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Donovan, Irvine Irwin DFM (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1944-April-27

Birth Date: 1925-January-06 (age 20)

Home: Collingwood, Ontario

Decorations: DFM


Distinguished Flying Medal
Service
RCAF
Unit
101 Sqn- Squadron
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Air Gunner
Service Numbers
R/188791
Born 1924 in Collingwood, Ontario; home there (machine operator); enlisted in Ottawa, 17 September 1942. Trained at No.9 FIGS (graduated 11 June 1943. Killed in action 26/27 April 1944 (Lancaster LL860); buried in France. 101 Squadron (Mens Agitat Molem). Lancaster aircraft LL 860 lost during a night trip to Schweinfurt, Germany. FSs W.C. Napier D.F.M. (RAAF), N.V. Creighton D.F.M. (RAF), R.M. Patmore D.F.M. (RAF), Sgts A.S. Hollands D.F.M. (RAF), R.A. Pearson D.F.M. (RAF), and F/O P.F. Rowe D.F.C. (RAF) were also killed. Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.101 Squadron (deceased) - Award effective 25 April 1944 as per London Gazette dated 21 December 1945 and AFRO 155/46 dated 15 February 1946. Medal presented to next-of-kin, 9 December 1947. The citation reads - "This airman has completed as air gunner many successful operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)
last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I LL860


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