Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Murphy, Gerald William (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-October-09

Birth Date: 1924 (age 20)

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Service
RCAF
Unit
419 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Moosa Aswayita Beware of Moose
Rank
Flying Officer
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
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/36941

Lancaster Mk.X KB754

Bombing Bochum Germany 1944-October-09 to 1944-October-09

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George

435 aircraft- 375 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 20 Mosquitoes - of I, 4, 6 and 8 Groups, 4 Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost.

This raid was not successful. The target area was covered by cloud and the bombing was scattered. The local report says that there was some damage in the southern districts of Bochum, with 140 houses destroyed or seriously damaged and approximately 150 people killed.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 754 was shot down by a German JU-88 aircraft during a raid against Bochum, Germany. This was the thirteenth operation for this crew, P/Os A.I. Cohen, J.H. Goldfinch, R.F. Emerson, R.A. Campbell, and Flying Officer G.W. Murphy were also killed.Warrant Officer J.E. McQueen was blown out of the rear turret, parachuted down and was taken Prisoner of War.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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

Home
Google MapMontreal, Quebec
Target
Google MapBochum Germany
Burial
Google MapReichswald Forest War Cemetery
Coll grave 21 D 8-10

Lancaster KB754

Read More ....
Read More ....

© Canadian Warplane Heritage 2025

To search on any page:
PC — Ctrl-F
Mac — ⌘-F
Mobile — or …