Canadian Virtual War 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 – Flying Officer Philip John Ashworth Magson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Philip John Ashworth Magson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Photo of PHILIP JOHN ASHWORTH MAGSON – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of PHILIP JOHN ASHWORTH MAGSON – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Grave marker – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery – Photo of Berlin War Cemetery (CWGC) F.O. Magson was the Bomb Aimer on Halifax #HR918 of 405 Squadron (Pathfinder Force) which failed to return from a bombing raid on Berlin. Also lost were: S/L W. H. Baldwin D.F.C., F/O F. A. Harman, F.Sgts A. Menzies and J. A. Miller. Two RAF crew were also killed. (courtesy They Shall Grow Not Old, Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Man.) Just weeks before the fatal crash, F.O Magson was crew member on Halifax MkII #JD174 of 408 Sqdn. which took off from Leeming at 00.09hrs on the 14th July 1943 for Ops to Aachen. Prior to this crew being able to drop their bomb load. they were attacked by an enemy fighter. This combat was serious enough to damage the aircrafts hydraulics which made it impossible for the bombs to be dropped. The pilot is believed to have shaken the attacking aircraft off. Whether the crew continued with the bomber stream over the target is not yet known but on their return to England they were again attacked and again the pilot's actions shook these aircraft off. On reaching the UK landing the aircraft was not going to be an option. When they crossed the Yorkshire coast the pilot ordered his crew to bail out of the aircraft, and all did so without injury to themselves. The pilot made his escape and the aircraft crashed a short time later into Arden Woods, where upon part of the bomb load exploded. The pilot, F/O Donald T Bain of Vancouver Island, survived the war. The other Canadian crew members did not. They were: Sgt (AG) Willard M Haugen was killed Aug. 18/43; Sgt (WAG) George W Acorn was killed Dec. 4/43 and Sgt (AG) John Irvin Labow was killed Mar. 31/44. (For full story of July 14/43 crash see /www.allenby.info/aircraft/planes/43/jd174.html)

Grave Marker – grave marker at the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery