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Campbell, Graham DFC (Flying Officer)

Survived 1944-June-24

Male Head

Birth Date: 1922-August-09 (age 21)

Born: Nottingham, England

Sydney & Ellen Campbell

Husband of Magdelene Campbell; father of Warren Campbell

Home: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (parents)

Decorations: DFC


Distinguished Service Cross
Service
RCAF
Unit
162 (BR) Sqn- Squadron
Sectabimur Usque Per Ima We will hunt them even through the lowest deeps
Base
RAF Wick
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
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/26921

162 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron RCAF (Sectabimur usque per ima) RAF Wick, Scotland. Canso A aircraft 9754 "P" was about ten hours into an antisubmarine patrol off the coast of Norway when it spotted German submarine U-1225 on the surface. The Canso turned to attack, exchanging gunfire with the U-boat and suffering catastrophic damage, including loss of an engine, in the process of dropping depth charges on and sinking the submarine. The Canso was forced to ditch at sea. The entire crew was able to abandon the sinking aircraft

Flying Officer G Campbell DFC (RCAF) survived and was rescued at sea after more than 21 hours in the frigid water in high winds and mountainous seas

The Citation reads: Distinguished Service Order. Flying Officer Bernard Charles Denomy (Can/J.11265), RCAF,-162 (RCAF.) Sqn. Distinguished Flying Cross. Flying Officer Graham Campbell (Can/J.26921), RCAF, 162 (RCAF) Sqn. Flying Officer Sidney Edward Matheson (Can/J.22227), RCAF 162 (RCAF) Sqn. Distinguished Flying Medal. Can IR. 1.80936 Flight Sergeant Israel Joseph Bodnoff, RCAF, 162 (RCAF) Sqn. Can/R.179577 Flight Sergeant Sidney Reginald Cole, RCAF, 162 (RCAF) Sqn. These officers and airmen were members of the crew of the aircraft captained by Flight Lieutenant Hornell, who successfully engaged a U-boat in northern waters. In the engagement they displayed a high degree of courage, discipline and devotion to duty, co-operating splendidly with their captain in his determination to destroy the enemy submarine. Subsequently they suffered great hardships whilst adrift on the sea. During this long period each member of the crew assisted the others to the utmost extent unmindful of his own distress.

(London Gazette No. 36630, Dated 1944-07-28)

General Graham Campbell Obituary (2006) - The Vancouver Sun

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Home
Google MapSaskatoon, Saskatchewan (parents)
Burial
Google MapBoundary Bay Cemetery

162 (BR) Sqn Sectabimur Usque Per Ima ()

The squadron was formed as a Bomber Reconnaissance unit at Yarmouth, NS on 19 May 1942, flying Consolidated Canso A aircraft. The squadron remained at Yarmouth until January 1944 in uneventful anti-submarine duty. In January 1944 it was lent to RAF Coastal Command and operated from Reykjavik, Iceland until 13 June 1945. One U-boat was destroyed by aircraft from Reykjavik. During part of 1944 the squadron operated from Wick, Scotland, and found success by destroying 4 German U-boats and sharing in the destruction of a fifth. During one of these engagements, with U-1225, Flight Lieutenant D.E. Hornell and crew sank the U-boat but their aircraft was forced to ditch as a result of anti-aircraft fire from the submarine. The crew spent 21 hours in a single dinghy. 2 of the crew died, and Hornell himself died shortly after his rescue. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his inspirational leadership and devotion to duty.

Details of the U-boat sinkings were as follows. On 17 April 1944 Flying Officer T.C. Cooke and crew in Canso 9767 “S” flying from Iceland sank U-342; on 3 June 1944 Flight Lieutenant R.E. McBride and crew in Canso 9816 “T” flying from Wick sank U-477 in the face of intense return gunfire; on 11 June, 1944 Flying Officer L. Sherman and crew in Canso 9842 “B” flying from Wick sank U-980; on 13 June 1944 Wing Commander C.G.W Chapman and crew in Canso 9816 “T” flying from Wick sank U-715 although their aircraft was shot down and the crew had to take to their life rafts with the loss of one of their number (Chapman was awarded the squadron’s first DSO); on 24 June 1944, Flight Lieutenant D.E. Hornell and crew in Canso 9754 “P” sank U-1225 (see above); on 30 June 1944 Flight Lieutenant R.E. McBride and crew in Canso 9841 “A” flying from Wick damaged U-478 which was later finished off by an RAF 86 Sqn Liberator; on 4 August 1944 Flying Officer W.O. Marshall and crew in Canso 9759 “W” flying from Wick damaged U-300.

In the course of WWII, the squadron flew 2100 sorties for 22, 600 operational hours. 6 aircraft were lost, and 34 aircrew, of whom 17 were killed and 17 missing. Squadron members were awarded 1 VC, 2 DSO's, 2 MBE's, 16 DFC's, 3 AFC's, 4 DFM's, 1 BEM and 21 Mid's. The squadron returned to Canada on 14 June 1945 and was disbanded at Sydney, NS on 7 August 1945.

Maps for Movements of 162 Squadron 1942-45
MAP 1: 162 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
MAP 2: 162 Squadron Movements Eastern Canada 1942-44
MAP 3: Sinking of U-342
MAP 4: U-boat sinkings from Wick

General Sinking of U-342

General Sinking of U-477

General Sinking of U-980

General Sinking of U-715

General Sinking of U-1225

General Sinking of U-478

General Attack on U-300

162 Squadron History Summary 1942-45
162 Squadron History Summary 1942-45 Page 2

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