Alan John 110 Sqn. Killed in Action, Rangoon, Burma 1/6/1945

I have acquired this photograph of a RAFVR Flying Officer with a poignant yet cryptic message on the back. From the clues I believe the officer to be 86719 Alan John of 110 Squadron who was killed in action on the 1st June 1945. He is buried in the Rangoon war Cemetery in Burma. Alan John was the son of Thomas and Kate John, of Cardiff. The photograph was taken in the studio of Charles Farmer, Barry, Glamorgan.

It would appear that Flt-Lieut John flew mosquitos. I can find no further information about his death on line and I wonder if any one can point me in the right direction regarding the circumstances.

 

From Christopher Shores, Air War for Burma, 3'd Volume, 1942 - 1945.

Page 367.
Four 110 Squadron Mosquitoes attacked targets at Natkyic, one was hit by AA, and this crash-landed at Mingaladon. Flt Lt. A John, the pilot being killed, and Sgt Keighley his navigator, badly hurt.

Edit: Took off from Yelahanka Airfield.
___________

In the two weeks prior to that SEAC had virtually annihilated Japanese ground transport down the Irrawaddy and Sittang valleys.
Japanese troups were taking desperate measures to reach Thailand, many rafting down rivers.

Page 364 is interesting reading... the whole book being a bucket list buy for anyone interested in that theatre of the war.

 

Fred,

many thanks for your comprehensive answer to my question. Next Monday will be the 70th anniversary of Alan John's death. I will be raising a glass to his memory.

Simon.

 

Simon,

You should be able to acquire a photograph of Alan John's grave at Rangoon War Cemetery, by contacting forum member Bucklt.
His email address is shown on this thread, along with all the CWGC cemeteries he has visited.

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/57427-philippines-capas-national-shrine-bataan-death-march-memorials-c33000-names-images-now-available/?hl=bucklt

 

Bamboo 43, thank you, I will email him.

Simon.

 

Remembering Flt-Lt Alan John of 110 squadron R.A.F. who was killed in action in Burma seventy years ago today. Not forgotten.

 

Details of the above loss....

1 June 1945

110 Squadron

Four Mosquito's attacked targets at Natkyi, one was hit by flak and this crash-landed at Mingaladon.

Crew.

F/L. A. John +
Sgt. Keighley. Injured

 

Apologies for messing up my tribute to Flt/Lt John. Thank you for correcting my date error.

Simon.

 

Owen,

thank you for posting the photograph of Alan John's headstone. And a huge thank you to Tony for taking the time to photograph the numerous headstones and memorials throughout south east Asia. Seeing the grave photograph has really brought home to me the importance of saving old photographs. Alan John was not a relation of mine; his photograph was in a mixed lot at an auction in Dorking, Surrey some years ago. I bought the lot for a few pounds because, having read the message on the back, I wanted to ensure that the photograph was saved for posterity. He will not be forgotten.

Simon

 

I have now received a photograph of Alan John's headstone from Tony and would like to thank him for the superb work that he has done in photographing the headstones and memorials throughout south east Asia.

Seeing the photograph was very moving, particularly as Alan John's parents added a very poignant message to his headstone: We who wait, will hold your youth and courage very dear.

 

Greetings. I have the log book, medals, papers etc of Squadron Leader Ira Sutherland, DFC MiD RNZAF. He completed 137 operations flying Blenheims in Europe, Vengeances in 110/82 Squadrons over Burma, commanded 8 Sqn Royal Indian Air Force (a very challenging assignment!), converted to Spitfires with them and then rejoined 110 Sqn in Burma from beginning of January 1945. He was killed whilst with 110 Sqn when Mosquito 'K' broke up when returning from a trip to Akyab, 28 June 1945. Sutherland joined 110 Sqn late August 1941 and undertook eight ops being promoted to Flt Lt before transferring to 82 Sqn. He then rejoined 110 Sqn in Burma at the beginning of January 1945 undertaking another 21 operations before his death.

He has recorded the men killed or missing throughout his log and has added many comments as well. I note that he records the death of F/Lt John immediately after his 31 May 1945 op to Wugyi. In my research it is my intention to write a little about each of the men he records so F/Lt John will not be forgotten.

Ira Sutherland was one of many men who had more than 'done their bit' with 137(!) ops and deserved to survive the war. Sadly it was not to be.

 

Kiwi John.

thank you for your interesting post regarding Squadron Leader Ira Sutherland. A very brave man indeed. I read somewhere that Mosquitos had a tendency to break up at high speed in the heat of the tropics due to the wood adhesive that was used in their construction.

Simon.

 

Sounds like a worthy project Kiwijohn, let us know how you get on and if we can help out.

 

Kia ora/Hello Simon (High Wood),

Is it possible to be sent a good resolution copy of the photo you have of Alan John to include with my research?

Cheers,
John.

 

kiwijohn:
With Ira Sutherland having flown Vultee Vengeances (a very good dive bomber) then you really need to read the later pages of the PPRuNe thread by Danny42c who also flew them. http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/329990-gaining-r-f-pilots-brevet-ww11-362.html
They have to be contemporaries and he'd possibly have some reminiscences for you.

 

I am the son of the Navigator, Norman Keighley, who lost both his legs, and almost his life, in the crash landing at Mingalon. Sadly my Dad passed in 2002. Norman and Alan were very close, as I believe they served together for quite some time, with my Dad volunteering at the outbreak of war in 1939 and serving right through to 1945. I have my Dad's service record and also copies of the squadron log for the day of the crash, and a few days either side, It seems they had just arrived at the squadron and this was their second sorte. An anecdote from the day they were shot down was that they used their parachutes as foot rests, as they had a pact not to bail out over japanese held territory. The Mosquito's right engine was hit by AA and they made it back to Mingalon, but the nose buried on crash landing and the plane flipped on its back. Alan was killied instantly when he broke his neck on the bullet proof shield behind his seat. My Dad, through a quirk of genetics, had a short neck and fractured his skull on his shield. He suffered mutiple leg fractures and was airlifted to a base in India for treatment. Gangrene set in and both legs were amputated above the knee. He was asked what he wanted a s alast request by the hospital staff (a bottle of whisky!) but he was made of tougher stuff and survived to live a full life, marrying and having 3 children, and working in the Power Station industry all his life. I have enclosed his picture in uniform from the time.

 

Thanks for joining and adding that to the thread.
Certainly made of tough stuff, fractured skull, both legs shattered and no doubt a lot of other injuries too.
No wonder you have every right to be proud of him and his friend Alan.
A sad ending to a brave effort getting their stricken aircraft back to base only to have a terrible crash landing....

You need a couple more posts before being able to use the Personal Message system to contact High Wood should you wish to do so.

 

Hi Kevin, I will get my posts up so I can use Personal Message. I think my Dad's experiences influenced his whole life, and the way he lived it, which made things extremely interesting for the rest of us on that particular journey!