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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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440 Squadron Crest
12.06.1944 No. 440 Squadron Typhoon MN115 Fl/Lt. James G. Gohl AM. MiD.

Operation: France

Date: 12th June 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 440 Squadron (RCAF)

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: MN115

Base: RAF Hurn

Location: English Channel off Christchurch

Pilot: Fl/Lt. James Garfield Gohl AM. MiD. J/8356 RCAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Returning from a bombing operation over France when hit by flak. The pilot tried to reach England, but engine failed over the channel.

Baled out over English Channel some 2 miles south east of Christchurch, but neither the pilot or aircraft recovered.

Citation for MiD, January 1944:
"This officer has led his squadron and participated in many bombing and strafing attacks against the enemy. Although bad weather prevented many sorties, by his personal example and enthusiasm he kept the squadron morale at a high level."

Citation for AM:

“On 25th September 1942, voluntarily flew with United States Army combat pilots, accompanying heavy bombers in making a hazardous five hundred mile overwater flight in order to press home an attack on the enemy at Kiska Island, Alaska. Although the mission of protecting the bombing planes from anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters was completed, the fighters returned to strafe all enemy installations with remarkable success. All planes returned safely to base.”

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. James Garfield Gohl. AM. MiD. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 244. Further information: Son of Elijah and Philippa Gohl, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Also brother to Ronald, Muriel, Al, Gwen and Kay. Born in Roland, 13th June 1920, then moved to Boissevain for his education. Attended the University of Manitoba - trained to be a chartered accountant prior to service. Served for two years with the US AAF.

(1) Gohl Lake east of Kississing Lake in Manitoba was renamed after Fl/Lt. James Garfield Gohl AM. MiD. in 1972.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, his brother (95 years old in July 2016) and brothers daughter - Vicki Gohl who contacted us in July 2016 and in January 2019. With thanks to sources quoted below. Photographs of Fl/Lt. James Gohl supplied by ‘A Place of Honour.’

RS 05.01.2019 - Correction to NoK details

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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