Brunet, Joseph Jean Chrysostome Philippe (Flying Officer)
Prisoner of War 1944-July-18
Birth Date: unkown date
Born:
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Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
429 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron
Fortunae Nihil Nothing to chance
Base
RAF Leeming
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/23357
PoW: 5167
Target
Caen France
Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax LW127
Mission
Halifax B.Mk.III LW127
Bombing Caen France 1944-July-18 to 1944-July-18
(B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming
Took off from Leeming at 03:31 in Halifax Mk III (Sqn code: AL-F Bomber Command) in support of Operation Goodwood.
Aircraft lost half its tailplane to bombs dropped from a Hali above. It later crashed in the target area.
Killed: Pilot Officer John Meynell Cunningham RAF KIA Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery Grave VII. E. 16. Flying Officer Ronald Gordon Ellis RCAF J/28202 KIA Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery Grave VI. E. 16. Pilot Officer William Leaman Gillespie RCAF J/90090 KIA Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery Grave VI. E. 12.
POWs including McNiffe: Flying Officer Joseph Jean Chrysostome Philippe Brunet RCAF J/23357 POW Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang. F/Lt George William Gardiner RCAF J/9557 POW Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang. Evader: Sergeant E W McGregor RCAF R/197908 Evader.
In Enemy Hands - Canadian Prisoners of War 1939-45Unit Desciption
429 (PFF) Sqn Fortunae Nihil ("Bison")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Wellington III, X, Halifax II, V, III, Lancaster I, III)
No 429 Squadron was the 10th bomber unit and 27th squadron formed by the RCAF overseas in WWII. It was formed in November 1942 at East Moor, Yorkshire, UK as part of No 4 Group of RAF Bomber Command. On April 1, 1943 it became part of No 6 (RCAF) Group at No 62 (RCAF) Base, still remaining at East Moor until August 1943, when it moved to Leeming, Yorkshire as part of no 63 (RCAF) Base: it remained at Leeming until its disbandment in May 1946. It undertook strategic and tactical bombing operations. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, it remained in England and transferred to No 1 Group, where it was engaged in transporting troops from Italy (Operation DODGE).
The squadron, with squadron code AL, flew Vickers Wellington Mks III and X until August 1943, when it re-equipped with Handley-Page Halifax Mk II, which it flew between August 1943 and January 1944, and Mk V between November 1943 and March 1944. These were superseded by Halifax Mk III aircraft in March 1944. In March 1945, the squadron re-equipped with Lancaster Mk I and III. In summary of its activities, it flew 3221 sorties, including airlifting 1055 PoWs back to England, for the loss of 71 aircraft. 9356 tons of bombs were dropped. The squadron was awarded45 DFCs and 2 Bars to DFC, 1 AFC, 1 CGM and 7 DFMs. Battle Honours were: English Channel and North Sea 1943-45, Baltic 1943-45, Fortress Europe 1943-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1943-44, Ruhr 1943-45, Berlin 1943-44, German Ports 1943-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1943-44. Wikipedia,Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin
Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)
Maps for Movements of 429 Squadron 1942-46
MAP 1: 429 Squadron Bases 1942-46 (marked in green). Right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab
429 Squadron History Summary 1942-46
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Buffalo, Hercules, Globemaster)
The squadron was reactivated at St. Hubert, Quebec on 21 August 1967 as a Tactical Transport Unit. It flew de Havilland CC-15 Buffalo aircraft for the Canadian Forces Mobile Command and was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces on 1 February 1968. In August 1981 it was renamed 429 Transport Squadron and moved to CFB Winnipeg . The final move was in 1990 to 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario . The squadron was disbanded in 2005.
Two years later in August 2007, 429 Squadron was again re-activated, this time operating the CC-177 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft. It used these new aircraft in support of Canada's operations in Afghanistan.
Halifax LW127 B.Mk.III - Bombing Caen France - 1944-07-18 to 1944-07-18
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-07-18
Completion Date: 1944-07-18
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Caen France
Target Specific:
Base: Leeming
Take Off Time: 03.31
Squadron Code: AL F
Radio Code:
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Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
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Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group July 18, 1944
42 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 were joined by 155 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and434 squadrons on a number of attacks in the Caen and Mondeville areas.These attacks were made at dawn in direct support of the army. All the crews were over the targets from between 7,000 to 9,000 feet, unloading1,750,000 lbs of ordinance. The German troops on the ground were hit hard and this was one of the best bombing raids that supported the army. A total of 6,800 tons of ordinance was dropped.
Later on in the day 28 Halifaxes from431 and434 squadron attacked the rail yards at Vaires. This attack was made from between 12,000 and 13,500 feet. A total of 223,000 lbs of ordinance was dropped. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Took off from Leeming at 03:31 in Halifax Mk III (Sqn code: AL-F Bomber Command) in support of Operation Goodwood.
Aircraft lost half its tailplane to bombs dropped from a Hali above. It later crashed in the target area.
Killed: Pilot Officer John Meynell Cunningham RAF KIA Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery Grave VII. E. 16. Flying Officer Ronald Gordon Ellis RCAF J/28202 KIA Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery Grave VI. E. 16. Pilot Officer William Leaman Gillespie RCAF J/90090 KIA Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery Grave VI. E. 12.
POWs including McNiffe: Flying Officer Joseph Jean Chrysostome Philippe Brunet RCAF J/23357 POW Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang. F/Lt George William Gardiner RCAF J/9557 POW Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang. Evader: Sergeant E W McGregor RCAF R/197908 Evader.
In Enemy Hands - Canadian Prisoners of War 1939-45