John William Christopher* Reeve

Rank:Pilot OfficerNumber:165334
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Name of Rgt or Ship:Training Command
Died:14/07/1944Age:21
How Died:Lost on Training Mission
Country of burial:Canada
Cemetery or Memorial:Ottawa Memorial
Town Memorial:Hale
Extra Information:
Son of John William & Ann Rebecca Reeve 135 Hale Road, Hale, Cheshire.

Known as "Chris", he attended Altrincham Grammar School and Andover Grammar
School.   Employed by Lloyds Bank at Broadheath.  Chairman of the
Altrincham Youth Association.

At 10.46 hrs on the morning of the 14th of July 1944 a B-25 bomber,
Mitchell 319, took off from Boundary Bay in British Columbia, Canada for a
navigation training exercise over Vancouver Island.  On board were John
William Christopher REEVE and his three fellow crew members.   

The entire crew of four were missing, presumed lost in the forests of
northern Vancouver Island.

The four men were part of 5 O.T.U. based in Boundary Bay/Abbotsford in the
early part of their training to fly B-24 Liberators.  Their proposed route
was from Boundary Bay to 48.00N, 129.00W; Port Hardy; Patricia Bay Bombing
Run & to land at Patricia Bay airfield [now the airport near Saanich].  It
is assumed that they became lost whilst flying in cloud and hit the
mountainside.   

In September, 1960 a prospector located the aircraft nose and centre
section on a mountain slope ¾ mile west of the north end of Johnson
Lagoon, near Zeballos on Vancouver Island.  No bodies were located at the
crash site.  

Listed as J.C. Reeve on the Alt. Grammar School Memorial.   145 Sqn
Memorial - Altrincham Grammar School.

He had completed 6 months training and had gained his Navigator wing at
Manitoba, Canada.

Memorials found on:
Altrincham Grammar School
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