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John Allan Anderson

Name : John Allan Anderson Born : 1st May 1923 Died : 23rd March 1965 Service Number : J25399 Awards : Distinguished Service Order

After his enlistment in his home town of Winnipeg in April of 1942. John Anderson was posted to No.7 I.T.S. where he was selected to pilot training at No.19 E.F.T.S. Successful completion at No. 19 saw him posted to No. 2 S.F.T.S., where he completed the course on April 16th 1943, almost a year from his time of enlistment. Once overseas and completing courses set out for all pilots sent to Britain, he assembled his crew at No. 30 O.T.U, then proceeded on to No. 1656 CU before arriving at 419 squadron on July 7th 1944. He stayed with the RCAF after the war flying North Stars for MAT and Argus aircraft during these post war years. He also commanded Number 408 squadron. On March 23 1965 he was killed while on an Argus aircraft of 404 squadron. The entire crew of fifteen RCAF Canadian airmen (404 Squadron) and one government scientist, who were aboard Canadair CP-107 Argus 20727, perished in this crash, about 60 miles north of Puerto Rico; their remains were never recovered. At the time they were participating in a military training exercise

COMBAT REPORTS

ANDERSON, F/L John Alan (J25399) - Distinguished Service Order - No.419 Squadron - Award effective 6 February 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 508/45 dated 23 March 1945. Home in Winnipeg; enlisted there 22 April 1942. Trained at No.7 ITS (graduated 25 September 1942), No.19 EFTS (graduated 18 December 1942) and No.2 SFTS (graduated 16 April 1943). In postwar period took a North Star course and flew with MATS. Also commanded No.408 Squadron. DSO presented 1 April 1949. Killed in crash of an Argus aircraft, No.404 Squadron, 23 March 1965. Photo PL-13912 shows him receiving wings from his brother, F/O Brodie Anderson; PL-35706 shows him shaking hands with F/L Bud Adams at Repatriation Depot, Lachine; PL-39735 taken at investiture; PL-57769 is a 1953 portrait; PL-62094 shows him at controls of RCAF Comet transport. This officer has displayed a high degree of gallantry and devotion in operations against the enemy. He has completed very many sorties and has set the finest example in pressing home his attacks, often in the face of fierce opposition. On one occasion in September 1944 he was pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Bottrop. When over the target, intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Flight Lieutenant Anderson's aircraft was hit repeatedly by fragments of shrapnel. Both the port engines were put out of action. The hydraulic system was rendered unserviceable. The controls were so damaged that it became necessary for two members of the crew to assist their captain by pulling manually on the rudder controls. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant Anderson executed a good bombing run. He afterwards flew the severely damaged aircraft to base where he effected a masterly landing. In most difficult and dangerous circumstances this officer displayed outstanding coolness and great courage. NOTE: This award began as a recommendation for a Victoria Cross, submitted by Wing Commander D.C. Hagerman, 23 October 1944 when he had flown 22 sorties (127 hours 25 minutes), as follows: Flight Lieutenant Anderson has completed 22 day and night operations against the enemy, during the course of which his outstanding devotion to duty and complete contempt of personal danger have been most remarkable. His determination to press home his attacks in spite of the fiercest opposition the enemy can put up has earned him the utmost admiration from all ranks. On no fewer than ten attacks his aircraft has been badly damaged by enemy action but his enthusiasm to operate remains undiminished. On July 28th, 1944, when detailed to attack Hamburg, his starboard inner engine failed when crossing Flamborough Head en route to the target. Although Flight Lieutenant Anderson was aware that he would probably lose height and be late on the target, he nevertheless, without hesitation, carried on, arriving on the target six minutes late and bombing from 8,000 feet below the main stream. On the return journey, when thirty miles off Heligoland, his aircraft was attacked by two FW.190s, one dropping fighter flares while the other made no fewer than five attacks. These were all successfully evaded and the attacking aircraft was so badly damaged by his gunners that it broke off the attack and was last seen in flames going down in a steep turn. This officer then brought his aircraft safely back to base, still on three engines. On 25th August 1944, when detailed to attack Russelheim, his aircraft was badly damaged by flak on the way into the target. Many holes were made in the fuselage; nevertheless he pressed home his attack and, on his return, was diverted to Great Orton after ten hours 50 minutes flying. Again, on 27th August 1944, when attacking Mimoyecques, his aircraft was again hit by heavy flak over the target area, no fewer than 37 large flak holes being counted on his return to base. On 29th August, when attacking Stettin, his GEE and H2S equipment became unserviceable while crossing the English coast on the way out, but he proceeded on D/R navigation to the target, where he again suffered heavy damage from flak. While in the target area, his aircraft was coned for some considerable time while on the bombing run and was attacked by a Ju.88. Nevertheless he brought his aircraft safely back to base. On 6th September 1944, when attacking Emden, his aircraft was hit by heavy flak while on the approach, but this did not prevent him from making an excellent bombing run and returning with a first-class picture of the aiming point. On 12th September, when attacking Dortmund, his aircraft was hit by concentrated heavy flak, many large holes being torn in the fuselage, but again he returned safely to base. On the 6th October, while attacking Dortmund, his aircraft was again hit by flak while on the bombing run and, after bombing, he was attacked by no fewer than five fighters, all of which were successfully evaded. On the 8th October, when attacking Bochum, 27 large flak holes were torn in his aircraft and, during an attack by two fighters, a cannon shell exploded in the fuselage, short-circuiting the entire electrical system and causing all the navigation lights to burn. With great skill and coolness, he successfully evaded the fighters which were attracted by his lights and successfully returned to base with his aircraft in a badly damaged condition. On the 14th October, when attacking Duisburg in daylight, his aircraft was again hit by predicted flak and a "scarecrow" but again he succeeded in returning to base with a badly damaged aircraft. This officer's most outstanding feat was performed during a daylight attack on the oil refinery at Bottrop on the 27th September. On arriving at the target it was found that this was obscured by 9/10th cloud cover. The target was sighted through a gap in the clouds too late to afford an accurate bombing run. Anti-aircraft fire was very heavy, but without hesitation, Flight Lieutenant Anderson decided to do an orbit to ensure an accurate bombing run be made. At the beginning of the orbit, the aircraft was repeatedly hit by shell fragments and both port outer and inner engines were put out of action. The port outer engine was also set on fire, the hydraulic system was rendered unserviceable and the controls were damaged to such an extent that he had to call on the assistance of two members of his crew to pull manually on the rudder controls. With complete disregard of the heavy opposition, and the difficulty in controlling his crippled aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Anderson completed the orbit and made a steady bombing run, enabling his Air Bomber to attack the target very accurately. Shortly after leaving the target, it was found that the starboard inner engine had also been badly damaged and was giving less than half power. Through superb planning, crew co-operation and flying skill, Flight Lieutenant Anderson successfully flew his crippled aircraft back to this country, with only full power from the starboard outer, half power on the starboard inner engine, and made a masterly landing without causing further damage to his aircraft or crew. ANDERSON, F/L John Alan, DSO (J25399) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.419 Squadron - Award effective 5 February 1945 as per London Gazette dated 16 February 1945 and AFRO 625/45 dated 13 April 1945. Award presented November 1946 Flight Lieutenant Anderson has completed many successful sorties against the enemy throughout his tour. He has displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion in July 1944, when en route to Hamburg, one engine of the aircraft failed. Although fully aware that height would be lost and the target reached late, without hesitation Flight Lieutenant Anderson pressed on and completed a successful attack. On the return journey the bomber was attacked by two Focke Wulf 190s. The attackers were eventually beaten off, one being so severely damaged that it was seen to dive towards the ground completely out of control. Flight Lieutenant Anderson then flew his crippled aircraft safely back to base. Another time in August 1944, while bombing Stettin, his bomber was illuminated by searchlights and at the same time was attacked by a Junkers 88. In the face of this fierce opposition he successfully completed the mission. Again in October 1944, undeterred by attack from five enemy fighters, he accomplished a most skilful attack and eventually evaded all of the hostile aircraft. On several other occasions during September and October 1944, Flight Lieutenant Anderson has flown his aircraft, although badly holed, safe back to base after pressing home some most successful attacks. His cool courage and outstanding leadership have at all times been exemplary.

Known Service Details :
Squadron	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
No.419 Sqn RCAF	Flt lt	7th July 1944	unknown		Lancaster
No.408 Sqn RCAF		unknown	unknown				Commanded 408 Sqd

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Aircraft for : John Allan Anderson
A list of all aircraft associated with John Allan Anderson. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Lancaster Click the name above to see prints featuring Lancaster aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1942 Retired : 1963 Number Built : 7377	Lancaster The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' Operation Gomorrah in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992.

Squadrons for : John Allan Anderson
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by John Allan Anderson. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.408 Sqn RCAF Country : Canada Founded : 15th June 1941 Fate : Disbanded 5th September 1945 Goose. For freedom 2nd RCAF Squadron to be formed overseas. Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.408 Sqn RCAF	No.408 Sqn RCAF Full profile not yet available.
No.419 Sqn RCAF Country : Canada Founded : 15th December 1941 Fate : Disbanded 5th September 1945 Moose Moosa aswayita - Beware of the moose Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.419 Sqn RCAF	No.419 Sqn RCAF No. 419 Squadron was formed at Mildenhall, Suffolk, on 15th December 1941, as the third RCAF bomber squadron overseas. The first CO was Wing Commander John "Moose" Fulton, DSO, DFC, AFC, a native of Kam1oops, British Columbia, and it was from him that the unit gained its nickname. Originally in No. 3 Group of Bomber Command, the squadron joined No. 6 (RCAF) Group upon the latter's formation on 1st January 1943. From Mildenha1l it moved to Leeming, Topcliffe and Croft for short periods before settling down, in November 1942, at Middleton St George, where it remained based until the end of the European war. Beginning operations with Wellington medium bombers, No. 419 later converted to Halifax heavy bombers and then to Lancaster Xs. Over a span of roughly three-and-a-quarter years it logged 400 operational missions (342 bombing missions, 53 mining excursions, 3 leaflet raids and 1 "spoof") involving 4,325 sorties. One hundred and twenty nine aircraft were lost on these operations. W/C J. Fulton 21 December 1941 - 28 July 1942 (KIA) W/C A. P. Walsh 5 August 1942 - 2 September 1942 (KIA) W/C M. M. Fleming 8 September 1942 - 8 October 1943 W/C G. A. McMurdy 11 October 1943 - 22 October 1943 (KIA) W/C W. P. Pleasance 25 October 1943 - 21 August 1944 W/C D. C. Hagerman 22 August 1944 - 25 January 1945 W/C M. E. Ferguson 26 January 1945 - 6 August 1945 W/C R. F. Dyer 7 August 1945 - 5 September 1945

Last edited : 00:20, March 21, 2017
Last editor : HMS
First created : 00:13, March 21, 2017
Created by : HMS

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