Earl George Price (1921 - 1979)

Born 7 Sep 1921 in Canterbury, York, new Brunswick

Ancestors

Died 5 Feb 1979 at age 57 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario

Biography

The aircraft in which your Uncle George was a crew member was logged airborne at 2213 hours 5 Aug 42 by the Control Tower at RAF East Moor, UK on an operation to bomb Bochum, Germany. It was one of eight aircraft assiged this target...another 17 bombers raided Essen that same night.

His bomber, Halifax II, W1215 / NP-G, was shot down by a night fighter of the Luftwaffe, piloted by Lt August Geiger, III / NGT1, and crashed at 0128 hours at Oldebroek (Gelderland), 12 kms NNW of Epe, Holland. The crew was: P/O CH Phillips, RAAF, pilot, killed Sgt DH Furness, RAF, flight engineer, POW in Stalag Lamsdorf P/O LV Harvey, RAAF, navigator. POW in Stalag Luft 3, Sagan Sgt EG Price, DFM, RCAF, bomb aimer, evader Sgt WA Thompson, RAF, wireless operator, POW in Stalag Lamsdorf Sgt JA Byrne, RAF, mid upper gunner, POW in Stalag Lamsdorf P/O JE Marshall, RAF, rear gunner, killed

The 2 airmen who died are buried in the Oldebroek General Cemetery. It is believed P/O Phillips, RAAF, was trying to crash land the aircraft in order to save P/O Marshall, who was wounded and could not bale out. Sadly, structural failure occurred and the Halifax plunged down, out of control.

That information comes from RAF Bomber Command Losses files completed at the end of the war.

Humb. 35891 651 THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette , Of TUESDAY, the 2nd of FEBRUARY, 1943 published by Registered as a newspaper FRIDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, 1943 Air Ministry, $th February, 1943. ROYAL AIR FORCE. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards' in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy: — In various capacities, as members of aircraft crew the following personnel have displayed great determination in attacks against targets in enemy occupied territory: —

Can/R.84592 Sergeant Earl George PRICE, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 158 Squadron.

Sources

• NB Vital Statistic / County Birth Registers

F 18792 1898 p 71 Burial Mount Pleasant Cemetery section 51 lot 1187 Toronto, Ontario