No.1334076, Flight Sergeant, Ernest John Allenby FORD
Aged 22
Born on 21st May 1921 - 2nd qtr 1921 Bury St.Edmunds 4a:1764, son of Ernest Henry and Christine H FORD (née ANNIS). In the 1939 register he was a
clerk in the County Court, lodging at 47 Windsor Road, Lowestoft. He married Marjorie D CUSTERSON in 4th qtr 1942in Depwade, their address was 33 Well Street, Bury St.Edmunds |
434 (Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron) was formed at RAF Tholthorpe, Yorkshire on 13 June 1943, flying the Handley Page Halifax Mk V. On 13 August 1943 it
flew its first operational sortie, a bombing raid across the Alps to Milan, Italy. Known as the "Bluenose Squadron" the nickname for Nova Scotians, the
squadron being adopted by the Rotary Club of Nova Scotia. The schooner Bluenose is depicted on the badge (authorised by King George VI in 1945)
On the night of 22nd/23rd August 1943, Halifax Mk5 KB255 c/s IP-P from RAF Tholthorpe (pilot P/Off Harrison RCAF) took part in a raid on Leverkusen. IP-P is believed to have been shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Tongeren in Belgium. None of the crew of 8 survived There are conflicting records of the mission on line, some having the a/c as EB255 and on a raid to Berlin, but the record here is from the squadron operations book via The National Archives. This also concurs with their original burial place. originally buried in Brusthem (St Trond) Cemetery and re-interred in June 1947 commemorated also on the plaque in Trinity Methodist Chapel click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |