THE CANADIANS
We remember all 665
Thousands of Australian and New Zealand Air Force aviators travelled from the far reaches of the globe during World War II to undertake training in schools on bases that had been established throughout Canada. Our ANZAC aviators trained alongside Canadians and went on to fly alongside them during bombing raids they undertook from the United Kingdom into Europe.
Although the Canadians were flying under Bomber Command, they maintained their status as RCAF. Number 6 RCAF Bomber Group’s headquarters was at Allerton Park close to Knaresborough, located only a few miles from Harrogate. Hence, why so many Canadian aviators who died in the North of England were buried in Stonefall Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. In total, Number 6 Group flew more than 40,000 sorties.
Each of the Squadrons assigned to Number 6 Bomber Group not only had numbers but names.
No.405 Squadron – Vancouver RAF Gransden Lodge
No.408 Squadron – Goose RAF Linton-on-Ouse
No.419 Squadron - Moose RAF Middleton St.George
No.420 Squadron - Snowy Owl RAF Tholthorpe
No.424 Squadron - Tiger RAF Skipton-on-Swale
No.425 Squadron - Alouette RAF Tholthorpe
No.426 Squadron - Thunderbird RAF Linton-on-Ouse
No.427 Squadron - Lion RAF Leeming
No.428 Squadron - Ghost RAF Middleton St.George
No.429 Squadron - Bison RAF Leeming
No.431 Squadron - Iroquois RAF Croft
No.432 Squadron - Leaside RAF East Moor
No.433 Squadron - Porcupine RAF Skipton-on-Swale
No.434 Squadron - Bluenose RAF Croft
Representing every province in Canada, losses included not only air crew but ground crew who died in accidents and aviators who subsequently died of their injuries on return from operations.
The first burial of a Canadian aviator at Stonefall was that of Flying Officer Wireless Operator and Air Gunner John Hodgson Shand who died and was buried on 26th November 1944. Serving with the No. 4 Operational Training Unit at the time, Shand and the rest of the 10 man crew died when their Short Sunderland suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure on return from an anti-submarine patrol. The starboard engine caught fire and the Sunderland crashed onto railway lines in Scotland.
John Shand came from Lethbridge, Ontario and was 21 years old when he died. He is buried in Section G, Row C, Grave 3. Others crew members who died on the Sunderland were Lieutenants W. Fedoruk and J.A. Johnson. Flying Officers G.B. Johnson and C.M. Kendall. Warrant Officers F.J. Peters, C. Kinton, J.E. Porret, Flight Sergeants F.W. Cosgrove, D.C. Beattie, and Sergeant M.L. Hill. All are buried at Stonefall.
RAF LEEMING
On the 27th February 1945, Members of 429 Bison Squadron were aboard Halifax RG347 that had been borrowed from 427 Squadron. Destined for an early afternoon flight to bomb Mainz in Germany, one of the starboard tyres blew. This caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft as it began to climb with a full bomb load. The starboard wing lurched into the ground and the impact caused the bomb load to immediately explode. Six of the seven crew towards the front of the aircraft died on impact. The size of the blaze and further blasts hampered rescue efforts at RAF Leeming but the Rear Gunner, Flight Sergeant John Hugh MacEachern miraculously survived with serious injuries as the rear turret was thrown clear of the rest of the fuselage.
John Hodgson Shand
429 Bison Squadron
John Hugh MacEachern
John's six crew members who lost their lives were...
Flying Officer Pilot Richard McDiarmid Scott, aged 26, from Alberta
Flight Sergeant Flight Engineer Frederick George Fisher aged 30, from Ontario
Flying Officer Navigator Sidney Thomas Carson aged 20 from Toronto
Flying Officer Bomb Aimer Kenneth Frank Whitehouse aged 25 from Toronto
Pilot Officer Wireless Operator & Air Gunner Angus Mackie aged 23 from Toronto
Flight Sergeant Mid Upper Gunner Morley Junior Brewer aged 19 from Albert
Richard McDiarmid Scott
Morley Junior Brewer
THE LAST CANADIANS AT STONEFALL
On 6 April 1945, a Halifax from No.432 (Leaside) Squadron that was based at RAF East Moor undertook a routine air test. As the Halifax was taking off from the runway, it careered to one side and crashed into trees. The Halifax immediately burst into flames, killing the pilot and two ground crew members who were leisurely watching the take-off near the runway.
The Canadian crew serving with No.6 Bomber Group included on that flight were…
Flying Officer Pilot William Howard Porritt.
Flight Sergeant Flight Engineer Kenneth McEwen Davidson
Flying Officer Navigator John Henry Burns
Flying Officer Bomb Aimer William Murray Reid
Sergeant Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Edward Cohen
Flying Officer Air Gunner Leonard Raymond Jorgenson
Flying Officer Air Gunner James Percy Grey
432 Leaside Squadron
William Howard Porritt aged 25
Regis Fernand Charbonneau
Joseph Donat Marcel Bedard
Leading Aircraftsmen Charbonneau (age 19) and Bedard (age 20) were ground crew from Quebec.
