Archive Report: Allied Forces

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402 Squadron Spitfire XIV RM758 Fl/Lt. John Carson McAllister

Operation: Armed reconnaissance

Date: 21st February 1945 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 402 Squadron (motto: 'We stand on guard'). 126 Wing.

Type: Spitfire XIV

Serial: RM758

Code: AE-M

Base: B.88 Heesch, Netherlands

Location: At airstrip

Pilot: Fl/Lt. John Carson McAllister J/21004 (R132564) RCAF Age 28. Died of injuries

REASON FOR LOSS:

Involved in a flying accident on the 25th April 1942 whilst flying Fleet Finch II 4676 with No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School.

Above: Fleet Finch II

At 16:30 hrs the aircraft was seen spinning from about 2,000 ftIt continued to spin until it hit the ground at Valmont, Quebec. The pilot was conscious but in severe shock. and could not recall what happened.

He suffered lacerations to the back of his head, forehead and both thighs He recovered after a few months in St. James Hospital at Three Rivers. The instructor pilot Sgt. Samuel Rogow R/93360 died of injuries 1½ hours after accident suffering from multiple fractures.

Thing off on the first of two armed recce at 12:30 hrs with seven others. The squadron inflicted heavy damage to enemy railways and communications.

F/O. Lemuel George Barnes (1) J/10072 RCAF flying Spitfire XIV RM839 was hit by flak and although he tried to make it back to base he was forced to bale out near Holtern. Evaded capture and rejoined unit. Fl/Lt. McAllister was flying as his No. 2 had just joined the squadron and on his second operational sortie. He also was hit by flak and made his return to the base. Sadly he died of his injuries whilst attempting to land his Spitfire cartwheeled on the airstrip.

Above: Fl/Lt. John Carson McAlliister and Spitfires at B.88 Heesch, NetherlandsBurial details:

Buried on the 23rd February 1945, initially at Nistelrode.

Fl/Lt. John Carson McAlliister. Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. XXII.C.4. Born on the 02nd January 1917.Educated at Montreal High School and McGill University. Worked as an electrical controller for British American Oil Company. Enlisted on the 11th September 1941 in Montreal.

Son of William Hopkins McAllister and Charlotte Ellen (née Mallete, Husband of Marie Blanch Raymonde (née Hound - married 05th October 1939in Montreal) of father of, Susan Charlotte (born 17th December 1939) and Beverley Carol, of 3419 Gaston Street, Montreal, Canada

Left: Sgt. Samuel Rogow R/93360

Sgt. Samuel Rogow. Toronto Cemetery (Amalgamated Dawes Road). Plot 1. Row 10. Grave 2. Also remembered on a memorial plaque by the Hadassah chapter at the Beth Israel Synagogue in Peterborough. Born on the 03rd August 1921 in Peterborough. Educated at Peterborough Collegiate Institute and Vocational School.

Enlisted on the 21st February 1921. Awarded flying badge on the 19th December 1941. Instructor badge awarded on the 29th March 1942. A total of 210 solo flying hours logged. Employed by Quebec Airways (T) Limited. Son of Benjamin (previously known as Rogowvitch of Russian descent , British subject on the 27th May 1918 - died 27th December 1961, age 75) and Mollie (Mary) Rogow (née Solomon), brother of Adeline, Esther, Katherine, Rose, Joseph, Alex and Ralph, of 440½ George Street, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

(1) Lemuel George Barnes survived the war. Born on the 08th January 1918. in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Husband of Katherine Grace. A Crescent Heights High School. At the age of twenty-two, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Right: Lemuel George Barnes

On his return home from England, he went on to study civil engineering at the University of Alberta. Upon graduation, he worked briefly as an engineer in Ottawa and after the birth of his second child, came home to Calgary to be closer to his family. He then started to work at Burns and Dutton where he ultimately achieved the position of Chief Engineer of Heavy Construction. In 1959, he formed a partnership with his university friend Ian Campbell. They spent many years doing the work that they both enjoyed, completing many of Calgary’s major construction projects.

They lived in Victoria for the past four years, where Lem often remarked that “he was pursuing the even tenor of his days”, he and Katherine were able to enjoy the natural beauty of the city. Returning to Calgary, his family felt blessed by time spent together. They had five children, Debbie, Harold, Sharon MacGregor (Ian), George (Nancy) and Tom (Menchie). He was predeceased by his mother Frances Sarah (née Twamley - died 27th January 1977, age 79), father Lemuel Arthur Wesley (died 01st July 1966, age 86), brother Jack, and sister Winnie. He passed away on the 07th January 2008, age 89.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these pilots with thanks to the Paradie RCAF Archives, WW2 Service records of Canada, National Archive Kew. AIR-27-1778-25/26. Aron Heller and The Tablet for Sgt. Rogow information.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding 1945 losses

Pages detailing RCAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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