Vipond, George Graham
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | George Graham |
Surname | Vipond |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Joseph William Vipond and Wilhelmina Lukey Vipond (née Sampson), of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW415 |
Markings | AL-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Oudenaarde Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 42. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 258 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/38130 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
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. |
Miscellaneous Information
George was born on 7 July 1916 at Nanaimo, British Columbia. His father was born in Illinois, USA and worked as a lumberman, he died in 1936. His mother was born in Nanaimo and died in 1948. He had one married sister, Marjorie Jane. The schools he attended in Nanaimo were: North Ward (public) 1922-1926 , Quesnel Public 1926-1930 and Nanaimo High. 1930-1934 (grade 12). His sporting interests were skating, fishing, hiking and tennis. George worked for General Auto Sales as a Mechanic Metal Worker, in Nanaimo from 1936 until he enlisted on 26 February 1942. |
After training he embarked for the U.K., arriving at 3PRC on 22 December 1943. He went on to 61 Base 3 February 1944, and 429 Squadron on 31 March 1944. George sadly lost his life from there on 2 May 1944 . |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-05-1944 |
End Date | 02-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (66% moon) |
Operation | St Ghislain- to bomb railway installations. 137 aircraft- 2 losses. A highly successful attack. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by a night-fighter, causing the Halifax to explode and shower debris across the village of Bevere Meerschaert. The pilot, F/O S M Leslie, was thrown clear and evaded capture |