Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Flight Lieutenant James Denholm Virtue is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flight Lieutenant James Denholm Virtue 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

Photo of JAMES DENHOLM VIRTUE – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Service Book – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of JAMES DENHOLM VIRTUE – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Attestation paper – 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

Grave marker – 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 Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – The Toronto Star, February 27, 1945, page 5 F/L Virtue was a pilot in 405 (City of Vancouver) Squadron, Pathfinder Force, and flew Lancaster PB-174 on a raid to Bottrop, Germany July 21, 1944. At 8,000 feet, it collided with a German fighter aircraft and exploded, crashing at Haarl, near Tubbergen, Netherlands, 7 km from the German border. Three RAF members of the crew perished along with the following Canadians: P/O (BA) Vernon F. Dodds, age 23, from Winnipeg, Man. P/O (WAG) Alfred J. Britts, age 21, from Lake Lenore, Sask. F.O ((N) Joseph J. R. Johnson, age 24, from Montreal, P.Q. The sole survivor was F/L J. Stoyko of Ituna, Saskatchewan. [Source of crash information is www.lostbombers.co.uk and crew information is courtesy of They Shall Grow Not Old, published by the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba.]