419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax HR912

Crew of Halifax HR912

The crew first arrived at 419 Squadron on January 6th 1944 with F/O Stanwill John Gibson as their pilot.
Gibson was killed when Halifax JP119 was lost on the night of January 28/29th. His crew were then sent back to 1664 HU for re-crewing.

Vaires March 29/30 1944

On the crews return to 419 Squadron their new pilot was WO John Grenidge. Within two days of arrival Greenidge began his 2nd. Pilot sorties preparing the way for the March 22/23 start to crew begin flying operational sorties.
On the third operation the Greenidge, Lowe, Lunney, Humpreys, Sinclair, Wheeler and Surridge were lost with no indication of what had happened that night.
Only one theory was put forward, one built around the fact that an aircraft was plotted just off the well defended port of Le Havre. The aircraft being plotted just vanished. Thought to be from enemy flak batteries in the area, as there not any Luftwaffe claims on a Halifax in the district where the crew was thought to be.
No distress calls were received and it was believed that the crew were lost in the Channel near the French coast.
All are listed on the Runnymede Memorial.

Crew of Halifax HR912

Vaires March 29/30 1944

Warrant Officer

John Alexander Greenidge

Pilot Age 26
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Port of Prince, Trinidad
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Thomas Bently Lowe

Navigator Age 28
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Calgary Alberta
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Vernal Norwood Lunney

Navigator Age 20
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Winnipeg Manitoba
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Warrant Officer

Elmore Oliver Elvidge Humphreys

WAG Age 30
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Vancouver British Columbia
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Sergeant

William Aeden Sinclair RAF

Flight Engineer Age 20
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Kirkcaldy, Fife
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Sergeant

Maurice William Wheeler

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Vancouver British Columbia
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Ernest Gordon Surridge

Air Gunner Age 19
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Crew of Halifax HR912

Vaires March 29/30 1944

Warrant Officer

John Alexander Greenidge

Pilot Age 26Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Port of Prince, Trinidad Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Thomas Bently Lowe

Navigator Age 28Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Calgary Alberta Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Vernal Norwood Lunney

Navigator Age 20Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Winnipeg Manitoba Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Warrant Officer

Elmore Oliver Elvidge Humphreys

WAG Age 30Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Vancouver British Columbia Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Sergeant

William Aeden Sinclair RAF

Flight Engineer Age 20Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Kirkcaldy, Fife Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Sergeant

Maurice William Wheeler

Air Gunner Age 20Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Vancouver British Columbia Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Ernest Gordon Surridge

Air Gunner Age 19Killed in Action March 30th 1944 From Toronto Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Age 26
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Port of Prince, Trinidad
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Navigator Age 28
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Calgary Alberta
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Navigator Age 20
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Winnipeg Manitoba
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

WAG Age 30
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Vancouver British Columbia
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Flight Engineer Age 20
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Kirkcaldy, Fife
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Vancouver British Columbia
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Air Gunner Age 19
Killed in Action March 30th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial