Zander, Donald
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Donald |
Surname | Zander |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 31-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Otto Zander and Marie Zander (née Shepperd), of Leipzig, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD128 |
Markings | DY-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 3. E. 19. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 270 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/115850 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Zander Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Donald was born in Leipzig, Saskatchewan on 15 July 1922. He also had a brother Rollin. His father Otto was a farmer and Donald was born on a farm. He went to primary school in Saskatchewan 1928 - 1936 and then Concordia College in Edmonton from 1936-1941. Donald stayed at school until enlisting. |
Donald enlisted on 6 August 1941 and after his early training embarked from Canada on 26 January 1943. After arriving in the U.K. he went to 3 PRC on 5 May 1943, 7 AGS on 3 March 1943, 1658 CU on 17 March 1943 reaching 102 Squadron on 21 April 1943. |
His hobby was photography and the sports he played were hockey, handball, baseball and swimming and he enjoyed hunting occasionally. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/809/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/809/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-08-1943 |
End Date | 31-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Mönchengladbach/ Rheydt. 660 aircraft, 25 losses (3.8%). PFF marked Mönchengladbach first and then after a two minute pause, the neighbouring town of Rheydt. Good visibility and Oboe assistance made for extremely accurate marking and as a result the bombing was concentrated with little creepback. Approximately half of both towns was destroyed with 1059 and 1280 buildings destroyed in the two towns (respectively). |
Reason for Loss | Crashed in the target area |