Operation: Chemnitz.
Date: March 5 1945 (Monday)
Unit: 425 RCAF Squadron - Motto: Je te plumerai, lit. 'I shall pluck you'
Type: Handley Page Halifax III
Serial: MZ845
Code: KW-J
Base: RAF Tholthorpe, North Riding of Yorkshire
Location: Crashed near Linton on Ouse after collision with 426 Squadron aircraft PN228.
Pilot: P/O Mark Sylvester Harold Anderson J92728 RCAF Age 23 - Killed (1)
Fl/Eng: P/O Joseph Donat Fernand Eugene Roy J94670 RCAF Age 22 - Killed (2)
Nav: P/O Joseph Emile Roland Beaudry J94216 RCAF Age 21 - Killed (3)
Air/Bmr: F/O Ronald Edward Oscar Charron J40447 RCAF Age 22 - Killed (4)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/Sgt Joseph Andre Jean DeCruyenaere R177985 RCAF Age? Abandoned aircraft- Survived (5)
Air/Gnr: F/Sgt Joseph Louis Paul Seguin R171212 RCAF Age 21 - Killed (6)
Air/Gnr: P/O Joseph Louis Gaston Pelletier J94603 RCAF Age 20 - Killed (7)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Collision with PN228 of 426 Squadron. There is the possibility that PN228 had lost control prior to the collision due to severe airframe icing. For further details see JB122 ADDENDUM: AIRFRAME ICING - Loss 3
Left: The sole survivor of the crew, wireless operator Flight Sergeant Joseph Andre Jean DeCruyenaere
BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS
(1) P/O Mark Sylvester Harold Anderson was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. G. Row H. Grave 12.
No epitaph
Son of John J. and Lexinska Plante M. Anderson, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
(2) P/O Joseph Donat Fernand Eugene Roy was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. G. Row H. Grave 15.
His epitaph reads:
Love’s greatest gift
Remembrance
Son of Ernest and Florence E. Roy, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
(3) P/O Joseph Emile Roland Beaudry was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. G. Row H. Grave 13.
No epitaph
Son of Dr. Raymond and Annette Beaudry, Quebec City, Canada.
(4) F/O Ronald Edward Oscar Charron was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. G. Row H. Grave 11.
Duty, Honor, Country:
Well done,
Be thou at peace
Son of Oscar and Azelma Charron (nee Pelon), of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
(6) F/Sgt Joseph Louis Paul Seguin was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. G. Row H. Grave 8.
No epitaph
Son of Henri and Neilly Seguin, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
(7) P/O Joseph Louis Gaston Pelletier was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. G. Row H. Grave 14.
His epitaph reads:
He has given his life
To bring us back peace
And maintain our liberties.
Ever remembered. Mother
Son of Jeanne L. Pelletier and stepson of Fredric S. Lefebvre, of Point-aux-Trembles, Province of Quebec, Canada.
References:
Aircrew Remembered Archive Report: JB122 Addendum- Airframe Icing. Journey’s End, Kevin Wilson - Chapter Fourteen, A COLD AND SILENT KILLER pp. 266-292. Library and Archives Canada/ancestry.ca.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Photo Credits:
LAC/ancestry.ca: Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947. G1. P/O Mark Anderson- File 24746 Image 40. G2. P/O Joseph Roy- File 28565 Image 2. G3. P/O Joseph Beaudry - File 24821 Image 173. G4. F/O Ronald Charron - File 25039 Image 309. G5. F/Sgt Joseph Seguin - File 28616 Image 399. G6. P/O Joseph Pelletier - File 28402 Image 170.
Co-Authors:
John Naylor
Maureen Hicks
Pete Pearson
Reg Price DFC, 625 Squadron veteran
Submission by John Proctor, Jack Albrecht and Nic Lewis.
JA 08-09-2019