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 Arthur Joseph 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)

We appeal to anyone with further information and/or photographs to please contact us via our HELPDESK

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

Above: The sole survivor of the crew, wireless operator Flight Sergeant Arthur Joseph 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.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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