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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Joseph Casey

In memory of:

Flying Officer John Joseph Casey

March 31, 1945

Military Service


Service Number:

J/43953

Age:

19

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

431 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, France-Germany Star, General Service Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp and Operation Wings.

Additional Information


Born:

April 8, 1925
Ottawa, Ontario

Enlistment:

September 20, 1943
Ottawa, Ontario

Son of John J. Casey and Mary M. Casey (1953 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother), of Ottawa, Ontario.

Brother of Raymond Francis Casey who was killed in action on July 14, 1942 while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

He was a cadet in the army when he was a student.

He served in Canada and Great Britain. He had 559 days of service, including 311 days overseas.

Commemorated on Page 502 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

14. C. 9.

Location:

BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY is 13 km south east of Soltau on the west side of the road from Hamburg to Hannover. From Hannover travel north in the direction of Hamburg on the Autoroute No.7 for 80 km until the junction with Soltau Sud, this is in fact the junction of the A7 with the B3 Hannover to Hamburg road. On leaving the A7 at Soltau Sud follow the B3 in the direction of Celle and Bergen. The cemetery is on the right hand side of the road, 7 Km from the motorway junction.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Grave marker– Becklingen War Cemetery ... April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer John Joseph Casey is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer John Joseph Casey is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer John Joseph Casey is also commemorated at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincolnshire, UK - May 2019 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– International Bomber Command Centre, Lincolnshire, UK - May 2019 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHN JOSEPH CASEY– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHN JOSEPH CASEY– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Casey– F/O John Joseph 'Johnny' Casey, RCAF, was a crew member of Lancaster X KB-859, 431 'Iroquois' Squadron, 6 Group, Bomber Command. He died March 31, 1945 when his plane was shot down on a mission over Hamburg. KB-859 was coded SE-U, failed to return (SOC 31.3.45).
  • Group Photo– Back Row (l-r): P/O Albert 'Bert' Dorey, RCAF; Sgt. Laurence John 'Laurie' Mercer, RAF; F/O Patrick B. 'Red' Dennison, RCAF; F/O John Joseph 'Johnny' Casey, RCAF.

Front Row (l-r): F/Lt Patrick Joseph 'Pat' Hurley RCAF¿POW; F/O Martin 'Jack' Hartog, RCAF; F/O Frederick Roy 'Roy' Alty, RCAF.

Operation Summary: March 31, 1945 - 100 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 squadrons were joined by 100 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 on an attack at the Blohm & Voss shipyards at Hamburg. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,500 feet, releasing 1,908,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered but extensive damage was caused in the industrial area of Hamburg. The 6 Group was in the last wave of the attack and was attacked by many ME-262s.  8 crews failed to return, mostly due to attacks by these aircraft.
  • Document– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– The Memorial is located in Dalton-on-Tees, Yorkshire.
  • Memorial– Top of the Memorial. The Memorial is located in Dalton-on-Tees, Yorkshire.
  • Inscription– Middle of the Memorial. The Memorial is located in Dalton-on-Tees, Yorkshire.
  • Memorial Plaque– The plaque on the side commemorating 431 Squadron
  • Plaque– The plaque at the back of the grounds
  • Inscription– On the bottom of the Memorial. The Memorial is located in Dalton-on-Tees, Yorkshire.
  • Biography– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Entrance
  • Cemetery
  • Row of Gravemarkers– This set of headstones is a crew from 431 Squadron, that went down over Hamburg, Germany on March 31, 1945, in Lancaster KB-859, coded SE-U. From left to right, the names read: Albert Dorey, Patrick Dennison, John Casey, Martin Hartog, Frederick Alty and John Mercer of the RAFVR.
  • Gravemarker
  • Grave Marker– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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