadron on 23 November 1943. He was taken a prisoner of war 20/21 December 1943 where he died from severe injuries a few days later on 24 December while still receiving treatment for his injuries resulting from the crash. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1849/24 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1849/23 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-12-1943 |
End Date | 21-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (39% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 650 aircraft, 41 losses (6.3%). The German controllers were able to accurately plot the route as soon as the main force left the English coast and were therefore able to deploy night-fighters at many points along its route. A diversionary raid on Mannheim failed to draw off many fighters until the main raid was over. The target was mainly cloud covered whereas the forecast had predicted clear conditions. Marking did not, therefore, go to plan. The Germans used both decoy fires and also decoy target indicator. By a twist of good fortune, considerable creepback resulted in the bombing coming back over the city. Many public and municipal buildings were hit including many schools. 23000 people were bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Glees, NNW of Mendig, Germany |