Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Service Book – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – 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

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star August 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram September 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram June 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of John Scott – This picture of Scott was taken from his RCAF file. It shows him as a Sgt Air Gunner (1942). Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Identification Card – As an AC2, Scott received this D Card from the RCAF. He is 22 years of age in this photo. Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Documents – Scott's paybook, ID Card and Sgt. Air Gunner photos as the they were found in his file. Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Document – John Scott was a member of F/Lt John Allardyce Allen's crew. They were shot down in Lancaster DS739 on the night of 3 January 1944. A night fighter is thought to have been the cause. All of these men are buried together in the Berlin War Cemetery with the exception of Cobbett. He was mistaken for an American airman and moved to another cemetery in France. All of the crew except Sgt Collier were Canadians. He was British. This document is not the end of the crew's travels after death. Read on. Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Document – This is the Post Presumption Memo 6 months later than the Russian Zone Report. Notice that it identifies the aircraft as Lancaster D 5739 not DS 739. The bodies have been removed from Koethen where they were buried by the Germans to Berlin Cemetery. It was not Collier that was removed by the Americans, but Cobbett. After several years the crews bodies were identifiable only by their remaining uniform and brevets (badges). The bombers crash made identification difficult even for the Germans, so MREUs and GCUs often depended on the German Death Cards for confirmation as to which body was in the grave. You can see that Cobbett is now buried in Choloy French Military Cemetery (English Section). Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Document – This Graves Registration report shows the names and original burial location as well as the final resting place for the crew members. Notice that the names do not match the grave inscriptions given by the Germans. (Note there are only 6 graves listed for the 7 crewman.) Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Document – This is W O cott's RAF Record sheet. It covers the period from the end of his training in Canada to his death over Germany. He was sent from 10 Air Observers School to embarkation leave and then to Halifax where he sailed on 27 May 43 arriving in UK on 4 June 43. He was then sent to 3 Personnel Reception Centre to be processed into the training stream in the UK. He worked his was through 9 AFU, 23 Operational Training Unit, 1679 Conversion Flight and finally to 432 Squadron were he joined Allen's crew. He joined the squadron on 4 Nov 43 and was killed 2/3 Jan 44. Just 30 days of operations! Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Document – This is Scott's RAF Form 373 (obv) which gives his personal information. It is written in his own hand. He was married 20 Jul 1942 at age 22. (Note that he received his Flying Badge the same day.) Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Document – This is the back of Scott's Form 373. It contains most of the information seen on his Record Card with one exception. he last two entries show that he was SOS (Struck Off Strength) of 432 Sqdn and TOS (Taken On Strength) of RCAF Non-Effective Unit. All missing crew were transferred from their active unit to this inactive unit until they were released from it on final burial or return to duty. This allowed the RAF and RCAF to keep track of all of their missing men. All of their records were kept in one place until their fate was finalized. Source: Library & Archives Canada via R. Whitehouse

Memorial – Warrant Officer Class II John Ernest Scott is 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 – Warrant Officer Class II John Ernest Scott is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens