East, John Douglas Alfred
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | John Douglas Alfred |
Surname | East |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Jack Haddon East and Mona Favoretta East (née Macdonald), of Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7875 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. H. Row C. Grave 5. |
Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 159 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/36618 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 7 |
Squadron | 1656 HCU |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Miscellaneous Information
It is thought that the flaps were raised by mistake instead of the landing gear |
John was born on 3 September 1924 in Keremeos, British Columbia. His father was a Rancher born in Nepawa, Manitoba and his mother was born in Duncan, British Columbia. He had a sister Joyce Macdonald and a brother, R/118286 WO2 Michael George King who had sadly lost his life in Bomber Command the previous year whilst serving overseas with 90 Squadron. John was a student at the school in Keremeos 1930-1938 ( Grade 8) and then 1938-1942 ( Junior Matric). The sports he enjoyed were hockey, badminton, tennis and football. |
John enlisted on 15 September 1942 and after initial training embarked from Canada on 15 February 1944. On arrival in the U.K. on 25 February 1944 at 3 PRC , he went on to 14(P) AFU on 25 April 1944, 18 OTU 18 July 1944 and then to 11 Base on 5 October 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-11-1944 |
End Date | 20-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Lindholme |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training- night navigation exercise |
Reason for Loss | Crashed almost immediately after takeoff into trees at Dunsville, NE of Doncaster. Burst into flames on impact |