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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Earl Stillings

In memory of:

Flying Officer John Earl Stillings

April 8, 1945

Military Service


Service Number:

J/17618

Age:

30

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

1659 Heavy Conversion Unit

Additional Information


Son of William Thomas Stillings and Laura Ellen Stillings. Native of U.S.A.

Commemorated on Page 567 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 280.

Location:

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • LV 935– NB: The aircraft and the crew shown  in the photo are not from the # LV 935
(Unknown)

The #1659 Heavy Conversion Unit Halifax aircraft #LV 935 was stationed at
Topcliffe air base Yorkshire, England

April 8, 1945, LV 935 was on a practice bombing exercise that would normally be to one of the practice 'bombing ranges' along the east coast of England.  Usually this would involve a bit of navigation exercise as well, and this would normally always include a period of time over the sea.

The fact that the crew, are all commemorated at Runnymede suggests that they came down into the sea somewhere off the British coast during the navigation part of the exercise.

Casualty list of LV 935

J.G.L.R. Sicotte, Pilot/ O - J.A.R.G.  Héroux Flying/ O, J.L.P.Routhier Flying/ O J.E.Stillings Flying/O J.A.L. Potvin Warrant Officer 1 - J.C.P. Laferrière Flight/sgt
J.C. Valiquette Flight/sgt  J.Stevenson Sergeant


All of them have no known grave and their names are inscribed on Runnymede Memorial.
  • Memorial– Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer John Earl Stillings is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … 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 Earl Stillings is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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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