John Day White (Canadian Virtual War Memorial)
People often send me historical inquiries to help track down. This one was quite important and a little beyond my area of expertise so I reached out with this blog post, sent it around on social media, and contacted CTV News. Many people shared the story around and, thanks to the news story, a distant relative in rural Manitoba saw it and contacted a nephew of Day who lives right here in Winnipeg!
Here's an updated version of the blog post with some additional information added by John Day White's nephew:
I was contacted by a group in The Netherlands looking for relatives of the RCAF's Flt. Sgt. John Day White of Hartney, Manitoba. His Handley Page Halifax bomber had crashed in Vierlingsbeek, the Netherlands on April 3, 1943. All crew members were killed and White is buried in Groesbeek Canadian Military Cemetery.
John Day White was 21-years-old.
The crash, as described by the organization seeking the relatives:
"On the night of April 3 to 4, 1943, a large group of RAF bombers (348) took off from the English airfield at Leeming and the surrounding area in the center of England. This also includes a Handley Page Halifax III, with an entirely Canadian crew, call sign LQ-V, Serial Number DT808 and belonging to the 405th Squadron.
The aircraft was part of a joint bombing raid and was hit by Major Werner Streib, stationed at Fliegerhorst Venlo, shortly before they were to fly to Essen to drop their bombs (2X1000lb + approximately 600 fire bombs). The tactic used was Schräge Musik, where the bomber was attacked from below by the (night) fighter.
The two gunners were able to leave the burning aircraft in time.
Pilot - W/OII W.J. McAlpine, mil.reg. R/93277
Fl. Engineer - Sgt. H.J. McQueen, mil.reg. R/10748
Navigator - W/O II J.D. White, mil.reg, R/91819
Bomb aimer - F/Lt. F.E. Luxford, mil.reg. J/15434
W.op / airg. - W/O J.W. Halikowski, mil.reg. R/95419
M.U. Gunner – P/O E. Bradley, mil.reg. J/90044
R.U. Gunner – F/Lt. W.L. Murphy, mil.reg. J/15166"
White's father, Abram James White, was living in Arcola SK when he died
in 1982 and was buried at Hartney. Three of his siblings have passed away: Anna
Pearl White (1923-2019), Phyllis Vera White (1925-2020), and William
Robert White (1933-2018). A fourth, Roy Edmond (1928- ), lives in Winnipeg.
The reason the group wants to track down relatives of White is that they will be unveiling an memorial shield for this crew in Vierlingsbeek on April 6, 2024 and would like to invite family members.
UPDATE: Thanks to this story on CTV News, a nephew of John Day White has contacted me. I have put him in touch with the organisation that is planning the memorial!
UPDATE 2: CTV News did a follow-up story with Gregory White, the nephew of John Day White.
7 comments:
Hi Christian
The nlog is very good.
Now,...... wait and hope.
Thanks for your help.
Leo Janssen
Try looking in second Hartney book "A Community with Spirit -- Hartney 1982-2002" publihed2003 by Leech Printing. He had another brother (in first Hartney book) Roy whose children are listed in the second book.
You can contact me at withfj@gmail.com
Frank
Call the funeral company that handled Phyllis "Vera" (White) Moloney funeral.
One of three of the Wheatland Funeral service co., she had 4 surviving children in her obit that must have taken care of her arrangements and they should have contact info where to reach the person who took care of the arrangements.
He is published in Volume 6 of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Military Service Recognition Book.
Hi - I found the White family over last weekend and contacted one of John's nieces this morning (15 Feb). I sent that info to Leo and sent Leo's contact info to her. Leo mentioned that he had sent you my name and that the lost have been found so I was quite surprised to see the piece on CTV News @ 6 that you are looking for them!
Check here. https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/deltaoptimist/name/pearl-chisholm-obituary?id=41212319
UPDATE: Thanks to this story on CTV News, https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg-blogger-looking-for-relatives-of-fallen-wwii-soldier-1.6770706, a nephew of John Day White has contacted me. I have put him in touch with the organisation that is planning the memorial!
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