Archive Report: Allied Forces

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06/07.09.1943 No 434 Squadron Halifax V DK251 IP-F Fl/Sgt. James H. Tovey

Operation: Munchen, Germany

Date: 6/7th September 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No 434 (Bluenose) Squadron

Type: Handley Page Halifax V

Serial: DK251

Code: IP-F

Base: RAF Tholthorpe, Yorkshire

Location: Neufahrn, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. James Harold Tovey R/92996 RCAF Age 23 Killed (1)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Peter William Streeter McCartney 1473499 RAFVR Age? Killed (2)

Nav: WO2 Aubrey David Steadman R/114527 RCAF Age 21 Killed (3)

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Alan Benjamin Jackson R/116342 RCAF Age 21 Killed (4)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Chester Frank Phillips R/132641 RCAF Age 25 Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Harry Lawrence Douglas R/173933 RCAF Age 30 Killed (5)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James McDonald R/175198 RCAF Age 19 Killed (6)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Halifax DK251 took off from RAF Tholthorpe at 19.33hrs for an operation on Munchen. Part of 404 aircraft that took off on this operation. The city was mostly covered in cloud and the crews could do no more than bomb on a timed run from the Ammersee, a lake situated 21 miles south-west of the target. Halifax DK251 may have been hit by flak or shot down by a enemy night fighter and crashed at Neufahrn

                                                 

                                                             Handley Page Halifax V (courtesy of Imperial War Museum)

Map showing the area of the crash

   

Fl/Sgt. Tovey, Fl/Sgt. Philips and Fl/Sgt. McDonald (courtesy Veterans Affairs Canada.  See credit)

Burial details:

 

RCAF Air Casualties. Ottawa October 14, 1943 Globe and Mail (courtesy Democracy at War, Canadian War Museum)

  

                   Fl/Sgt. Tovey, Fl/Sgt. Philips and Fl/Sgt. McDonald headstones (courtesy Veterans Affairs Canada.  See credit)

All the crew were buried on the 8th September 1943 in Neufahrn Civic Cemetery and their remains were reinterred at Durnbach War Cemetery on the 13th May 1948

James Harold Tovey completed part of his training at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (courtesy Australian War Memorial)

Fl/Sgt. James Harold Tovey. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 7. Son of Charles Wilfred and Margaret Tovey of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1) Born on the 22nd December, 1919 in Elnora, Alberta and enlisted in Calgary on the 24th April 1941. Completed part of his training at No 5 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School, Lethbridge, Alberta, No 22 OTU (Operational Training Unit) RAF Wellesbourne, Warwickshire and 1659 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit). While training at 1659 HCU on the night of the 28th July 1943 Sgt. R C Deegan and Sgt. J H Tovey flying in Halifax DT500 took off at 02.34hrs from RAF Topcliffe, North Yorkshire for a night training flight of circuits and landings. At 02.44hrs on touch down a tyre burst and the undercarriage collapsed, ensuring that the aircraft never flew again. No one was hurt. See also (Halifax EB247 P/O. Deegan) Flight Sergeant James Harold Tovey was awarded 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45. James was posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service against the enemy on the 16 September 1946

Sgt. Peter William Streeter McCartney. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 12. No further information on next of kin. Are you able to help? (2) Peter is remembered on the Bexhill-on-Sea War Memorial

WO2 Aubrey David Steadman. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 10. Son of John and Jessie May Steadman of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (3) Born on the 5th September 1922 in Baring, Saskatchewan, Canada and is remembered on the Saskatchewan War Memorial

Fl/Sgt. Alan Benjamin Jackson. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 8. Son of Godfrey H. H. Jackson and Grace Jackson of Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada (4) Alan did part of his training on Course 43 at No 22 OTU (Operational Training Unit) Welllesbourne, Warwickshire and is remembered on Gladstone War Memorial, Manitoba

Fl/Sgt. Chester Frank Phillips. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 9. Son of Frank and Maria Grant Nelson Phillips of Montreal. Province of Quebec, Canada

Sgt. Harry Lawrence Douglas. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 13. Son of George Ross Douglas and Minnie Louise Douglas of Herschel, Saskatchewan, Canada (5) Harry was born on the 2nd February 1913 in Herschel, Saskatchewan and had only been in the RCAF for just one year before he was killed

Fl/Sgt. James McDonald. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: 9. C. 11. Son of Walter James McDonald and Annie McDonald of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (6) James was born on the 9th January 1924 in Ontario and at the time of his death his address was given as 33 Norton Avenue, Toronto, Ontario

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. With special thanks to Veterans Affairs Canada (all reproductions are a copy of the version available on the Veterans Affairs Canada website), Australian War Memorial

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