Another grave from Eglinton - Canadian

[PPS]

Whilst looking at the church that is connected with Hanno's thread, I came across this grave in the same row.

Does anyone know of this fallen airman?

Paul

[JDCAVE]

I did a Google on the gentleman and nothing comes up. I seached the Bomber Command Diaries and there doesn't seem to be major operations during that day...
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/diary.html

13/14 March 1943
Minelaying: 51 Wellingtons and 17 Lancasters to areas between Lorient and the Kattegat. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Lancaster lost.

14/15 March 1943
13 Wellingtons minelaying in the Frisians without loss.

15 March 1943
11 Venturas bombed La Pleine airfield in Brittany. 1 Ventura lost in the sea.

16 March 1943
16 Mosquitos attacked railway workshops at Paderborn, nearly 200 miles inland from the coast, and scored direct hits. 1 Mosquito lost.

16/17 March 1943
2 Wellingtons of No 1 Group minelaying in the Frisian Islands without loss.

That leaves the possibility of a fighter command loss (possible) or a training loss (probably most likely). Just my speculation. Remember that almost half of the 20,000 Canadian airmen who died were a result of training accidents (source, Oxford Companion to WW II). Almost all of the other half were lost during Bomber Command operations. Also, aircrew who died on British soil on return from operations were not reported as part of the losses from those operations.

JD

[PPS]

Many thanks for your reply, it is quite possible that it was a training accident, especially when you read Hanno's thread about Johannes Blok.

On the CWGC site he is shown as a WOII, and named as Arnold Lindsay Card.

It was just a thought that someone on the Forum may know of this man or any relatives.

Paul.

P.S. By the way, the mark in the centre of the headstone is not a fault; it is a nine spot Ladybird, quite happily resting

[J.P. Brescacin]

From They Shall Grow Not Old.

"Card, Arnold Lindsay WO2(P) R79452. From Montreal, Quebec. Killed Mar. 15/43 age 21. #131 Operational Training Unit. Martinet aircraft # HP 133 flew into some hills in a heavy mist seven miles east of Cranagh, County Tyrone, Ireland. AC.1 W.A. Moore (RAF) was also killed. Warrant Officer Class 2 Pilot Card is buried in the Faughanvale (St, Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Eglinton, County Londonderry, Ireland"

Hope this helps.

[PPS]

Again, many thanks for taking the time to reply to my thread.

I live in Northern Ireland as you may have gathered, and Cranagh is a place I know of, but not well.

Paul

[JDCAVE]

This is the aircraft. I was not familiar with it. It is listed as a target towing aircraft.