Johnston, John Markey (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Action 1944-June-17
Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Geraldton, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
432 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Saeviter Ad Lucem Ferociously toward the light
Base
East Moor
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/90924
Prev: R/191091
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax NA516
Mission
Halifax B/A.Mk.III NA516
Bombing Sterkrade Germany 1944-June-16 to 1944-June-17
(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor
Battle of Normandy
The target was found to be covered by thick cloud and the Pathfinder markers quickly disappeared. The Main Force crews could do little but bomb on to the diminishing glow of the markers in the cloud. R.A.F. photographic reconnaissance and German reports agree that most of the bombing was scattered, although some bombs did fall in the plant area, but with little effect upon production. 21 Germans and 6 foreigners were killed and 18 houses in the vicinity were destroyed.
Unfortunately, the route of the bomber stream passed near a German night-fighter beacon at Bocholt, only 30 miles from Sterkrade. The German controller had chosen this beacon as the holding point for his night fighters. Approximately 21 bombers were shot down by fighters and a further IO by Flak. 22 of the lost aircraft were Halifaxes, these losses being l 3.6 per cent of the 162 Halifaxes on the raid. 77 Squadron, from Full Sutton near York, lost 7 of its 23 Halifaxes taking part in the raid.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax BIII aircraft it NA 516 QO-A missing during an operation to bomb the synthetic-oil plant at Sterkrade, Germany, believed to have been shot down by a night fighter
The Halifax crashed at Scheggertdijk, Almen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Flying Officer HF Morrow (RCAF), Pilot Officer JL Shanks (RCAF) and Pilot Officer JM Johnston (RCAF) were all killed in action
Flying Officer JA Slimmon (RCAF) and Sergeant VR Herrick (RCAF) survived and were taken as Prisoner of War
Warrant Officer Class 1 LR McElroy (RCAF) and Sergeant R Gelfand (RCAF) survived and evaded briefly. They were captured separately in the Netherlands and both later also escaped from captivity
search T/R numberUnit Desciption
432 (B) Sqn Saeviter Ad Lucem ("Leaside")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Wellington X, Lancaster II, Halifax III, VII)
The Squadron was the twelfth RCAF bomber squadron to be formed overseas in WWII. It was formed on May 1, 1943 at Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, UK 
as a unit of No 6 (RCAF) Group of RAF Bomber Command: indeed, it was the first bomber squadron to be formed directly into No 6 Group. Using the squadron identification letters QO it flew Vickers Wellington Mk X medium bombers until it moved to East Moor, Yorkshire on 19th September 1943, when it re-equipped with Avro Lancaster Mk II aircraft. East Moor was part of No 62 (RCAF) Base. The squadron re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk III aircraft in February 1944, and with Halifax Mk VII in July of that year, and continued with them until the squadron was disbanded at East Moor on May 15, 1945.
In the course of operations the squadron flew 246 missions, involving 3130 individual sorties, for the loss of 73 aircraft. 8980 tons of bombs were dropped. Awards to squadron members included 2 DSOs, 119 DFCs,1 Bar to DFC, 1 CGM, 20 DFMs and 1 Croix de Guerre (France). Battle Honours were: English Channel and North Sea 1943, Fortress Europe 1943-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1944, Ruhr 1943-45, Berlin 1943-44, German Ports 1943-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1943.Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin
Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)
Maps for Movements of 432 Squadron 1943-45
MAP 1: 432 Squadron Bases 1943-45 (marked in green). Right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab
432 Squadron History Summary 1943-45
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Canuck)
The squadron was re-formed at Bagotville, Quebec as an All-Weather Fighter unit on 1 October 1954. The squadron flew Avro CF-100 Canuck aircraft on North American Air Defence until it was disbanded on 15 October 1961.
Halifax NA516 B/A.Mk.III - Bombing Sterkrade Germany - 1944-06-16 to 1944-06-17
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-06-16
Completion Date: 1944-06-17
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of Normandy
Target City: Sterkrade Germany
Target Specific:
Base: East Moor
Take Off Time: 23.16
Squadron Code: QO A
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Scheggertdijk, Almen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group June 16/17, 1944
63 Halifaxes from 426, 431, 432, and 434 squadrons were joined by 37 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 squadrons on an attack of the oil plant at Sterkrade-Holten. The crews were over the target between17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 878,000 lbs of high explosives through thick cloud. This attack was not very successful due to the cloud cover and the fact that the German fighter controller had his fighters orbit a beacon not far from the flight path. Many crews failed to return for that reason.
While part of the group went to Sterkrade, 101 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, and 433 squadrons were ordered to attack a V-1 site in the Pas de Calais area called Sautrecourt. The crews were over the target between 14,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing 760,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was well hit. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
The target was found to be covered by thick cloud and the Pathfinder markers quickly disappeared. The Main Force crews could do little but bomb on to the diminishing glow of the markers in the cloud. R.A.F. photographic reconnaissance and German reports agree that most of the bombing was scattered, although some bombs did fall in the plant area, but with little effect upon production. 21 Germans and 6 foreigners were killed and 18 houses in the vicinity were destroyed.
Unfortunately, the route of the bomber stream passed near a German night-fighter beacon at Bocholt, only 30 miles from Sterkrade. The German controller had chosen this beacon as the holding point for his night fighters. Approximately 21 bombers were shot down by fighters and a further IO by Flak. 22 of the lost aircraft were Halifaxes, these losses being l 3.6 per cent of the 162 Halifaxes on the raid. 77 Squadron, from Full Sutton near York, lost 7 of its 23 Halifaxes taking part in the raid.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax BIII aircraft it NA 516 QO-A missing during an operation to bomb the synthetic-oil plant at Sterkrade, Germany, believed to have been shot down by a night fighter
The Halifax crashed at Scheggertdijk, Almen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Flying Officer HF Morrow (RCAF), Pilot Officer JL Shanks (RCAF) and Pilot Officer JM Johnston (RCAF) were all killed in action
Flying Officer JA Slimmon (RCAF) and Sergeant VR Herrick (RCAF) survived and were taken as Prisoner of War
Warrant Officer Class 1 LR McElroy (RCAF) and Sergeant R Gelfand (RCAF) survived and evaded briefly. They were captured separately in the Netherlands and both later also escaped from captivity