Language selection


Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Winning Moffat

In memory of:

Flight Sergeant John Winning Moffat

August 16, 1944
At Langøre, Fyn, Denmark

Military Service


Service Number:

R/206348

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

433 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 396 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

SONDERBY (ASSENS) CHURCHYARD
Denmark

Grave Reference:

Coll. grave 174.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant John Winning Moffat is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant John Winning Moffat is also 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– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHN WINNING MOFFAT– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHN WINNING MOFFAT– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Story and photos courtesy Airwar Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com

Halifax III MZ808 crashed at Langøre between the island of Fyn and Helnæs 16/8 1944.

The aircraft belonged to RCAF 433 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded BM-P.
T/o 21:27 Skipton on Swale. OP: Gardening Kiel Bay.
When outbound flying at 4400 metres the Halifax was attacked by a German night fighter piloted by Oberleutnant Herbert Koch at 1./ NJG 3. It caught fire and exploded in the air before crashing at Langøre between the island of Fyn and Helnæs at 23:52 hours.

Around 01:00 hours people living in the area of Sønderby Klint heard shouts for help from the sea and a motorboat was launched to try to rescue the flyers. 
It found Navigator F/O George H. Gill and Air Gnr. F/O Philippe R. Marchildon 1 kilometres off the farm 'Strandlyst' and took them to the hospital in Assens. They were then taken to the German barracks in town. In the afternoon they were sent to Dulag Luft at Oberursel for questioning. After a few days Gill was sent to Stalag Luft I Barth and Marchildon was sent to Stalag Luft II Sagan.

In the morning two bodies were found washed ashore near Saltofte and two were found on the beach a little south of 'Strandlyst' farm. They were all found to be wearing an inflated Mae West and three of them had managed to release their parachute after landing in the sea.

The four bodies were during the afternoon taken to Sønderby cemetery and buried in a common grave without coffins by the Wehrmacht. They were Air Bomber F/O Jacques O. Clerc RCAF, Flt. Engr. Sgt Robert F. Young RAF, Air Gnr. F/Sgt John W. Moffat RCAF and Pilot F/Lt John A. Morgan RCAF.

On 24/8 the body of W/Op P/O Courtney R. Steward RCAF was found entangled in some wreckage in the sea and taken to Sønderby cemetery where it was laid to rest on 25/8 1944.
  • Memorial– (Finn Buch)  Courtesy www.flensted.eu.com

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: