Merritt, John Percival (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-March-31

Pilot Officer John Percival Merritt RCAF

Birth Date: 1919-November-14

Born: Fusilier, Kindersley Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada

Parents: Son of Louis Alexander and Mary Frances (nee Dillon) Merritt of Battleford, Saskatchewan

Spouse: Husband of Edna Doris Merritt, of Cove, Farnborough, Hants, England

Home: Battleford, Saskatchewan

Enlistment: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

622 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Bellamus Noctu We wage war by night

Base

Mildenhall

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Navigator

Service Numbers

J/85569
Prev: R/98916

Home

Battleford, Saskatchewan

Target

Nuremberg Germany

Temporary Burial

Cemetery at Rosee/Jusaine, Namur, Belgium

Remains were later exhumed from this location and reburied

Final Burial

War Cemetery
VIII E 8

622 Squadron RAF (Bellamus Nocte) RAF Mildenhall. Lancaster BIII aircraft ND 767 GI-D was involved in a mid-air collision with 427 Squadron Halifax LV 923 ZL-W aircraft returning from operations over Nuremberg, Germany

All seven members of the crew of Lancaster ND 767: Pilot Officer JP Merritt (RCAF), Sergeant RJ Asplen (RAFVR), Sergeant GR Collins (RAFVR), Sergeant J Coup (RAFVR), Sergeant HF Page (RAFVR), FS CJ Schmidt (RAAF) and Pilot Officer E Pickin (RAFVR) were killed in action

There was only one survivor from the eight crew members aboard 427 Squadron Halifax LV 923 ZL-W

This was Pilot Officer Merritt's fifth operation and his was one of 108 Allied aircraft lost this night

Unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network