Clarke, James William (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1943-May-25

Flying Officer James William Clarke RCAF

Birth Date: 1921-November-27

Born: Grandmere Quebec

Parents: James Whyte Clarke & Maria Clarke

Spouse:

Home: Princeton, New Jersey, USA (parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

422 (MP) Sqn- Squadron
This Arm Shall Do It

Base

RAF Bowmore

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/12829

Home
Google MapPrinceton, New Jersey, USA (parents)
Final Burial
Google MapIrvinestown Church Of Ireland Churchyard
Plot 1 Grave 22

In the early hours of the 1943-05-25, an aircraft was observed by members of the Irish Coast Watching Service (CWS) at Corraun Look Out Post near Achill Island and to the North East of Clare Island, Irish Republic. It was reported to have crashed into the sea after passing close to the island.

About three hours after the crash, one of the watchers from Corraun Look-out Post along with others arrived on the scene and met with two local men who had also rowed out. Sadly, all that was found were the floating remains of six airmen.

On the day after the crash, a seventh body was washed up on Achill Island, the larger island to the north of Clare Island.

The remains were placed in seven coffins and conveyed to the border with Northern Ireland, and handed over with full military honours.

Killed includes Clarke: Warrant Officer Class 2 Robert Bruce Bryers RCAF R/125283 KIFA Irvinestown Church of Ireland Cemetery Plot 1. Grave 24. Sergeant William George Hopps RCAF R/133113 pilot KIFA Irvinestown Church of Ireland Plot 1. Grave 23. Flying Officer Ernest Franklyn Paige RCAF J/6007 pilot KIFA Irvinestown Church of Ireland Plot 1. Grave 21. Warrant Officer Class 1 Wallace Roy Thompson RCAF R/76084 KIFA Runnymede Memorial : Panel 179. Sergeant James Hird RAF KIFA Runnymede Memorial Panel 153. Sergeant Donahan Anthony O'Dowd RAF KIFA Bandon Hil) Cemetery Wallington Sec. C. Grave 84. Sergeant David Purvis RAF KIFA Runnymede Memorial Panel 162. Sergeant Derek Harold Richardson RAF KIFA Nottingham Northern Cemetery Sec. L/21. Grave 10. Sergeant John Rowe RAF KIFA Runnymede Memorial Panel 163. Sergeant Ronald Sherwood RAF KIFA Waterhouses Cemetery Sec. D. Grave 253.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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

Crew or Other Personnel

Sunderland DD846

Warrant Officer 2 Robert Bruce Bryers RCAF

Warrant Officer 2 Bryers, Robert Bruce (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1943-May-25
Church Of Ireland Churchyard, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, UK

Flying Officer James William Clarke RCAF

Flying Officer Clarke, James William (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1943-May-25
Church Of Ireland Churchyard, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, UK

Flight Sergeant William George Hopps RCAF

Flight Sergeant Hopps, William George (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1943-May-25
Church Of Ireland Churchyard, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, UK

Flying Officer Ernest Franklyn Paige RCAF

Flying Officer Paige, Ernest Franklyn (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1943-May-25
Church Of Ireland Churchyard, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, UK

Warrant Officer 2 Wallace Roy Thompson RCAF

Warrant Officer 2 Thompson, Wallace Roy (RCAF)
Navigator Bomb Aimer
Killed in Action
1943-May-25
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Unit Desciption

422 (MP) Sqn This Arm Shall Do It ("Flying Yachtsmen")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Lerwick I, Catalina IB, III, VB, Sunderland III, Liberator VI, VIII)

No. 422 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron was the 19th RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the 5th Coastal squadron, and was formed at Lough Erne, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on April 2, 1942. It flew Consolidated Catalina and Short Sunderland flying boats on convoy support and anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic shipping routes. When hostilities ended in Europe, the squadron was re-designated a Transport (T) unit and was converting to Consolidated Liberator aircraft when hostilities terminated in the Far East. The squadron was then disbanded at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England on September 3, 1945.

In the course of its operations, the squadron flew 1116 operational sorties for the loss of 9 aircraft and 70 aircrew, of whom 11 were killed, 31 presumed dead, 6 injured and 22 rescued. The squadron is credited with 1 U-boat (U-625), sunk by the crew of Sunderland EK591 from St. Angelo. Ireland on 10 March 1940. The captain, WO2 W.F. Morton, was on his first operation. Awards to squadron members were 1 OBE, 1 MBE, 6 DFCs,1 BEM, 1 Air Medal (USA) and 22 MiD. Battle Honours were: Atlantic 1942-45, English Channel and North Sea 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Biscay 1944-45, Arctic 1942.

Maps for Movements of 422 Squadron 1942-45

MAP 1: 422 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
MAP 2: 422 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (detail of Map 1)
MAP 3: Sinking of U-625

Unvetted Source Sinking of U-625

Unvetted Source 422 Squadron in the Battle of the Atlantic (RCAF Museum)

422 Squadron History Summary 1942-45

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Sabre Mk. 2, 4, 5, 6, Starfighter, Huey, Kiowa)

The squadron was re-formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 1 January 1953 with Canadair Sabre aircraft, and joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in August. Its nickname was changed to "Tomahawk". Selected as one of eight Sabre units in No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 15 April 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 15 July. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. The squadron was deactivated in July, 1970. The squadron was reactivated as 422 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in January 1971, and remained a helicopter squadron until it was finally disbanded in August 1980.