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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Johann Walter Einarson

In memory of:

Flight Lieutenant Johann Walter Einarson

February 25, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

J/17276

Age:

23

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Honours and Awards:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Additional Information


Born:

November 20, 1920
Wynard, Saskatchewan

Enlistment:

February 10, 1941
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Son of Haraldur B. and Elin Einarson. Twin brother of Flight Sergeant Harold Bjorn Einarson, who died while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Flight Lieutenant Johann Walter Einarson has been honoured by having Einarson Creek named after him. The location of Einarson Creek is in Yukon (105O13- 63° 45’ 11”- 131° 37’ 51”)

Commemorated on Page 299 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY
Meurthe-et-Moselle, France

Grave Reference:

1. G. 2.

Location:

Choloy is a village and commune in the Department of the Meurthe-et-Moselle, 28 kilometres west of Nancy and some 5 kilometres west of Toul, a town on the N4 road from Paris to Nancy. The village is south of the River Moselle on the minor road (D11B) from Toul to the neighbouring village of Foug. The CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY is 3 kilometres west of Toul on the north side of the D11B road. The Choloy War Cemetery is the last resting place of casualties from the First and Second World Wars and is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is also the final resting place for many Royal Canadian Air Force members and their families who died while serving in Europe as part of 1 Air Division between 1953 and 1967 and other Service Members serving with NATO in Germany following Canada's departure from France.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Lieutenant Johann Walter Einarson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Lieutenant Johann Walter Einarson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Regina Leader Post January 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Johann Walter Einarson– The Einarson's at 19 OTU, RAF Kinloss, Course No.32 - November 1941
  • Photo of Johann Walter Einarson– Johan and his 61 Squadron crew
  • Cemetery– F/L Einarson was pilot of Lancaster LL 775, 61 (RAF) Sqdn.  on operations to Augsburg, Germany, when the aircraft crashed at Lagarde in the Parc Regional de Lorraine (Moselle), some 14 km s of Dieuze, France.
He was the only Canadian crew member.

The other crew members killed were
Sgt M.L.Worth KIA P/O A.J.Collins RAAF KIA  F/S R.T.Gill RAAF KIA F/S P.L.Jones KIA F/S H.Rankin DFM KIA.  One crew member survived and was able to successfully evade capture.  He was:  W/O P.R.Greatrex RAAF  (Source:  www.lostbombers.co.uk) 

Sadly, his twin brother, F/S (Pilot) Harold Bjorn Einarson, was killed at age 19 September 10, 1942, while serving on 207 (RAF) Squadron.
  • Medal– F/L Einarson was awarded both the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
The citations read as follows:

EINARSON, FS Johann Walter (R87302) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.44 Squadron - Award effective 12 April 1943 as per London Gazette dated 20 April 1943 and AFRO 985/43 dated 28 May 1943.  Born  at Wynard, Saskatchewan, 1920; home in Shallbrook, Saskatchewan.  Enlisted in Saskatoon, 10 February 1941. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 9 May 1941), No.15 EFTS (graduated 3 July 1941), and No.11 SFTS (graduated11 September 1941).  Commissioned 1943.

This pilot has displayed the greatest possible determination to locate and bomb his target on all possible occasions.  He has taken part in many long and dangerous raids on a variety of targets in Germany and Italy including the recent raids on Berlin.  He has also secured good photographs.  His calmness and courage have inspired great confidence in his crew and contributed to the success of many missions.

EINARSON, F/O Johann Walter, DFM (J17276) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.61 Squadron - Award effective 8 January 1944 as per London Gazette dated 25 January 1944 and AFRO 410/44 dated 25 February 1944.

This officer has completed a very large number of sorties including five attacks on Berlin.  On the last occasion one night in November 1943, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and sustained damage.  Nevertheless, Flying Officer Einarson pressed home his attack.  Soon after the bombs had been released, the aircraft was struck, the starboard wing tip and part of the aileron were torn away and the aircraft went into a steep dive.  Flying Officer Einarson succeeded in regaining control and afterwards flew safely to an airfield in this country.  Throughout his tour of operations this officer has invariably displayed a high degree of skill, courage and determination.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHANN WALTER EINARSON– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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