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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Norman Johnston

In memory of:

Pilot Officer Norman Johnston

June 3, 1944
Boissière Ecole, France

Military Service

Service Number:

J/85052

Age:

24

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

405 Squadron

Additional Information

Son of Andrew and Elizabeth Johnston, of Vancouver, British Columbia. Originally from Powell River, British Columbia. On the 62nd anniversary, June 3, 1944 - June 3, 2006, of the crash of the Lancaster LQ-C ND-507 which took the lives of Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Pilot Officer David A. Kelley, Pilot Officer J.G. Maurice Renaud, Pilot Officer Leslie A. McCrea and Squadron Leader George E. Coldrey were honoured at the unveiling of a monument at la Bossière-Ecole, France. Guests included former German Pilot Frithjof Fensch, who downed the plane; family members Edith Bannerman, sister of David A. Kelley; Pierre Monfette, nephew of J.G. Maurice Renaud;, Lucinda Brouwer, niece of Leslie A. McCrea. Tori Olson, daughter of American Lieutenant Leroy Q. Olson, Christopher O'Neill, son of British Flight Lieutenant John H. O'Neill, and George Court, son of Canadian Flight Lieutenant George L. Court, children of the three survivors of the crash attended in honour of their fathers whom all died since 1995. Representing La Boisseère-Ecole were Francois Heiliger, Mayor, Fabien Drouin, First Deputy Mayor and Fréderic Vincent, Historical Adviser whose research led to the unveiling and commemoration of the deceased.

Commemorated on Page 347 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

ST. DESIR WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

VII. C. 10.

Location:

St Desir is a village on the N13 to Caen, 4 kilometres west of Lisieux. The war cemetery is about one kilometre west of the village and lies on a secondary road, the D159.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Norman Johnston is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer Norman Johnston is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Norman Johnston is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer Norman Johnston is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo of Norman Johnston– Norman Johnston of Powell River and Vancouver British Columbia. He served with 405 R.C.A.F. City of Vancouver Pathfinder Squadron as a Wireless Officer and Tail Gunner.

    Details

    Photo of Norman Johnston
    Photo of Norman Johnston – Norman Johnston of Powell River and Vancouver British Columbia. He served with 405 R.C.A.F. City of Vancouver Pathfinder Squadron as a Wireless Officer and Tail Gunner.
  • St. Desir War Cemetery

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    St. Desir War Cemetery
    St. Desir War Cemetery
  • Grave Marker

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    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker
  • Wreckage of Lancaster LQ-C.– On June 3, 1944, five men were killed and two survived this plane crash. The five men that lost their lives were Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey, Pilot Officer Leslie Asa Mccrea, Pilot Officer Joseph Gerard Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley.

    Details

    Wreckage of Lancaster LQ-C.
    Wreckage of Lancaster LQ-C. – On June 3, 1944, five men were killed and two survived this plane crash. The five men that lost their lives were Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey, Pilot Officer Leslie Asa Mccrea, Pilot Officer Joseph Gerard Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley.
  • Photo of Norman Johnston

    Details

    Photo of Norman Johnston
    Photo of Norman Johnston
  • Newspaper Clipping– News article from Echo Républiacin about the unveiling and dedication of the monument to the crew of the Lancaster Bomber, LQ-C- ND 507.

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – News article from Echo Républiacin about the unveiling and dedication of the monument to the crew of the Lancaster Bomber, LQ-C- ND 507.
  • Group Photo– Norman Johnston (marked X) with flight crew

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    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Norman Johnston (marked X) with flight crew
  • Group Photo– Unveiling ceremony of the memorial to the crew of Lancaster ND507 LQ-C from 405 RCAF Pathfinder Squadron on June 3rd, 2006 at La Boissiere-Ecole, France (62nd anniversary of the crash)

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Unveiling ceremony of the memorial to the crew of Lancaster ND507 LQ-C from 405 RCAF Pathfinder Squadron on June 3rd, 2006 at La Boissiere-Ecole, France (62nd anniversary of the crash)
  • Newspaper Clipping

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping

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