
CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
ACHESON |
First Name/s: |
John William "Johnny" |
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Service No/s: |
J12544 |
Service: |
RCAF |
Branch: |
Pilot |
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Awards: |
DFC |
SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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08 Jul 1941 |
Enlisted in Montreal as AC2 |
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10 Jul 1941 |
No.1 Initial Training School, Eglington Hunt Club, Toronto, Ontario (precise date tbc). |
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27 Oct 1941 |
Graduated from 1 Initial Training School and probably promoted to LAC. |
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28 Oct 1941 |
No.1 Elementary Flying Training School, Malton, Ontario. Graduated on 31 Jan 42 |
Tiger Moth |
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14 Mar 1942 |
No.2 Service Flying Training School, Course 51, Uplands, ON |
Harvard / Yale |
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01 Oct 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Elsham Wolds. Precise date tbc |
Lancaster |
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04 Apr 1945 |
The crew’s last operation as the 'tour' was reduced to 33 ops on 09 April. |
Lancaster |
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15 Apr 1945 |
Recommended for DFC (Public Records Office Air 2/9749) – see below |
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15 May 1945 |
Embarked UK on repatriation (Vessel and port not known) |
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22 May 1945 |
Disembarked Canada - probably at Halifax, NS (Precise date and port tbc) |
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08 Sep 1945 |
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (London Gazette 21 Sep 45, p4705) |
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09 Nov 1945 |
AFRO 1704/45 (?) |
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25 Nov 1945 |
Invested with his DFC |
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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28 Oct 1944 |
PA173 |
UL-G2 |
COLOGNE |
1305 |
1745 |
4h40 |
P1 Sqn Ldr B.A. Templeman-Rooke |
NOTES: |
Target: Mulheim district of the city Load: 1x 4000lb 'Cookie' and 2,332 4lb incendiaries Six aircraft were tasked to attack Mulheim first, followed by the rest attacking the SW part of the city 'Second dickie' for Flt Lt J W Acheson, RCAF |
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31 Oct 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
Transit ELSHAM WOLDS – FISKERTON |
nk |
nk |
0h15 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Move to Fiskerton and change to 15 Base. Flight mechanics 522 Nield (FMA) and 337 Brett (FME) were carried as passengers. |
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02 Nov 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
DUSSELDORF |
1630 |
2155 |
5h25 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The northern built-up area of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. Possibly damaged by flak (tbc). |
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04 Nov 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
BOCHUM |
1735 |
2235 |
5h00 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load:1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. On the homeward route, the aircraft was intercepted by an enemy Me-110 but took evasive action. The mid-upper gunner, Sgt Oliver, opened fire and drove the attacker away. The Combat Report may be seen in Oliver's profile. |
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06 Nov 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-i2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
1140 |
1620 |
4h40 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Nordstern synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6 or 7x 500lb bombs. No.15 Base aircraft flew in formation led by four aircraft from the Sqn; I2 was one of those four. The formation broke up before bombing. Aircraft possibly damaged by flak |
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09 Nov 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
0810 |
1300 |
4h50 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs. No.15 Base aircraft flew in in a loose but concentrated formation led by three aircraft in ‘V’ formation from the Sqn; H2 was one of those three. The formation broke up before bombing. |
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11 Nov 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H |
DORTMUND |
1600 |
2130 |
5h30 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Hoesch Benzin GmbH synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4,000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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18 Nov 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
1555 |
2115 |
5h20 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupps synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. Most aircraft diverted to Bury St Edmunds or Tempsford due to poor visibility - only four Squadron aircraft landed at base. It is not known if the Acheson crew diverted or landed at Fiskerton. |
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27 Nov 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
FREIBURG |
1620 |
2250 |
6h30 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Troop concentrations in the built up area (flown in support of the French 1st Army) Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 5x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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29 Nov 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
DORTMUND |
1155 |
1725 |
5h30 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Industrial and rail targets within the built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 5x 1000lb, 7x 500lb bombs. No.15 Base aircraft flew in in a loose but concentrated formation led by three aircraft in ‘V’ formation from the Sqn; H2 was one of those three. The formation broke up before bombing. Hit by flak. The Rear Gunner Lewis was possibly wounded during this operation - tbc. His turret was badly damaged, and he suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg. There is no report of damage to the aircraft in the F78, although JB410 did not fly on the next operation on 03 December. |
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03 Dec 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
URFT DAM |
0740 |
1205 |
4h25 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Walled masonry dam. Load: 14x 1000lb bombs. The Master Bomber called off the attack due low cloud over target and the proximity of Allied troops. All aircraft returned with their bombloads. |
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17 Dec 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
ULM |
1510 |
2250 |
7h40 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards and the Magirius-Deutz & Kassbohrer lorry factories. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1604x 4lb incendiaries. |
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22 Dec 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
KOBLENZ |
1510 |
2230 |
7h20 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6 or7x 500lb bombs On return the whole Squadron were ordered to divert to Charterhall due to poor weather over most of England. Three aircraft landed elsewhere but H2 successfully landed at Charterhall. |
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23 Dec 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
Charterhall to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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28 Dec 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
BONN |
1520 |
2015 |
4h55 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 8x 500lb bombs. |
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31 Dec 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
OSTERFIELD |
1450 |
2105 |
6h15 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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05 Jan 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
ROYAN |
0155 |
0855 |
7h00 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy garrison & supply depot (flown in support of the Free French forces besieging the town). Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Jan 1945 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
MERSEBURG – LEUNA |
1905 |
0405 |
9h00 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs. |
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16 Jan 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
ZEITZ-TROGLITZ |
1730 |
0130 |
nk |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Braunkohle Benzin synthetic oil plant (low grade MT fuel). Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs. Aircraft damaged by flak. |
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22 Jan 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
DUISBERG |
1655 |
2225 |
5h30 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area of the city and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. |
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08 Feb 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
POLITZ |
1915 |
0340 |
8h25 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The IG Farben synthetic oil plant at 5333.5N 01444.5E. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 10x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Feb 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
CHEMNITZ |
2030 |
0525 |
8h55 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb, 1170x 4lb incendiaries. |
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20 Feb 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
DORTMUND |
2145 |
0345 |
6h00 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Rhenania Ossag oil refinery, in the Reisholz district. Load: 1x 2000lb bomb, 1846x 4lb incendiaries. |
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21 Feb 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
DUISBERG |
1935 |
0115 |
5h40 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area and docks. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 1770x 4lb incendiaries |
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23 Feb 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
PFORZHEIM |
1545 |
2330 |
nk |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: Built-up area and ball-bearing factory around 4852N 00842E. Load 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 2480x 4lb incendiaries. |
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02 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
COLOGNE |
0705 |
1215 |
5h10 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The roads to the west of the Rhine leading to Hohenzollern Bridge. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 10x 500lb, 2x 500lb, 4x 250lb bombs. |
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05 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
CHEMNITZ |
1650 |
0145 |
8h55 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1170x 4lb incendiaries. |
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07 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
DESSAU |
1655 |
0215 |
9h20 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1170x 4lb incendiaries. |
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11 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
ESSEN |
1150 |
1650 |
5h00 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area (flown in support of advancing Allied ground forces). Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. |
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12 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
DORTMUND |
1305 |
1820 |
5h15 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area (flown in support of Allied ground forces). Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. FIDO was deployed to disperse fog on return to Fiskerton. |
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15 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
MISBURG |
1720 |
0040 |
7h20 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Deurag oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1320x 4lb incendiaries. Sullivan was 'second dickie' on this flight - experience for a new pilot |
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16 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
NUREMBURG |
1720 |
0125 |
8h05 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 1470x 4lb incendiaries. |
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31 Mar 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
HAMBURG |
0620 |
1115 |
4h55 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Blohm & Voss U-Boat building & engineering yards. Load: 12x 1,000lb, 3x 500lb bombs. |
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03 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
NORDHAUSEN |
1310 |
1925 |
6h15 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: SS Barracks, bridges, and a V2 rocket factory. Load: 11x 1,000lb, 2x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
LUTZKENDORF |
2110 |
0510 |
8h00 |
P1 Flt Lt J.W. Acheson RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Wintershall AG synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb cookie, 10x 500lb bombs. This was the Acheson crew’s last operation as a tour had been reduced to 33 on 09 April. The crew were finally screened on 10 April. |
PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |