Telephone Operator, Aircraftman Class 1 John Dunlop McVie (RCAF) was a passenger aboard Dakota KG 653 when it crashed
McVie, John Dunlop (Aircraftman Class 1)
Killed in Action 1944-September-24
Birth Date: 1926-December-18
Born: Trail, Kootenay Boundary Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
Parents: Son of James Kerr McGovern and Jeanie (nee Dunlop) McVie of Trail, British Columbia. Stepson of Thomas McVie
Spouse:
Home: Trail, British Columbia
Enlistment: Trail, British Columbia
Enlistment Date: 1943-July-14
Service
RCAF
Unit
437 (T) Sqn- Squadron
Omnia Passim Anything anywhere
Base
RAF Pershore
Rank
Aircraftman Class 1
Position
Telephone Operator
Service Numbers
R/258359
Temporary Burial
Neuleiningen Cemetery, Germany, Near Crash Site
Remains were later exhumed from this location and reburied
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Dakota KG653
Mission
Dakota Mk. III KG653
Transport 1944-September-24 to 1944-September-24
437 (T) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Pershore
1 Ferry Unit RAF Pershore. Dakota III aircraft KG 653 (attached from 437 Squadron RCAF, Omnia passim) was one of 15 transports en-route from the #1 Personnel Dispatch Centre transporting Canadian ground crew to India. The Dakota flew in very poor weather conditions, with dark, low clouds, heavy rain, thunder and lightning when it was blown off course, drifting over Germany where it was attacked by a Bf 109 fighter piloted by Captain Julius Meimburg of 11/JG53. Meimburg tried to force KG653 down but it went into a dive and suffered structural failure while trying to pull out, causing the Dakota to crash four miles south-west of Neuleiningen, Germany with the loss of all aboard
The flight crew: Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Ralph Korer (RAFVR), Navigator, Pilot Officer Lionel Alfred Veary (RAFVR) and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner George Beckoff (RAAF) were all killed in action
Passengers: Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Irwin Beach (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman John Adelard Real Chevrier (RCAF), Corporal James Cumming (RCAF), Corporal Lorne Hamilton Moreau (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Oliver Eugene Debs Bergen (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Joseph Robert Marcel Armand Couturier (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Michael James Foch Good (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Fred Larsen Kristensen (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman William John Scott Lundy (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Donald John MacDonald (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman John Cyril Sutherland (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Robert Thomas Burden (RCAF), Corporal William Howard Campbell (RCAF), Sergeant Walter Francis Hughes (RCAF), Corporal Howard John Hunter (RCAF), Aircraftman Class 1 John Dunlop McVie (RCAF), Corporal Frederick William Sargeant (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Henry Studwell Watson (RCAF), Corporal James Ernest Allen (RCAF) and Aircraftman Class 1 Frederick Albert Leigh Gates (RCAF) were all killed in action
RAF Commands Serial and Image Database
Dakota KG653 - A new Perspective! - IG-Heimatforschung Rheinland-Pfalz...
Unit Desciption
437 (T) Sqn Omnia Passim ("Husky")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Dakota III, IV)
No. 437 was the 32nd RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the first of three transport squadrons. It was inaugurated on September 14, 1944 at Blakehill Farm, Wiltshire, England . It flew Dakota aircraft, and its first operation was MARKET GARDEN, the airborne assault on Arnhem. It carried airborne troops and later was involved in resupply missions to the beleaguered Allied forces, losing 4 out of 10 aircraft involved. On 24 March 1945 the squadron took part in the airborne crossing of the Rhine river at Wesel (Operation VARSITY), towing 24 Horsa gliders with troops and equipment. After the end of hostilities the squadron provided transport services for Canadian units in Britain and Europe. It was finally disbanded at Odiham, Hampshire on June 15, 1946.
Overall, the squadron flew11,625 sorties, adding up to 32,355 operational hours. 14 aircraft were lost and 17 aircrew, of whom 2 were killed, 14 missing and 1 wounded. Awards gained by the squadron were 1 OBE, 8 DFCs, 2 AFCs 1 DFM, 1 MiD and 3 King's Commendations. Battle Honours were France and Germany 1944-45, Arnhem, Rhine.Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin
Maps for Movements of 437 Squadron 1944-46
MAP 1: 437 Squadron Movements 1944-46 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
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MAP 2: 437 Squadron Movements in Europe 1944-46 (detail of Map 1)
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437 Squadron History Summary 1944-46
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Yukon, Husky, Polaris)
The squadron was reformed at Trenton, Ontario on 1 October 1961. It has remained at Trenton ever since. It was originally equipped with CC-106 Yukon. It was re-equipped with the CC-137 Husky (modified Boeing 707) in 1972. While operating the Husky it provided Air to Air Refueling in addition to transport services. Two aircraft out of the fleet of five were modified to serve as refueling tankers in mid-1972 to meet a requirement to support the CF-5 tactical fighter. At the end of the useful life of the B707 in 1997, 437 Squadron was equipped with modified Airbus A-310 aircraft (CC-150 Polaris). The Squadron’s primary roles are long-range transport of personnel and equipment, air-to-air refueling of fighter aircraft and VIP transport. The Squadron occasionally performs aeromedical evacuation roles. Two CC-150 air-to-air refueling tankers were deployed to support Operation MOBILE during the 2011 military intervention in Libya. Canadian CF-188 fighter jets that enforce the no-fly zone over Libya under Operation ODYSSEY DAWN and Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR were refueled by 437 Squadron.
437 Transport Squadron frequently supports government dignitaries while on official visits, including the Prime Minister of Canada and Queen Elizabeth II during Royal tours of Canada. In June and July 2011 the squadron provided transportation for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they toured Canada and the United States.
Dakota KG653 Mk. III - Transport - 1944-09-24 to 1944-09-24
Squadron: 437 (T) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-09-24
Completion Date: 1944-09-24
Mission: Transport
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Pershore
Take Off Time:
Squadron Code:
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: four miles south-west of Neuleiningen
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Captain Julius Meimburg of 11/JG53
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group September 24, 1944
31 Halifaxes from 427 and 429 Squadrons were ordered on an attack enemy positions at Calais. The crews were over the target at between 1,500 and 2,500 feet, releasing 341,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. Some crews descended below cloud were they were fired at by accurate light flak. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
1 Ferry Unit RAF Pershore. Dakota III aircraft KG 653 (attached from 437 Squadron RCAF, Omnia passim) was one of 15 transports en-route from the #1 Personnel Dispatch Centre transporting Canadian ground crew to India. The Dakota flew in very poor weather conditions, with dark, low clouds, heavy rain, thunder and lightning when it was blown off course, drifting over Germany where it was attacked by a Bf 109 fighter piloted by Captain Julius Meimburg of 11/JG53. Meimburg tried to force KG653 down but it went into a dive and suffered structural failure while trying to pull out, causing the Dakota to crash four miles south-west of Neuleiningen, Germany with the loss of all aboard
The flight crew: Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Ralph Korer (RAFVR), Navigator, Pilot Officer Lionel Alfred Veary (RAFVR) and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner George Beckoff (RAAF) were all killed in action
Passengers: Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Irwin Beach (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman John Adelard Real Chevrier (RCAF), Corporal James Cumming (RCAF), Corporal Lorne Hamilton Moreau (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Oliver Eugene Debs Bergen (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Joseph Robert Marcel Armand Couturier (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Michael James Foch Good (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Fred Larsen Kristensen (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman William John Scott Lundy (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Donald John MacDonald (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman John Cyril Sutherland (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Robert Thomas Burden (RCAF), Corporal William Howard Campbell (RCAF), Sergeant Walter Francis Hughes (RCAF), Corporal Howard John Hunter (RCAF), Aircraftman Class 1 John Dunlop McVie (RCAF), Corporal Frederick William Sargeant (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman Henry Studwell Watson (RCAF), Corporal James Ernest Allen (RCAF) and Aircraftman Class 1 Frederick Albert Leigh Gates (RCAF) were all killed in action
RAF Commands Serial and Image Database
Dakota KG653 - A new Perspective! - IG-Heimatforschung Rheinland-Pfalz...