Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Prieur, Joseph Fernand Jacques Paul (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1943-May-24

Birth Date: 1923 (age 20)

Son of J. Edmond and Irene Prieur, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Service
RCAF
Unit
419 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Moosa Aswayita Beware of Moose
Base
Middleton-St-Geprge
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/132590

Halifax B/GR.Mk.II JB862

Bombing Dortmund Germany 1943-May-23 to 1943-May-24

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

Battle of the Ruhr

After a 9-day break in major operations, Bomber Command dispatched 826 aircraft on this raid, the greatest number in a 'non- I ,ooo' raid so far in the war and the largest raid of the Battle of the Ruhr. The force comprised: 343 Lancasters, 199 Halifaxes, 151 Wellingtons, 120 Stirlings and 13 Mosquitoes. 38 aircraft - 18 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 6 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons - were lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders marked the target accurately in clear weather conditions and the ensuing attack proceeded according to plan. It was a very successful raid. Large areas in the centre, the north and the east of Dortmund were devastated. Nearly 2,000 buildings were completely destroyed. Many industrial premises were hit, par¬ticularly the large Roesch steelworks, which ceased production. 599 people were killed, I ,275 were injured and the bodies of about 25 other people were never found. Dortmund was not attacked in strength again by Bomber Command until exactly year after this raid.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Dortmund, Germany. Halifax aircraft JB 862 arrived over the target on three engines, after dropping its bombs the aircraft was coned by searchlights and slightly damaged by flak. The Halifax dove to escape the searchlights but was soon set on fire by more flak. The order to bail out was given but Sergeant Dunn was trapped in the aircraft, he survived the crash and was the only member of the crew to live.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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

Flight Sergeant Joseph Fernand Jacques Paul Prieur was exhumed and reburied.

Home
Google MapMontreal, Quebec
Target
Google MapDortmund Germany
First Burial
Google MapMonchen-Gladbach
Re-Burial
Google MapSoldaten Friedhof Alliierte Piloten 2WK
2 G 17

Halifax JB862

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

© Canadian Warplane Heritage 2025

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