Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Harry James Kirton
In memory of:
Flying Officer Harry James Kirton
January 13, 1944
Military Service
J/20247
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
409 Sqdn.
Additional Information
Commemorated on Page 353 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
SCOPWICK CHURCH BURIAL GROUND
Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Row 5. Grave 33.
Digby aerodrome was built towards the end of the First World War and after the war it functioned as a permanent unit of the Royal Air Force. In 1937 it became a member of No 12 Fighter Group in which it remained until the end of the Second World War.
Digby was one of the original sectors of Fighter Command and in the early days of the Second World War was very active in the defence of northern England. No 42 (Fighter) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (known as the Red Indian Squadron from the emblem which it carried) was formed there in April 1942. On September 16, 1942, the sector was taken over by the RCAF and until the end of the war was known as Royal Canadian Air Force Station, Digby.
The 37 Canadian airmen buried at Scopwick lost their lives while stationed at Digby. They include an American airman who served with the RCAF, P/O J G Magee, and author of the poem 'High Flight'.
Scopwick Church Burial Ground contains 50 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and five German war graves. The graves form a plot in the top half of the burial ground. The Cross of Sacrifice in the corner of the plot was unveiled by the Air Member, Canadian Joint Staff on June 1, 1950.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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