Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of Joseph Arthur Hay – Miramichi airman Joseph Arthur Hay was born in Chatham on 16 April, 1911, to Andrew and Mary (Morrison) Hay .He was a barber in civilian life. Joe had served two years as a signaler with the 2nd Battalion of the North Shore Regiment before enlisting in the RCAF in October 1941. Joe married Mary Eleanor Kelly, of Loggieville, in September 1942 in Montreal. He qualified as an air gunner in January , 1943, and was posted to 10 AOS Chatham. In September he was posted to Debert, NS, and arrived in the UK in January, 1944. His daughter ,Mary Eleanor Carolyn Hay, was born in August. Sergeant Hay was posted to 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF, in October and qualified as a wireless- air gunner. He was posted to 190 Squadron (RAF) on 6 March 1945. On the 24th March 1945, Joe took part in the airlift of the 6th Airborne Division to the Hamminkeln area as part of Operation Varsity to establish a bridgehead over the River Rhine. Joe’s air-plane towed a Horsa glider which carried men and equipment of the 12th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment. In April 1945, 190 Squadron were busy flying stocks of fuel to units on the front line. In May 1945, as part of Operation ‘DOOMSDAY’, 190 Squadron was carrying army units to Norway to disarm the German garrison. Joe’s Halifax bomber ran into trouble and had to force-land in the Netherlands. On 11 May, Joe was returning to the UK from the B78 airfield in Eindhoven on a Wellington bomber, NC 489, of 69 Squadron RAF. The heavily loaded NC 489 swung on take-off, to avoid some trees, which resulted in the aircraft stalling and then crashing. Joe and six other airmen were killed. Warrant Officer First Class Joseph Arthur Hay, and the other six airmen, are buried in the same row in the Eindhoven General Cemetery, the Netherlands.

Photo of JOSEPH ARTHUR HAY – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me