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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Russell Petts

In memory of:

Flight Sergeant John Russell Petts

December 28, 1941

Military Service


Service Number:

R/60373

Age:

21

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

138 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Additional Information


Son of John Thomas Petts and Charlotte Maria Petts, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Brother of Flying Officer Henry Neville Petts, who died during service with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Commemorated on Page 41 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

CHALK (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Kent, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

N/A

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Hamilton Spectator c.1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Badge– RAF #138 Badge
In August 1941, No. 138 Squadron was assigned to Special Operations (SOE)and flew out of Tempsford airfield, Bedfordshire, into enemy occupied Europe by moonlight, often landing in torchlit fields, to drop SOE agents and supplies to the resistance forces.
Four months later, on a return flight from France, Whitley aircraft Z9385 was shot down by a German nightfighter crashing at Stradishall airfield, Suffolk.  Killed were the pilot, FS Petts, and three RAF crew members. Pilot FS Alvin W. Reimer (RCAF)was severely wounded and died of his injuries Jan. 1, 1942.  All are buried  at Harverill Cemetery, Suffolk, with the exception of FS Petts who is buried in St. Mary (Chalk) Churchyard, Gravesend, Kent.
His brother, F/O (N) Henry Neville Petts of No. 100 (RAF) Squadron was killed May 26, 1943, and is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland.
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant John Russell Petts is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant John Russell Petts is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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