Operation: Patrol

Date: 25th September 1944 (Monday) (1)

Unit: No. 441 squadron (RCAF) (motto: 'Stalk and Kill'). 125 Wing, 83 Group. 2nd Tactical Air Forc

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: NH151

Code: 9G-S

Base: B.70 ALG Antwerp/Deurne, Belgium

Location: Groesbeekseweg, Netherlands

Pilot: P/O. Osman McMillan J/92574 (R/184153) RCAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

According to 441 squadron operational record book:

In the afternoon at 14:35 hrs. nine of our aircraft want out on a patrol of. the Nijmegen area, During the patrol about 20 Me 109's were encountered on their way to attack the bridge at Nijmegen.

Our pilots attalid and in the dogfight that followed the e/a sure forced to jettison their bombs and the bridge, was not attended. During the fight 10 + Fw 190's who had evidently been providing high cover appeared. The result was that our aircraft became separated and unfortunately ML360 flown by Fl/Lt. Boe and NH151 flown by Fl/Sgt. McMillan did not return to base.

Fl/Sgt. (P/O. posthumus) McMillan attempted a forced landing and was killed when his damaged aircraft struck a gully and crashed in Groesbeekseweg.

F/O. D.H Kimball J/35983 (2) was also forced to land at Eindhoven when his Spitfire was hit in the tank by cannon fire, before this he destroyed two Me109's..

Burial and other details:

P/O. Osman McMillan. Mook War Cemetery. Plot. II. Row. A. Grave. 6. Born on the 24th August 1923 in Wilson, Ontario, Canada. Enlisted on the 26th May 1942. Son of Osman Teryl McMillan and Ina McMillan née Ina Dalrvmple), of 685 Chilver Road, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'God Rest His Soul In Peace'.

His brother Observer Sgt. Alexander Teryl McMillan R/..67522 RCAF Age 24. Killed on the 21st October 1941 whilst with 408 Squadron on Hampden P1212 EQ-T. Further details here

Fl/Lt. Bernard Boe Boe. J/3463 (R/58007), Age 28. Mook War Cemetery. Plot. III. Row. C. Grave. 10. Born on the 12th August 1916 in North Vancouver, Canada. Enlisted on the 10th June 1940. Son of Bernard (died on the 17th March 1992, age 105) and Celia Susanna Boe (née Hoffard - died on the 18 May 1969, age 81), brother of Phylis Elizabeth of652 Seymour Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Husband of Vera Ida Louis Boe, (née Hall, died in 1996, age 76 - married on the 24th November 1941) father of C. Louise of 5136 Vine Street, Vancouver., British Columbia, Canada. B.A.Sc. (British Columbia).

(1) Operation Market Garden ended in defeat for the Allies when they failed to cross the Rhine. The operation was mostly overlooked in popular histories of World War II until the 1974 publication of the book A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan, which was the basis for a film of the same name released in 1977.

(2) Donald Harold Kimball DFC 04th December 1944:

During his tour of operations this officer has displayed exceptional keenness and determination. As a section leader he has taken part in numerous patrols, armed reconnaissances and fighter sorties. He has destroyed four enemy aircraft in the air and one on the ground in addition to much enemy road and rail transport. Flying Officer Kimball has shown himself to be an outstanding fighter whose achievements against the enemy have been brilliant.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by National Archive Kew - AIR-27-01881-11/12. Government of Canada WW2 Service records.Fred Paradie and the Paradie RCAF Archives,

Other sources as quoted below:

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