Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star January 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram January 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of JOHN BURTON GAYFER – Detail part of a larger official RCAF photograph showing a flight crew. Photograph is part of the Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum collection.

Group Photo – Official RCAF photograph showing a flight crew; John "Bud" Gayfer seen on the right. Photograph is part of the Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum collection.

Photo of JOHN BURTON GAYFER – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter – 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

Memorial – Flight Sergeant John Burton Gayfer 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

Memorial – Flight Sergeant John Burton Gayfer is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Grave Marker – Grave of John Gayfer. Photograph, taken in the 1940s, is part of the Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum collection.

Temporary grave marker – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Cemetery – Barmby-on-the-Moor (St. Catherine) Churchyard (CWGC) [Story of crash from http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/ryedale/w5589.html and used with permission of Rich Allenby.] In the morning of the 5th of January 1942 the crew of a Wellington aircraft were air testing the aircraft prior to an Operational flight. When they took off at 09.28hrs there were intermittent snow showers over the Pocklington area. The pilot had flown this aircraft regularly and had previously been a fitter and was particular in checking his aircraft and engines prior to taking off. Whilst in the York area the aircraft suffered engine trouble, and the port engine then caught fire. At 10.15hrs the pilot is believed to have been attempting a forced landing near the military range at Strensall but lost control in bad visibility caused by a heavy snow shower at the time or by the fire making control impossible. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft explode in the air prior to it hitting the ground. The official report said it exploded on impact. All five airmen on the aircraft were sadly killed and were buried at Barmby Moor Churchyard on the 8th of January 1943 at 14.30hrs. The faulty engine was returned to Rolls Royce for closer inspection.

Gravemarker