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Sheehan, Edward Fanahan (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1944-April-28

Birth Date: 1914-November-26 (age 29)

Born: Fermoy, Ireland

Son of James Sheehan and of Mary Sheehan (nee Hearne).

Husband of Mary Sheehan, of Hillingdon, Middlesex.

Home: Vancouver, British Columbia

Enlistment: Vancouver, British Columbia

Enlistment Date: 1942-06-13

Service
RCAF
Unit
51 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Swift And Sure
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
Bomb Aimer
Service Numbers
R/172051
51 Squadron (Swift And Sure) RAF Snaith, Halifax BIII aircraft LV 783 MH-Z was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Johannes Hager, Staffelkapitän of the 6/NJG 1 based at Saint-Dizier airfield in France, during night operations over the target Montzen, Belgium. FS EF Sheehan (RCAF), Sergeant FC Brown (RAFVR), Sergeant ES Hastie (RAFVR), FS P Keenan (RAFVR), Sergeant JH Thomas (RAFVR) and Sergeant L Coughlan (RAFVR) were killed. They were initially buried at St Truiden near the crash site but later exhumed and all buried at the Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. Flying Officer RP McKean (RCAF) managed to bale out and was an EVADER There were two other 51 Sqn Halifax aircraft lost in the same area on this operation, MZ 565 and LW 479 MH-E Please see Chaplin, R for casualty list on MZ 565. There were 4 KIA and 3 POW on LW 479, including Sergeant JE Sinclair (R/199326)(RCAF) who managed to bale and was taken Prisoner of War Detail from aviation-safety.net Addendum: Halifax aircraft LV 783 missing during night operations over the target Montzen, Belgium. F/O. R.P. McKean (RCAF) was an Evader. Sgt.s F.C, Brown (RAF), L. Coughlan (RAF), E.H. Hastie (RAF), P. Keenan (RAF), and J.H. Thomas (RAF) were also killed.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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

Flight Sergeant Edward Fanahan Sheehan was exhumed and reburied.

Home
Google MapVancouver, British Columbia
Target
Google MapMontzen Belgium
First Burial
Google MapSt Truiden, Near Crash Site
Re-Burial
Google MapCWG Cemetery
5 F 23

Halifax LV783

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