Whelan, John Joseph
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Joseph |
Surname | Whelan |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Joseph Whelan and Sarah Whelan (née McDowell), of Lachine, Québec, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK701 |
Markings | SE-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. F. 14. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 263 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/194061 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 431 (Iroquois) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served on 431 Sqn RCAF at RCAF Burn, 1942-1943 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed metal plaques & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of all those who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2 including 431 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Old Control Tower, former airfield site, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of all those who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2 including 431 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
John was born at Lachine, Quebec on 18 March 1923. His father worked as a janitor and both parents were born in Ireland. He had sisters Irene and Margaret. John attended two schools in Lachine: George Esplin 1929-1936 followed by Lachine High School, 1936-1940 (10th grade). He joined in several sports including skiing, tennis, skating and bowling. He worked at the Dominion Engineering Works in Lachine as a pipe fitter helper from 1940 until enlistment on 16 September 1942. |
After training he embarked from Canada on 16 July 1943, arriving at 3PRC on 23 July 1943. From there he went to 24 OTU on 3 August 1943, 1659 CU 20 September 1943 and 431 Squadron on 15 October 1943. John sadly lost his life on 29 December 1943 at the age of only 20 years. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1857/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1857/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-12-1943 |
End Date | 30-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (11% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 712 aircraft, 20 losses (2.8%). Three diversionary raids (Düsseldorf, Leipzig and Magdeburg) together with poor weather on the approach, caused enough disruption to prevent many night-fighters intercepting the main force. Berlin was again cloud-covered. The local report and Bomber Command's own report are at odds regarding the concentration of the attack. 182 people were killed on the ground and a further 10000 were bombed out of their homes but otherwise, little significant damage was caused. |
Reason for Loss |