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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Elwood Albert Townsend

In memory of:

Flying Officer Elwood Albert Townsend

July 29, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

J/25935

Age:

22

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

405 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Son of William H. and Ida May Townsend, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Commemorated on Page 464 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 248.

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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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star June 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Elwood Albert Townsend– In memory of the students from Western Technical School, Toronto who served during World War II and did not return. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Western Technical School– In memory of the students from Western Technical School, Toronto who served during World War II and did not return. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Memorial– In memory of the students from Western Technical School, Toronto who served during World War II and did not return. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Memorial Entrance– Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Runnymede Memorial– Photo of Runnymede Memorial CWGC.
Story of crash courtesy Air War Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com

Lancaster III JB707 of 405 (RCAF) Sqn. took off 22:48 July 28th from Gransden Lodge on a bombing raid on Hamburg.

Bomber Command lost 22 aircrafts on this attack. Ten of these aircraft crashed into the sea. Lancaster JB707 was one of those. The whole crew perished.
 
F/O (P) Elwood A. Townsend, Sgt (FE) Derek C. Carrott RAF,  F/O (N) William C. Morrow, F/O (BA) Elwood C. Pomeroy, P/O (W/Op) Wendell P. Drew and 2nd pilot W/C (P) Charles Gray have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

On Thursday 28/6 1945 it was reported to the police in Ringkøbing that there had been found graves in beach areas 1a, 2 and 6 near Bjerregrav. The three graves were believed to hold allied airmen and should be moved to Haurvig cemetery.
 
On the grave in beach area no. 6 was found a wooden cross with an inscription saying: Colin John. Can-R 100467 Heigesetz am 7.10.44. It turned out to be the body of Air Gnr. Colin J. Blyth whom the Germans had buried where it was found washed ashore on 7/10 1944.

On 1/7-1945 Blyth was laid to rest in Haurvig cemetery together with the airmen found in beach area 1a and 2. They were Sgt F. W. Webster of RAF 138 Sqn and Sgt Arthur Robson of RAF 582 Sqn.
  • Memorial– Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Panels  - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Inscription– Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Elwood Albert Townsend is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Elwood Albert Townsend is also 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

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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