Flying Officer J/13085 John Martin David RCAF
7 Squadron (3/8 Group) RAF Bomber Command
One of the five original Pathfinder (PFF) Squadrons
Crest depicts seven stars in constellation form
Motto: “Per diem per noctem” (By day and by night)
Mid-Upper gunner Lancaster Mk1 JB 347 (MG-V)
JB 347 took off from Oakington, Cambs at 1749hrs on 18/10/43 as a pathfinder aircraft for the main force detailed to attack Hannover. JB 347 was brought down (possible night fighter claims for this area) en route to the target at 2035 near the village of Rehburg near Loccum to the west of the Steinhundermeer Lake and northwest of Hannover. Only three of the crew managed to bail out to become POW’s, the other four, including F/O David went down with the aircraft and now lie in the Hannover War cemetery. At the time, the fate of the four crew killed remained uncertain, so consequently they remained posted as missing until after the end of hostilities.
Crew List;
Pilot
Warrant Officer 1389165 Alan Matthew Marshall (RAFVR) (Age 21)
Croyde, Devon
Unmarried
Son of Aubrey J and Olive F Marshall
Killed in crash
Interred Hannover War Cemetery.
Navigator
Flight Sergeant JR Penney (RAAF) Age N/K
Bailed out, captured, POW.
Flight Engineer
Sergeant BFE Lyle (RAFVR) Age N/K
Bailed out, captured, POW.
Bomb Aimer
Flight Sergeant JG Kernaghan (RAAF) Age N/K.
Bailed out, captured, POW.
Wireless Operator
Sergeant 1198596 Frank Cobley (RAFVR) Age 26
Leicester
Unmarried
Son of William P and Florence Cobley
Killed in crash
Interred Hannover War Cemetery
Mid-Upper Gunner
Flying Officer J/13085 John Martin David (RCAF) Age N/K
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Unmarried
Son of Mrs NG Reuter, Brother of F/O Bruce Arnold David
Killed in crash
Interred Hannover War Cemetery
Rear Gunner
Warrant Officer 408644 Roy Marmaduke Edmonds (RAAF) Age 22
Coburg, Victoria, Australia
Unmarried
Son of Edwin C and Elizabeth M Edmonds
Killed in crash
Interred Hannover Cemetery.
NEVER FORGOTTEN
Please ensure the following remains attached to any printed off copies of the above:-
Sources:
The information above is based on facts derived and/or cross checked from the following sources:
- W R Chorley, Bomber Command Losses (1943)
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database (online)
- Various RAF historical reference points (online)
- Clipping from unidentified local newspaper, Hamilton, Ontario (c 1944).
The above text is prepared and presented in good faith on an entirely non-commercial basis by myself, a private individual as an act of remembrance and is to the best of my knowledge and belief an accurate summary of the information available to me at the time of writing.
Alan James Barrow 12/08/13