Language selection


Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Joseph Arthur Hay

In memory of:

W.O.II W.Op./Air Gnr. Joseph Arthur Hay

May 11, 1945

Military Service


Service Number:

R/138525

Age:

34

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

190 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Additional Information


Son of Andrew J. and Mary Hay; husband of M. Eleanor Hay, of Loggieville, New Brunswick.

Commemorated on Page 523 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Plot RR. Grave 76.

Location:

Eindhoven is located 31 Km south east of s'Hertogenbosch and 14 Km south west of Helmond. The EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY is in the suburb of Woensel in the northern part of the town. Approaching from Helmond A270 follow signs for Eindhoven. At the third set of traffic lights after Helmond turn right onto the road connecting Eindhoven to Valkenswaard. Approximately 1.5 Km along this road appears signposts indicating the route to Woensel War Cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of Joseph Arthur Hay– Miramichi airman Joseph Arthur Hay was born in Chatham on 16 April, 1911, to Andrew and Mary (Morrison) Hay .He was a barber in civilian life. Joe had served two years as a signaler with the 2nd Battalion of the North Shore Regiment before enlisting in the RCAF in October 1941.

Joe married Mary Eleanor Kelly, of Loggieville, in September 1942 in Montreal. He qualified as an air gunner in January , 1943, and was posted to 10 AOS Chatham. In September he was posted to Debert, NS, and arrived in the UK in January, 1944. His daughter ,Mary Eleanor Carolyn Hay, was born in August.

Sergeant Hay was posted to 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF, in October and qualified as a wireless- air gunner. He was posted to 190 Squadron (RAF) on 6 March 1945.

On the 24th March 1945, Joe took part in the airlift of the 6th Airborne Division to the Hamminkeln area as part of Operation Varsity to establish a bridgehead over the River Rhine. Joe’s air-plane towed a Horsa glider which carried men and equipment of the 12th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment. In April 1945, 190 Squadron were busy flying stocks of fuel to units on the front line.

In May 1945, as part of Operation ‘DOOMSDAY’, 190 Squadron was carrying army units to Norway to disarm the German garrison. Joe’s Halifax bomber ran into trouble and had to force-land in the Netherlands. On 11 May, Joe was returning to the UK from the B78 airfield in Eindhoven on a Wellington bomber, NC 489, of 69 Squadron RAF.

The heavily loaded NC 489 swung on take-off, to avoid some trees, which resulted in the aircraft stalling and then crashing. Joe and six other airmen were killed. Warrant Officer First Class Joseph Arthur Hay, and the other six airmen, are buried in the same row in the Eindhoven General Cemetery, the Netherlands.
  • Photo of JOSEPH ARTHUR HAY– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War Two issue of the Fredericton (New Brunswick) Daily Gleaner c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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: