Wernham, James Chrystall
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | James Chrystall |
Surname | Wernham |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | MiD |
Date of Death | 30-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James C. Wernham and Flora Wernham, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7708 |
Markings | LQ-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Poland |
Burial/Memorial Place | Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. C. 2. |
Epitaph | SAFE IN GOD'S CARE AND KEEPING |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 262 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/6144 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Observer |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Wernham Lake, Manitoba; 10km north of Amisk Park Reserve |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Shot by the Gestapo after the Sagan 'Great Escape' of March 1944. |
The pilot's DFC citation offers further explanation of the events sirrounding the crews' capture (London Gazette, 16 October 1942): "One night in September, Flight Lieutenant MacLean was captain of an aircraft engaged in an attack on a target in the Ruhr. During the bombing run heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered. The aircraft sustained damage; the aileron became jammed and when another shell burst immediately below the port wing the aircraft turned on its back and went into an inverted spiral dive. Flight Lieutenant MacLean recovered control of the aircraft and released his bombs on the target. On the return flight the aircraft was attacked from below by an enemy fighter. Further damage was sustained. Shortly afterwards both the port engines failed as the fuel system had been shot away. Despite great efforts on the part of Flight Lieutenant MacLean the bomber eventually became completely uncontrollable and both he and his crew were compelled to leave it by parachute. Throughout this hazardous operation this officer displayed great gallantry, fortitude and devotion to duty". |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-06-1942 |
End Date | 09-06-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (21% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 170 aircraft but yet another failure with only light damage to Essen. 19 aircraft lost. |
Reason for Loss | Initially hit by flak, the aircraft was later finished off by night-fighter pilot Oblt. Werner Rowlin of 8./NJG 1, in a Bf 110. Abandoned by all the crew and crashed at Bruchem, Netherlands. The pilot succeeded in evading capture (and was awarded the DFC for his actions during this operation) but the other six were taken prisoner. |