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Newsletter No. 8
Spring 2015
Prairie Motor Brigade Maintaining Military History
The Prairie Motor Brigade is the Alberta and Saskatchewan affiliate of the MVPA
Cover Photo: Cenotaph at Olds, Alberta See Page 6
Photo Credits: Donna Geekie, Jim Hodgson, Bob Brown
Members are encouraged to submit pictures and articles for inclusion in upcoming issues of this newsletter. This newsletter is published quarterly, please forward all submissions or inquiries to the editor: Jim Hodgson [email protected]
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Upcoming Events
Recent Events
Gun Show
Olds Legion
Henry McIver’s Last Mission
Minutes of the Last Meeting
Buy and Sell
Contacts
Websites
Membership Information
Contents
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S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
6 Olds Legion Convoy Centennial Park, Olds
13-14 Summer Skirmish At the Military Museums, Calgary
19-21 Wings and Wheels At the Aerospace Museum, Calgary
27 Beer & Hotdogs
At Arlon Bauers’
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
17-19 Wings Over Springbank Airshow At Springbank airport setup July 17 (8 am – 6 pm)
show July 18-19 (10 am – 5 pm)
JUNE JULY AUGUST
S M T W T F S 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
8 Breakfast at Airdrie Co-Op
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Airdrie Summer Classic Car Show
At Nose Creek Park, Airdrie Registration: 8 am- noon $10.00
Show time: 10 am – 4 pm
UPCOMING EVENTS
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A.A.C.C.A Gun Show BY JIM HODGSON
Next to us, the Historical Vehicle Troop of the Lord Strathcona’s set up their display along with a Ferret, one of many of their restored vehicles.
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This years’ annual Gun Show was held on Easter Weekend at the BMO Centre at the Stampede Grounds in Calgary. The Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association has the largest gun show in Canada and it has been an annual gathering of gun and militaria enthusiasts for years.
The PMB had its’ display setup with items such as radio equipment, a field office and numerous other items under the camo net to attract the crowds. Wayne had his M37 and Rick brought along the 45MM anti-tank gun which got plenty of attention. The vendors at the show had displays of guns, ammo, books, military collectables and clothing. Something for just about everyone and a great time to meet old friends and make new contacts.
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Waynes’ M37 attracted the crowds
over to our booth
Historical Vehicle Troop
ehicle Troop
Setting things up the
day before the show
opened to the public.
Ricks’ 45 mm anti-tank gun
was a popular item
The Prairie Motor Brigade set up
next to the Historic Vehicle Troop
of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse
(Royal Canadians)
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Cenotaph at Olds, ALberta
71st Anniversary of D-Day
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Olds Legion
Olds, Alberta
June 6th marked the 71st anniversary of D-Day. We all met a couple of miles east of Olds and parked our trucks and trailers in an empty field to prepare for the convoy to town for the ceremony at the cenotaph at Centennial Park. After a brief meeting with the safety officer we headed out and met at the cenotaph. Most of us made it without incident however one vehicle succumbed to vapour lock and was quickly rescued by the convoy leader and towed to the destination. We set up the vehicles next to the cenotaph and shortly after arrival the ceremony began. Although the crowds were not large we had a number of people come by to view the vehicles. Linda Anderson, President of the Royal Canadian Legion #105, invited us to lunch at the Legion. We parked our vehicles in front of the Legion’s building where they could be seen by the traffic along the main street then went inside to have lunch and a chance to relax. We later went outside to have a group photo taken in front of the tank on display at the Legion then headed back to our trucks and trailers to load them up and head home.
We climbed aboard Archie for a group photo
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Jims’ 1943 GPW
Stus’ latest acquisition
1952 M38
Donnas’ 1942
MB
Waynes’ 1952 M37
Ricks’ 1986 IIltis
Steves’ 1952 M38CDN Stus’ 1952 M38
Henry McIver’s Last Mission Submitted by Rick DeBruyn
Henry McIver was my grandfather's brother, my grand uncle. Uncle Henry was long gone by the time I was born but his memory was very much alive within our extended family. His medals, photos, log book, etc. were kept at my grandparents’ house and as a child I recall on many occasions opening the drawer where these items were kept then flipping through the photos, reading the log book and holding his medals. My grandfather was rather proud of Henry so of course he would tell of his heroics and how he piloted the damaged Lancaster away from the nearby town as they were going down. I am pleased that I am now the custodian of Uncle Henrys’ keepsakes and hope to keep his war time deeds alive with the next generations. The story attached was written by a lady from Great Britain, Henry billeted with her family during the war. The story traveled from GB to our family through some genealogy channels in the 1990's, it is rather amazing that it made it to our family at all, this before email and intranet that make present day around the world exchanges so easy. The story is much appreciated by my family, a very nice tribute to our Uncle Henry.
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THE QUEST
The impressionable schoolgirl worshipped the young Canadian airman who was billeted at her
parent's manse. When he was killed over France, the light went out of her life. Years later, when
she had ceased to wonder why, she found herself increasingly wondering where and how it
happened...and whether any trace of the fateful mission remained. MARGARET SHEPPARD tells
a remarkable, true story.
____________________
Did the hot sun shine brightly down out of a
cloudless English sky on June 13, 1944, as Henry
lay relaxing, waiting for the destined take-off time of
yet another mission across the English Channel with
his crew? The letter he wrote that afternoon before
his last raid over France is still read from time to time.
My sister and I, who never had any brothers,
welcomed Ed and Henry, as billeted Royal Canadian
Air Force Officers, to the Presbyterian Manse, our
family home in Cheltenham in that year of 1941.
Very soon they ceased to be the "officers" and
became family.
Ed already had Peg, his fiancée, and after the war
they were married. Many years later, when I married,
I found their address on a Christmas card, and called
to see them and their two children, taking our two
children with us. After that, silence.
Henry had no close friend, only Ed. He was what you
might call a loner. A country boy from
Saskatchewan, he wrote to his Mother whenever he
could and spoke of her with affection. His leaves
were spent with us, cycling or walking the
Gloucestershire lanes, picking fruit for jam, and
generally fooling about as brothers and sisters do.
That top attic bedroom became the "boys' room.
Mum cooked for them, Dad counseled them. Meals were taken in the kitchen, no ceremony
needed. Even washing up ceased to be a chore whilst Henry was about. I believe he was on the
receiving end also when Dad clouted me for "being silly".
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A visit to a local aerodrome was arranged for my sister and I, two very excited young girls were
allowed to don Henry's flying jacket, gloves and head-gear. My, were they heavy! The parachute
harness proved much too big for either of us, but I
insisted on trying it on. Being a gentleman, Henry
was a bit bothered about the "under the legs bit"
and the release buckle was in an awkward place!
We were then taken to look at the towering mass
of a Lancaster bomber. Duly awed, Henry then
opened up the cockpit and we were able to sit
inside, goggle-eyed at all those instruments and
controls. Heads would have rolled had we been
spotted, but I suspect that the rules were bent a
good deal in order to please us girls.
Often I'd run up the short flight of stairs to the attic
room when the boys were out, just to be amongst
Henry's things. As you may have guessed, I
adored him with all the fervor a 15 year-old can
muster. We'd no brother, you see, we knew
nothing about men in that Victorian establishment.
Socks were all about, trousers not hung up;
Henry's Bible lay well thumbed and underlined in
favorite places, another new experience, even for
a manse child.
I read and re-read those marked places, until I
found a new light shed on the well-known
passages. This man really did love his Lord. He
was, as a staunch Presbyterian, delighted to share
many long hours of talk with Dad. There were
times when I came across Henry so deeply in prayer on his knees by his bedside that he was quite
unaware I was there. His earnest prayers, observed by me, unknown to him, reminded me of the
Gethsemane story. Henry needed help from his Lord to go on those terrifying raids over Germany.
We spent happy hours around the piano, as Mum played well-known ballads, songs and hymns.
Henry sang out with gusto, Ed was shy and unmusical, but quietly joined in. Henry wrote in my
autograph book, just as he sang it: "Sunset and Evening Star, Are one clear call for me. May there
be no moaning at the bar, When I put out to sea." A fitting epitaph as it turned out to be.
During those five years the boys were inevitably moved around the country to different stations, and
other officers occupied the attic room. But Henry continued to pop in whenever his leaves allowed.
It was grand to have his strong arm to grip on an icy-under-foot Sunday morning on the way to
church.
Then one day the telegraph boy called bearing the telegram we half expected. I saw the boy first,
coming up the flight of steps to our green front door, and my heart lurched in fear. There was an
inevitability about it, even before Dad opened the yellow envelope. "The Air Ministry regrets to inform
you Flying Officer Lt. Henry McIver is missing, presumed killed in action over France on the night of
June 13, 1944." (Henry had given Dad's name as his next of kin). I could not cry. Would God be so
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cruel? Sitting on the stairs, I read and re-read that short, drastic statement. The sun had ceased to
shine on my world.
Somehow one never quite gives up hope when news of this sort arrives. There is always a small
glimmer of hope. He could be a
P.O.W. or be lying in a French
hospital unable to give his name.
As the years mounted, 20, 30, 40,
it seemed he really must be dead,
and I must resign myself to never
seeing him again. But his
infectious laughter and big grin
remained as a clear picture.
No further information was
uncovered until 1980 when my
mother died. I was surprised to find
among her papers the name of the
French village where Henry rested.
They had known all along.
During 1985, we as a family took a holiday in France for the first time. I resolved to discover exactly
where I could find dear Henry's grave or memorial. We found the village. By then our holiday was
over, but in 1986 here I was again, on this occasion with time to seek, and hopefully find.
Out of Cambrai a short way we found the village of Avesnes-les-
Aubert. We looked for the parish church as instructed, not
realizing that most people in France are Catholics. After
wandering around the village in vain, almost near to tears at
being so near and yet still not finding the grave, we spotted the
local butcher's window open to the street. There was not another
soul around, so I sat in the car and, with the aid of a dictionary,
wrote down my questions. "Je voudrai trouver le memorial de la
guerre aux Canadian Air Force, qui tomb pendant la guerre sur
Cambrai Juin 13, 1944. Il est dans la cementiere d'eglise dans
Avesnes-les-Aubert. Aidez moi, s'il vous plait." Approaching
nervously, I thrust the note at him and waited. He read it and then
said: "Non, je..." I did not catch all he said, it was so fast. Two
girls were just leaving his shop and he said something to them.
They offered a suggestion which seemed to jog his memory.
He directed us, pointing down the street. I thanked him gratefully.
We passed the cemetery once before we realized, then parked
the car and went in. The catholic church had no burial ground,
hence this plot a mile away. We wandered up and down rows of
the elaborate gravestones of French families for more than half
an hour. Just as we were going out of the gate, giving up sadly,
my husband spotted five tombstones near the wall in a small
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enclosure of their own. There, glinting in the evening sun, I read the dear name at last.
"Flight Lieutenant Henry McIver, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, June 13, 1944. Age 31." And below
the inscription his Mother would have requested for him: "Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the
Life." St. John 1:25. The tears fell then.
Later I saw the other four stones. The rest of his crew. They died, one supposed, as they had lived
and worked -- together. Probably shot down by the Germans, blown up and killed instantly. After
dwelling on this for a while, questions came running into my head. Why were they here, in a Catholic
cemetery, with the village people, and not in the Commonwealth Cemetery with the thousands of
their friends?
Henry and two others of the crew were Canadian, another two were RAF, a gunner and a flight
engineer. I removed weeds and pruned the two rose bushes, then stood back, wondering if the wives
of the other men had been able to visit. This arthritic biddy, I reflected, knocking on 60 years, had at
last found the beloved name and her quest had ended after more than 40 years. But was it the end
of the story?
Back home, I decided to send a copy of the story of my quest to the butcher who had guided me at
last to the place where Henry rested. Three years later I was amazed to receive an invitation from
the Mayor of the village asking me to take part in their annual Liberation Day celebrations. How
could I refuse?
We reached
Avesnes-les-
Aubert late
afternoon on
the day before
Liberation Day.
My feelings
were mixed.
Sadness at
having to re-
open an old
wound and fear
as to what
might be
expected of
me. I only
hoped my
schoolgirl
French would
be enough to
see me
through.
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At the Town Hall we were greeted by the Mayor and his deputy at an exhibition solely to honor
Henry. We were shown round as honored guests and toasted with champagne. Apparently, I had
unwittingly provided a theme relevant to the village by sending my story to the butcher, who had
kept it for three years before handing it to the Mayor. Pinned to the wall were photos I had sent, and
the letters Henry had written to Dad and myself between 1940 and 1944. First-hand accounts of the
crash were also displayed, each one telling of Henry's bravery as a pilot, in avoiding crashing on the
village, thus averting much loss of life.
Old photos showed the villagers attending the funeral which the Germans had tried to prevent. The
people had risen before
dawn to follow the horse-
drawn cortege on its
journey to the cemetery.
No petrol in those dark
days. One photo showed
three young girls carrying
flowers for the graves.
One of the girls, now an
elderly lady, pushed
towards us, anxious to
tell her own story.
On display were pieces
of the Lancaster bomber,
gear box still with moving
parts intact. And one
young man had made a
scale model of the
bomber which brought to
mind more vividly what
had really happened. A
brass plaque had been mounted on a pillar in the hall, bearing an inscription to Henry. This was
temporarily covered with an enlarged picture of him until the unveiling, to be carried out by me next
morning. The Mayor presented me with a pewter plate bearing the village coat of arms. It was then
I realized that I would have to make a speech the next day. I would be up into the small hours with
my faithful dictionary.
Christella, a local schoolteacher, was on hand to help her non-English speaking Mayor and myself
to translate what we were trying to say to each other. We were shown the field where the plane had
come down, near the station. A loaded ammunition train had been waiting just outside, delayed by
an engine fault. Had the train been on time the whole village would have been wiped out. I learned
that no vegetation grew on the field for more than 20 years due to fuel contamination. The plane had
been split apart after being hit by German night fighters. All seven crew were killed. The two Belgians
aboard were flown home for burial after the war at the request of their relatives.
The following day the young airmen were truly honored. The Mayor gave a speech, most of it lost
on me, I replied, in halting French, thanking them for their tribute and for tending the graves for all
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those years. Then came a procession through the village, after which the Mayor laid wreaths to the
fallen of two world wars. The National Anthem was played, followed by the Marseillaise and Last
Post. I was reminded of wartime news bulletins, which used to be preceded by the playing of the
anthems of all the occupied countries. A one-minute silence was observed. I had stood by those five
graves several times but was still moved to tears at the wastage of the young lives.
We returned to the hall where
several people still wanted to
speak to me. From one man I
learned that Henry's body was
the only one not blown to bits.
The others were, "mere
shreds of humanity" as he put
it. Another lady, of about fifty,
told me that the plane had
fallen in her father's field. He
had been a woodworker and
was on night shift yards from
the scene. She wanted to offer
me a tiny compass which she
said had been clenched in
Henry's teeth when he was
found. This unleashed my
tears. "Oui" was all I could
manage. She hurried home to
get is, and handed it to me
with obvious pleasure. We
shook hands. How staid are
we Brits.
There were handshakes all
round. The Mayor kissed me
on both cheeks and we left the
hall and our new friends with
an Au Revoir sincerely meant.
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Henry McIver’s missions RCAF 408 GOOSE Squadron.
OPERATIONS No. 1 Henry 2nd pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS730
March 15/16, 1944 29 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 101 Halifaxes
from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadron on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were
over the target at between 18,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 64,000 lbs of high explosives and
402,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, some damage was caused.
OPERATIONS No. 2 Henry 2nd pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722
March 22/23, 1944 27 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 73 Halifaxes from
420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Frankfurt. The crews were over
the target at between 20,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 54,000 lbs of high explosives and 408,000
lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
OPERATIONS No. 3 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS730
March 30/31 1944, 25 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 93 Halifaxes from
420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Nurnberg. The crews were over
the target at between 18,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 98,000 lbs of high explosives and 396,000
lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was scattered due to many fighter attacks and
some bombing fell on Schweinfurt due to a wind. This was a most terrible night for bomber command,
as 108 aircraft were missing or destroyed in crashes This number was never exceeded.
LL725 Henry flew this Lancaster
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OPERATIONS No. 4 Henry 1st pilot,
Lancaster II aircraft no. LL725
April 9/10 1944, 9 Lancasters from 408 and 426
squadrons were joined by 100 Halifaxes from 420,
424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons on an
attack on the rail yards at Villeneuve St.Georges.
The crews were over the target at between 13,000
and 17,000 feet, releasing 1,051,000 lbs of high
explosives. According to reports, the rail yards were
damaged with bombing creeping into the residential
area.
OPERATIONS not competed Henry 1st pilot,
Lancaster II aircraft no. DX770
April 10/11 1944, 24 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Laon. The crews were over the target at between 10,000 and 12,000 feet, releasing 276,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the rail yards were not seriously damaged. F/Lt H. McIver from 408 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner
lost oil and u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. OPERATIONS No. 5 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS726
April 22/23 1944, 23 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 114 Halifaxes from
420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were
over the target at between 16,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 284,000 lbs of high explosives and
469,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was
caused. F/Lt H. McIver was coned by search lights. They were then damaged by flak. There were
holes in both wings, stbd flap, tail fin, and rear turret.
OPERATIONS No. 6 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS688
April 24/25 1944, 21 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 116 Halifaxes from
420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Karlsruhe. The crews were
over the target at between 15,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 248,000 lbs of high explosives and
401,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was
scattered. All crews commented on the severe icing to this target.
OPERATIONS No. 7 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. LL643
April 26/27 1944, 24 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 94 Halifaxes from
420, 424, 425, 429, 431, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Essen. The crews were over the
target at between 20,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 71,000 lbs of high explosives and 500,000 lbs
of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused.
LL725 Henry flew this Lancaster
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OPERATIONS No. 8 Henry 1st pilot,
Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722
May 8/9 1944, 13 Lancasters
from 408 squadron were joined
by 59 Halifaxes from 420, 425,
426, 431, and 432 squadron
on an attack of the rail yards at
Haine St. Pierre. The crews
were over the target at
between 6,000 and 8,500 feet,
releasing 717,000 lbs of high
explosives. According to
reports the bombing was
concentrated and severe
damage was caused to the rail
yards and locomotive shops.
OPERATIONS No. 9 Henry 1st pilot,
Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722
May10/11 1944, 24 Lancasters
from 408 and 419 squadrons
were joined by 90 Halifaxes from 420, 425, 426, 428, 429, and 433 squadrons on an attack of the
rail yard at Ghent. The crews were over the target at between 9,000 and 11,000 feet, releasing
957,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this attack was successful.
OPERATIONS No.10 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722 (not sure if Henry on this
one, his log book says he had ops. To Caen?)
May 19/20 1944, 15 Lancasters from 408 Squadron were joined by 42 Halifaxes from 420, 425,
and 426 Squadrons on an attack of the coastal guns at Merville-Franceville. The crews were over
the target at between 7,000 and 8,500 feet, releasing 318,000 lbs of high explosives. According to
reports there was haze over the target and bombing was scattered.
OPERATIONS No. 11 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722
May 24/25 1944, 30 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from
424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the 2 railyards at Aachen. The crews were over
the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 810,000 lbs of high explosives. According
to reports, one rail yard was severely damaged with some damage to the others.
Photo from Henrys 8th mission
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OPERATIONS No. 12 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722
May 27/28 1944, 32 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 117 Halifaxes from
420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 Squadrons on an attack of the military camp at Bourg Leopold.
The crews were over the target at between 8,000 and 12,000 feet, releasing 1,191,000 lbs of high
explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate. F/Sgt C. Reid, P/O W. McIntyre, F/Lt H.
McIver, F/O A. Quinlan, and F/O J. Faulder landed at Croft on return due to fog at base.
OPERATIONS No. 13 Henry 1st pilot, Lancaster II aircraft no. DS722
June 12/13, 1944, 32 Lancaster from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from
420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Cambrai. The crews were over
the target at between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, releasing 745,000 lbs of high explosives. According to
reports, this attack was accurate with serious damage being done.
F/Lt H. McIver RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-772 coded EQ-T, failed to return from this
operation. All were killed after being shot down by a Night fighter.
In memory of
HENRY CARBEE MCIVER
Flight Lieutenant
who died on June 13, 1944.
Service No.J/8169
Age: 31
Force: Air Force
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 408 Sqdn.
Citation: N/A
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Henry McIver Service Postings
May 1 - June 7, 1941 Initial Training Schools (I.T.S.) No. 2 Regina, Saskatchewan
June 9 - July 27, 1941 Elementary Flying Training Schools (E.F.T.S.) No. 8 Vancouver, B.C.
July 28 - Oct 14, 1941 Service Flying Training Schools (S.F.T.S.) No. 3 Calgary, Alberta
November 13, 1941 Leaves Canada for Great Britain
Jan 1- June 9, 1942 Air Operation Squadron (A.O.S.) # 6 Staverton Gloucestershire
June 10 - July 12, 1942 Royal Air Force, Cark, Lancashire
July 12 - Sept 22, 1942 Air Operation Squadron (A.O.S.) #6 Moreton Yalence, Gloucestershire
Sept 22 - Oct 5, 1942 Beam Approach School RAF Watchfield No. 1
Oct 5 - Nov 14, 1942 Special Pilot Training Unit (S.P.T.U.) Cark
Nov 14 1942 - Oct 18, 1943 #2 (O)AFU Millom, Cumberland
Oct 19, 1943 - Jan 27, 1944 RAF No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Wellsbourne, Mountford
Jan 28 - Mar 9, 1944 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) # 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
(HCU) Wombleton, Yorkshire
Mar 9 - June 13, 1944 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) # 408 squadron
Additional information on Henry can be attained from Rick DeBruyn (Henrys Nephew) , Box 1064, Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0, P: 403-443-2213, Email: [email protected]
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Bill Gracie 26 Stirling Road
Kilsyth Glasgow G65 OHX
SCOTLAND 29th September 03
Dear Rick
Earlier this month I attended the annual reunion at the former RAF MILLOM, Cumbria as I
have done since reunions were first started some twelve years ago. I was interested to learn
that you visited our museum when you were in UK earlier in the year. I was shown the copy
of your book which you kindly left at the museum and which covers the RCAF career of
Henry C McIver. I spent a long time looking over the photographs and in particular the copies
of the logbook pages relating to flying at Millom. I was sorry indeed to learn later in the book
that after leaving Millom Henry became one of Bomber Command's 55,000 casualties. I
understand he was a relative of yours. After completing my training as a wireless operator/air
gunner I was posted to Millom in the second half of 1941 to join the permanent flying staff
and there I remained helping to train others until September 1943 when I left with one of the
staff pilots to join 216 Squadron in Middle East. My service at Millom therefore overlapped
with that of Henry and I do remember him well. We were never in the same flight so I never
flew with him according to my log book but we did share the same mess, part of which now
houses the museum. I have checked through the photographs I took at Millom but
unfortunately he does not appear in any of them. Sixty years have no doubt dulled my
memory so I hope some of the following recollections are not too far off the mark:- I
remember Henry as a quiet living chap who was never conspicuous even on the nights we
found an excuse to let our hair down a bit. That was when the extroverts came to the fore. I
may be wrong but I think he could have been closer to religion than most of us. We had a
sort of rambling club on the camp when all ranks would take to the Lakeland countryside,
usually at weekends, and I do recall one such outing when a pal and I accompanied two
WAAFS alongside Lake Coniston. We acted as thorough gentlemen at all times but must
have dilly dallied a bit because we were late in reaching the tearoom in Coniston where food
had been arranged. On making our appearance we were subjected to some good natured
banter which embarrassed the two girls while my pal and I received a tongue in cheek mild
rebuke from Henry who was, I think, responsible for organizing the outing.
One day we lost an aircraft at Snaefell on the Isle of Man in very poor flying conditions,
fortunately with no casualties. My memories of the incident are that the pilot had a glimpse
of land just as they were about to crash but reacted so quickly he was able to dip one wing
and so absorb much of the impact. I am almost certain that pilot was Henry. I recall his
wireless operator, a short Scottish lad like myself, relating his experience when they got back
to base, with shaking hands I might add. He said "We were flying along when suddenly we
stopped! I looked down to find the floor of the Anson gone and my feet in the heather." I am
sure he settled his nerves with some of the amber liquid for which Scotland is famous.
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Well that is all I can recall meantime and I do hope I have been reasonably accurate. Other
Canadian pilots who served at Millom with us were Weicker,Tobias, George Major and
McDiarmid but I have no idea whether or not they made it through to the end. It was a matter
of luck. For some years I have had contact with a lady who was a WAAF at Millom during
part of my time there, who later married a Canadian flyer, became Mrs Audrey Renton and
who now lives at Briardene Farm, RR#1, Kars, Ontario K0A 2E0. She does military research
at Rideau Township Archives in nearby North Gower, Ontario and one day browsing through
the RAF Association magazine AIRMAIL which someone had left with her, she spotted the
notice for the annual Millom reunion which I insert each year. She immediately made contact
with me and the following year she and her husband came over for the reunion. She made
big efforts to contact men who bad either served at Millom or who had been there on a
navigator's training course and of these there were hundreds from Canada. She had good
contacts with RCAF associations and contributed regularly to their magazines. If you are
interested in further research it could be worthwhile contacting her. I got such a kick out of
going through your book which you so kindly left for the museum but was sad to learn of
Henry's fate. It will be cherished and well looked after and, hopefully. I will be able to look
through it again next September. I am 83 so must accept there will not likely be many more
reunions as my former colleagues are all of the same age group. I felt I had a duty to write
to you.
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Additional details on DS772 & June 12/13, 1944
Notes: 12/13-6-44: Take off 2201 Linton-on-Ouse. Part of a force of 671 aircraft - 285 Lancasters,
348 Halifaxes, 38 Mosquitoes, tasked to attack various communications targets at Amiens/St-Roch,
Amiens/Longueau, Arras, Caen, Cambrai and Poitiers. Post raid reports state that both Amiens raids
and the attack on Arras were reasonable accurate. While 5 Group's attack on Caen appears to have
been only partially successful with bombing being reported as scattered. Bombs did hit the aiming
point at Cambrai however the main weight of the bombing appears to have fallen on the town itself.
The most successful raid of the night, was carried out by separate 5 Group force who accurately
bombed Pointers. 23 aircraft, 3.42 percent of the
force were lost - 6 Lancasters, 17 Halifaxes. Cause
of the aircraft's loss is not recorded. The aircraft
crashed cause not recorded, at Avesnes-les-Aubert
(Nord) approximately 11 km's ENE of Cambrai. F/L
McIver, RCAF; Sgt. Russell; F/O Wyatt; F/Sgt.
Goodwin, RCAF and F/O Pledger, DFC, RCAF are
buried in the Avesnes-les-Aubert Communal
Cemetery. While F/O Hangar and F/O Dulait, who
were Belgians serving in the RAF, are buried in the
Pelouse d'Honneur Brussels Town Cemetery and the
Mont-sur-Marchienne Communal Cemetery
respectively. F/O Pledger, RCAF was the squadron's
Signals Leader. At the time of its loss the aircraft had
accumulated a total of 362 hours on its airframe.
DS772 of 408 squadron, and therefore a MkII and
fitted with radials (all Mk IIs were), was shot down by
Heinz Schnaufer (the top scoring Nachtjagd pilot) of
Stab IV/NJG 1 based at St Trond at 00.27 hrs at an
altitude of 1.500m over Avesnes les Aubert, east of
Cambrai. Schnaufer took a heavy toll of 408
Lancasters that night, shooting down 3 in 7 minutes
and using just 18 rounds of his twin MK108 3cm
cannons. This was also the night of course when
Mynnarski won his VC for his selfless act of heroism.
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Minutes of the Last Meeting April 11
Meeting called to order at Smitty’s Pancake House Airdrie 9:30 am.
Members in attendance: Arlon Bauer, Bob Brown, Cathy Brown, Mike Lemmer, Jim Mercer, Stu Geekie,
Donna Geekie, Rick Debruyn, Jim Hodgson, Wayne Anderson
World of Wheels debrief:
Rick congratulated the club members for the World of Wheels for the great display and the many
awards won.
1st prize: Special Interest Motorized- 1959 Ferret – Arlon Bauer
2nd prize: Special Interest Motorized-1943 Ford Universal Carrier- Jim Mercer
1st prize: Truck- 1991 Reynolds Boughton RB44- Steve Johnson
2nd prize: Restored 49-57- 53 Dodge M37- Wayne Anderson
1st prize: Restored 35-48- Ford GPW- Jim Hodgson
1st prize Restored Bike- 1952TriumphTRW (military) – Wayne Anderson
3rd prize: Club Display winning $500.00
Newsletter Report: Jim Hodgson reported that the newsletter would be out by the end of the weekend.
Needs more input
Financial Report: Donna Geekie
As of April 10, 2015the bank balance was $3302.58.
19 paid up members.
2 outstanding: Larry Weatherhead, Shaun Barnet
1 unable to contact Brenda Gillanders.
Major expenses since last meeting:
SVAA membership $194.00
World of Wheels $315.00
Jim Hodgson $78.75 Brochures
Major Income
Competition Insurance $250.00 World of Wheels
Prize money World of wheels $500.00
Safety Report: Nothing to report.
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New Business:
Bob Brown has been working on a simple website for the club. It has 5 pages and is hosted by Net Firms. Cost 3years $86.00 that also includes 999 email addresses. Club member @ prairie motor brigade.com Two domain names registered: prairiemotorbrigade.org and prairiemotorbrigade.com as the second choice. The 5 pages are:
1. About the club
2. Club events
3. Sale and Wants
4. Club member submitted vehicle photos
5. Question page
Bob brown has volunteered to host the website. It was also decided no photos of vehicles to be posted on the vehicle page except those submitted by the vehicle owner. Site will have links to other related and military sites. Rick suggested that the newsletter also be available via a link. Jim Hodgson says the newsletter can be much bigger and easier to send out with the link. There has been so much demand for our club this summer a motion was put forward by Stu Geekie as a way to prioritize the events that will be attended as a sanctioned club events. For Insurance reasons the club has to approve the events so that Donna can have the SVAA sanction the event so that we have liability insurance. Motion 1: Stu Geekie To set a club code to help choose and prioritize the events before us.
Order of priority:
1. Veterans and Legions 2. Museums and commemorative military events 3. Show casing our vehicles at public events Seconder: Arlon Bauer Vote: All in favour
Motion 2: Rick Debruyn
Form a small committee to sanction to decide on events report to Donna so she can send the info
to the SVAA Steve Johnson, Stu Geekie and Rick Debruyn are to be the committee members and
to report back to the club as soon as possible.
Seconder: Jim Hodgson Vote: All In favour Motion 3: Jim Hodgson Call an end to meeting. Seconder: Arlon Bauer Vote: All in favour. Meeting Adjourned 10:55am
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For Sale
Cdn mills bomb $225 CDN bomb cannister for making (tin) practice bombs, POR WW2 portable man pack radio, c/w antenna, no phones, POR 19 set radio tubes and repair kits, hard to find, POR 19 set grille and misc radio parts, hard to find, POR 2 Artillery binocs and case, $125.00 WW2 binocular case $45.00 WW2 German offices hats, repro $60.00 ea Telephone switchboard $80.00 Pith helmets $45.00 up Case of bren ammo pouches in original box, POR WW 1 American Doughboy bronze statue, POR Sten T shoulder stock $50.00 Wooden Enfield rifle carry box $80.00 NOS ENFIELD UNFIRED MATCHING RIFLE, BAYONET ETC In rifle carry box $990.00 NOS postwar Geiger counter and test module $60.00 Signal flags RED/ Yellow $40.00 Vehicle antennas hard to find, POR Jeep antenna mount and base $120.00 Nos gas masks, CDN $45.00 ea NOS 19 set telegraph set, POR Provo Corps web belt and round buckle, POR Antique hat stretcher Works well $65.00 MP3 Player, WW2 chatter and period music in mil metal phone box $65.00 Stack of WW2 mil manuals POR NOS CMP wooden steering wheel $150.00 Frequency testers for 19 set as new POR Web belts P14 Eddystone dewats WW1 Kaiser miniature helmet with an eagle on top Artillery fuse vg WW2 POW handmade wooden escape pistol, OFFERS
Derek Young
If you are looking for something or have something to sell you can advertise here
For Sale
Thompson Airsoft, all metal, real wood stocks added, antiqued, OFFERS German MP 40 Airsoft, all metal, OFFERS Sten, CDN broad arrow, cocks and clicks $650.00 WW2 CDN custom made officers’ tunic, Three pips $125.00 Sam Browne $75.00 NOS Pastors arm band $35.00 Helmets, CDN, German, American, British, POR Para helmet altered movie prop in Bridge too far, POR Vietnam, early American backpack radio, complete, should work with battery $375.00 Pair of field phones, POR DC 3 / B17 radio, POR 42 Cdn radio set, c/w boom mic on headset extra mic, Has vehicle mount a rare find Has 110 volt base power supply, should work, $700 Mannequin, no head $80.00 USA repro campaign hat $60.00 WW2 Cdn officers hat c/w badge $125.00 Cdn post war officers hat, minty $85.00 German class i and 2 medals and some repro, POR North Africa Corps Pith helmet, MINTY $550.00 Thompson triple mag pouches x 2 $45.00 ea. Sten 7 pouch mag $85.00 Sten mags, pinned, $40.00 ea 19 Set antenna repair bag, leather, one strap missing, good, $85.00 Cdn uniforms, One large, fits me and lots of tunics and pants., POR Jeep coat, fits me, POR WW2 leather ankle boots, real leather soles, $125.00 Webley holsters, backpacks, etc German Helmets, some battlfield pickups also, POR Bren parts wallet, and barrel bag, POR USA pineapple grenades, POR
Derek Young
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Wanted
Wheel & Tire for M100 trailer
Wheel: 16 inch – 5 bolt Tire: 7.00x16 6 ply NDT
Jim Hodgson [email protected]
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PRAIRIE MOTOR BRIGADE
MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION
ASSOCIATION
MVPA Headquarters
PO Box 520378
Independence, Missouri 64052
USA
Phone: (816) 833-6872 Fax: (816) 833-5115 www.mvpa.org
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President: Secretary: Treasurer:
Newsletter: Safety & Convoy:
Rick DeBruyn Arlon Bauer Donna Geekie Jim Hodgson Stu Geekie Steve Johnson
403-443-2213 403-932-3940
403-946-5286
403-818-3193 403-946-5286 403-282-7977
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For further information
regarding the Prairie
Motor Brigade or the
MVPA contact any of
the following:
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Membership in the Prairie Motor Brigade is as follows:
Regular: 25.00 Family: 30.00 Corporate: 100.00
Please send payment to the Treasurer:
Donna Geekie, RR#2, Crossfield, Alberta T0M 0S0
Payments to be made payable to: Prairie Motor Brigade
THE MILITARY MUSEUMS www.themilitarymuseums.ca
THE AERO SPACE MUSEUM OF CALGARY www.asmac.ab.ca
CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM www.warmuseum.ca
THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION www.legion.ca
We encourage all members to also join the MVPA and receive the Army Motors and Supply Line publications and all the benefits of membership in this international organization.
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□ Regular $25.00 □ Family $30.00 □ Corporate $100.00
Prairie Motor Brigade
2015 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
Make cheque payable to: Prairie Motor Brigade
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