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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Russell Alfred Davis

In memory of:

Flying Officer Russell Alfred Davis

November 6, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

J/17308

Age:

23

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

432 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Son of Frederick Charles and Elizabeth Mary Fowler Davis, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Commemorated on Page 151 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY
Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Sec. C. Row D. Grave 11.

Location:

The town cemetery is on the south east side of Harrogate, Yorkshire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's plot is in the southern part of the cemetery. To reach the cemetery from Harrogate, go along the Harrogate/Wetherby road (A661) to the junction with the A59. The cemetery is signposted at this junction. This cemetery contains war graves of both world wars. The large majority of the war burials occurred during the 1939-45 War. Nearly all are airmen, two-thirds of them belonging to the Canadian forces. Many of these men died in the Military Wing of Harrogate General Hospital. Of the many airfields established in Yorkshire during the War, a number were situated in the vicinity of Harrogate. Such were the R.A.F. station at Harrogate itself, and those at Linton-on-Ouse, Tockwith, Rufforth and Marston Moor. Nearly all the Canadians buried here belonged to No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Bomber Group, whose headquarters were at Allerton Park. All the stations controlled by this Group were in the area north of Harrogate in the Vale of York, the largest base having its headquarters at Linton-on-Ouse. During the early months of the war a piece of land was set aside by the local authorities for service war burials near the north-west corner of the cemetery. This group of war graves is in Sections 20E and 21E within the northern boundary. In July 1943 the Air Forces Section was opened at the north-eastern corner of the cemetery, where men from airfields in Yorkshire and the north-eastern counties were brought, most of whom died in the great bomber offensive on targets in Germany.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Russell Alfred Davis is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Russell Alfred Davis 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
  • Photo of Russell Alfred Davis– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Russell Alfred Davis– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Russell Alfred Davis– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation Paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Correspondence– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 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 Star November 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star November 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Gravemarker
  • Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery– Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery (CWGC)
Story of crash courtesy of Rich Allenby www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk
F/O Davis had a total of 366 hours flying time when the fatal crash occurred while training at 1679 Conversion Unit. Only four of these were on a Lancaster.  On Sept. 22, 1943, his last operational flight was on Wellington HZ485, 432 Sqdn, on a mission to Hanover, Germany.
On 6 Nov. 1943, just before 16.55hrs, the crew took off from East Moor airfield on Lancaster DS 649 to do a series of circuits and landings training flights. Five minutes later the aircraft struck trees and crashed close to Rose Cottage Farm, between Terrington and Wiganthorpe at 17.00hrs. The aircraft was completely wrecked and was burnt out.

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