Archive Report: Allied Forces

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27.12.1943 No. 211 Squadron Beaufighter X LZ151 Fl/Lt. John R. Edgar

Operation: Training

Date: 27th December 1943 (Monday)

Unit:No. 211 Squadron

Type: Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X

Serial: LZ151

Code: Unknown

Base: RAF Ranchi, Bihar State (Jharkhand State since 2000) India

Location: Three miles east of Ranchi Airfield

Pilot:Fl/Lt. John Robert Edgar J/8141 RCAF Age 28 Killed (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

From November 1943 until early January 1944, the squadron was based at Ranchi Airfield in north east India to carry out pre-operational training.

Whilst flying solo on a training flight, Fl/Lt. Edgar encountered engine trouble and feathered one of the propellors. Rapidly losing altitude, Edgar attempted a wheels-up forced landing some 3 miles east of the airfield. On his approach the aircraft stalled and dove into the ground exploding on impact and was completely burnt out.

(1) Mount Edgar east of Chilliwack Lake, British Columbia, Canada is named after Fl/Lt. Edgar.

Burial Details:

F/O. Edgar was buried on the 28th December 1943.

Fl/Lt. John Robert Edgar. Ranchi War Cemetery, Jharkhand State, India. Grave 2.D.10. Son of Dale Edwin and Lula Josephine (nee Stewart) Edgar of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Further information:

"Jack" Edgar was born in 1915 at North Battleford, Saskatchwan and moved to Chilliwack with his family in 1925. Prior to the war, he worked in Chilliwack for Overwaitea Ltd. and was a popular athlete, no doubt encouraged by his father who was prominent in Chilliwack Amateur Athletics.

Right, loading rockets onto a 211 Squadron Beaufighter at Ranchi, India (courtesy IWM)

Jack maintained an interest in amateur radio work, model airplane building and was a member of the Chilliwack Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was interested in aviation and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, graduating from Yorkton, Saskatchewan as a pilot.

Once in England, he served for a year and nine months as a flying instructor. In August 1943, Jack began operations, flying Beaufighters in India with 211 Squadron.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and RCAF specialist Colin Bamford for relatives of this crew - page dedicated to the family of Fl/Lt. Edgar. Fl/Lt. Edgar’s photograph and biographical information researched by Paul Ferguson, Heritage Collections Manager, Chilliwack Museum and Archives and reproduced courtesy of The Chilliwack Museum and Archives, British Columbia, Canada.

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