John Arthur Cole
John was born on 16 January 1921 at Edmonton Alberta. His father was born in Detroit, Michigan USA and was a farmer, his mother was born at Elgin, Scotland. The schools he attended in Alberta were Pretty Hill, 1926-1934 (Grade 8), Dinant High 1934-1935 (grade 9), and Kingman Rural. 1935-1937 (grades 10 and 11). The sports he was interested in were softball and baseball. John worked for E. Whitefield in Wetaskiwin, Alberta as a farm hand 1939-1940. Between 1940-1941 he was working on the farm at home and then worked at Swift’s as a Canner, 1941 -1942. He then enlisted on 6 May 1942.
He embarked from Canada on 23 June 1943, arrived at 3 PRC in the U.K. on 2 July 1943, 14 (P) AFU on 10 August 1943, 20 OTU 26 October 1943 and had arrived at 78 squadron by 30 April 1944. Sadly it was from there that John was to lose his life on 8 June 1944.
Aircraft Information
Aircraft: Handley Page Halifax III
Serial Number: MZ568
Markings: EY-E
Fellow Servicemen
Sgt. Balmforth, D.
F/L. Bissett, T. N. W.
Sgt. Cribbin, G. N.
F/O. Gold, L.
Sgt. Newman, T.
Sgt. Tattler, H.
Last Operation Information
Start Date: 08-06-1944
End Date: 08-06-1944
Takeoff Station: Brighton
Day/Night Raid: Night (98% moon)
Operation: Juvisy to bomb railway communications. Part of a 337 bomber strong force to bomb various lines of communications behind the Normandy beachhead. There was less cloud cover than the previous night with all targets being accurately bombed and fewer civilians killed. Because the targets were further inland than recent raids, the German night-fighters had a greater opportunity to infiltrate the bomber stream and as a result, losses were higher. 28 aircraft were Lost (8.3%).
Reason for Loss: Thought to have exploded after being hit by flak. Debris fell mainly on Corbeil-Essones.
