John Kalen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan July 10, 1923 to William Kalenchenko and Nellie Kupchanko, who were originally from the Ukraine.*3
Living in Sudbury, Ontario at the time, he enlisted 9 December 1941 at North Bay, Ontario, John's service number was J21856.*3 John joined the 123 Squadron that was formed 15 January 1942. The squadron trained in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
31 December 1943 the squadron was renumbered the 439 (Westmount) Squadron or the Sabre-toothed Tigers, a fighter bomber squadron that would support ground troops.*1
The squadron was in Bournemouth, England, as part of the RAF from 14 - 31 December 1943. They moved to Wellingore, remaining from 31 December 1943 to 7 January 1944. From 8 January to March, they joined the 143 wing of the RCAF in Ayr and in March, they moved to Hurn, on the south coast of England where they practised ground attacks first on Hurricanes 1V and later on Hawker Typhoons.*2
Their first sorties took place before 6 June and the D-day assault, taking off from Hurn and Huntington, England. 27 June the squadron moved to Lantheuil, France closer to the action and better able to support the ground troops in Normandy.
On a clear morning, 18 July 1944, the squadron took off to attack a mortar position that was southwest of Caen, near Mesnil-Frementel. The popular John Kalen, flying MN574 Typhoon, had started his dive from 7000 to 2600 feet, when the plane exploded over its target and crashed into a forest*4, 1.5 km. NW of Cagny. His body was found and buried a week later by the 7th Armoured Division. Later John was reburied in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Cemetery near Cintheaux, Normandy.
Flying Officer John Kalen, for his dedication to protecting the freedom of his country and helping in the liberation of others, received citations that included the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45. He was posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy 21 May 1945.*3
On the church at Cagny, a town 9 km. southeast of Caen, near where his plane crashed there is a memorial plaque dedicated to John.
A LA MEMOIRE DU
FTG. OFF. JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
ABATTU LE 18-07-1944
TO THE MEMORY OF
F/O JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
CRASHED THE 18-07-1944
F.O. John Kalen of Canada was among the 151 Typhoon pilots killed in the Battle for Normandy during a ten-week period. A memorial honoring these men was erected at Noyers Bocage, a village near Caen. Helping with the work on the memorial was a man who had witnessed that war as a child and veterans of that fight, who when it was completed and dedicated on the 50th Anniversary of D-day, 6 June 1994 were present for the ceremony
"To the glorious memory of the 151 typhoon pilots and supporting staff who gave their lives during the liberation of Normandy May - August 1944."
June 24, 2014 the Government of Saskatchewan, having become aware of F/O John Kalen's connection with the province and in respectful remembrance of his service to Canada, named Kalen Lake as his geo-memorial. Kalen Lake can be found in the north east of the province 59 degrees 57' 22" North Latitude 102 degrees 12' 2" West Longitude.*5
*1 Wikipedia,the Free Encyclopedia
*2 40 (1953-93 -4 Wing Canadian Forces Base Baden Sollingen)
*3 The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans' Affairs of Canada
*4 Book of Remembrance - Volume 1
Copyright 1998-2011 Michael T. Melnick
*5 Heritage Conservation Branch, Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, the Government of Saskatchewan.
Living in Sudbury, Ontario at the time, he enlisted 9 December 1941 at North Bay, Ontario, John's service number was J21856.*3 John joined the 123 Squadron that was formed 15 January 1942. The squadron trained in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
31 December 1943 the squadron was renumbered the 439 (Westmount) Squadron or the Sabre-toothed Tigers, a fighter bomber squadron that would support ground troops.*1
The squadron was in Bournemouth, England, as part of the RAF from 14 - 31 December 1943. They moved to Wellingore, remaining from 31 December 1943 to 7 January 1944. From 8 January to March, they joined the 143 wing of the RCAF in Ayr and in March, they moved to Hurn, on the south coast of England where they practised ground attacks first on Hurricanes 1V and later on Hawker Typhoons.*2
Their first sorties took place before 6 June and the D-day assault, taking off from Hurn and Huntington, England. 27 June the squadron moved to Lantheuil, France closer to the action and better able to support the ground troops in Normandy.
On a clear morning, 18 July 1944, the squadron took off to attack a mortar position that was southwest of Caen, near Mesnil-Frementel. The popular John Kalen, flying MN574 Typhoon, had started his dive from 7000 to 2600 feet, when the plane exploded over its target and crashed into a forest*4, 1.5 km. NW of Cagny. His body was found and buried a week later by the 7th Armoured Division. Later John was reburied in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Cemetery near Cintheaux, Normandy.
Flying Officer John Kalen, for his dedication to protecting the freedom of his country and helping in the liberation of others, received citations that included the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45. He was posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy 21 May 1945.*3
On the church at Cagny, a town 9 km. southeast of Caen, near where his plane crashed there is a memorial plaque dedicated to John.
A LA MEMOIRE DU
FTG. OFF. JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
ABATTU LE 18-07-1944
TO THE MEMORY OF
F/O JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
CRASHED THE 18-07-1944
F.O. John Kalen of Canada was among the 151 Typhoon pilots killed in the Battle for Normandy during a ten-week period. A memorial honoring these men was erected at Noyers Bocage, a village near Caen. Helping with the work on the memorial was a man who had witnessed that war as a child and veterans of that fight, who when it was completed and dedicated on the 50th Anniversary of D-day, 6 June 1994 were present for the ceremony
"To the glorious memory of the 151 typhoon pilots and supporting staff who gave their lives during the liberation of Normandy May - August 1944."
June 24, 2014 the Government of Saskatchewan, having become aware of F/O John Kalen's connection with the province and in respectful remembrance of his service to Canada, named Kalen Lake as his geo-memorial. Kalen Lake can be found in the north east of the province 59 degrees 57' 22" North Latitude 102 degrees 12' 2" West Longitude.*5
*1 Wikipedia,the Free Encyclopedia
*2 40 (1953-93 -4 Wing Canadian Forces Base Baden Sollingen)
*3 The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans' Affairs of Canada
*4 Book of Remembrance - Volume 1
Copyright 1998-2011 Michael T. Melnick
*5 Heritage Conservation Branch, Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, the Government of Saskatchewan.
John Kalen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan July 10, 1923 to William Kalenchenko and Nellie Kupchanko, who were originally from the Ukraine.*3
Living in Sudbury, Ontario at the time, he enlisted 9 December 1941 at North Bay, Ontario, John's service number was J21856.*3 John joined the 123 Squadron that was formed 15 January 1942. The squadron trained in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
31 December 1943 the squadron was renumbered the 439 (Westmount) Squadron or the Sabre-toothed Tigers, a fighter bomber squadron that would support ground troops.*1
The squadron was in Bournemouth, England, as part of the RAF from 14 - 31 December 1943. They moved to Wellingore, remaining from 31 December 1943 to 7 January 1944. From 8 January to March, they joined the 143 wing of the RCAF in Ayr and in March, they moved to Hurn, on the south coast of England where they practised ground attacks first on Hurricanes 1V and later on Hawker Typhoons.*2
Their first sorties took place before 6 June and the D-day assault, taking off from Hurn and Huntington, England. 27 June the squadron moved to Lantheuil, France closer to the action and better able to support the ground troops in Normandy.
On a clear morning, 18 July 1944, the squadron took off to attack a mortar position that was southwest of Caen, near Mesnil-Frementel. The popular John Kalen, flying MN574 Typhoon, had started his dive from 7000 to 2600 feet, when the plane exploded over its target and crashed into a forest*4, 1.5 km. NW of Cagny. His body was found and buried a week later by the 7th Armoured Division. Later John was reburied in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Cemetery near Cintheaux, Normandy.
Flying Officer John Kalen, for his dedication to protecting the freedom of his country and helping in the liberation of others, received citations that included the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45. He was posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy 21 May 1945.*3
On the church at Cagny, a town 9 km. southeast of Caen, near where his plane crashed there is a memorial plaque dedicated to John.
A LA MEMOIRE DU
FTG. OFF. JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
ABATTU LE 18-07-1944
TO THE MEMORY OF
F/O JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
CRASHED THE 18-07-1944
F.O. John Kalen of Canada was among the 151 Typhoon pilots killed in the Battle for Normandy during a ten-week period. A memorial honoring these men was erected at Noyers Bocage, a village near Caen. Helping with the work on the memorial was a man who had witnessed that war as a child and veterans of that fight, who when it was completed and dedicated on the 50th Anniversary of D-day, 6 June 1994 were present for the ceremony
"To the glorious memory of the 151 typhoon pilots and supporting staff who gave their lives during the liberation of Normandy May - August 1944."
June 24, 2014 the Government of Saskatchewan, having become aware of F/O John Kalen's connection with the province and in respectful remembrance of his service to Canada, named Kalen Lake as his geo-memorial. Kalen Lake can be found in the north east of the province 59 degrees 57' 22" North Latitude 102 degrees 12' 2" West Longitude.*5
*1 Wikipedia,the Free Encyclopedia
*2 40 (1953-93 -4 Wing Canadian Forces Base Baden Sollingen)
*3 The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans' Affairs of Canada
*4 Book of Remembrance - Volume 1
Copyright 1998-2011 Michael T. Melnick
*5 Heritage Conservation Branch, Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, the Government of Saskatchewan.
Living in Sudbury, Ontario at the time, he enlisted 9 December 1941 at North Bay, Ontario, John's service number was J21856.*3 John joined the 123 Squadron that was formed 15 January 1942. The squadron trained in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
31 December 1943 the squadron was renumbered the 439 (Westmount) Squadron or the Sabre-toothed Tigers, a fighter bomber squadron that would support ground troops.*1
The squadron was in Bournemouth, England, as part of the RAF from 14 - 31 December 1943. They moved to Wellingore, remaining from 31 December 1943 to 7 January 1944. From 8 January to March, they joined the 143 wing of the RCAF in Ayr and in March, they moved to Hurn, on the south coast of England where they practised ground attacks first on Hurricanes 1V and later on Hawker Typhoons.*2
Their first sorties took place before 6 June and the D-day assault, taking off from Hurn and Huntington, England. 27 June the squadron moved to Lantheuil, France closer to the action and better able to support the ground troops in Normandy.
On a clear morning, 18 July 1944, the squadron took off to attack a mortar position that was southwest of Caen, near Mesnil-Frementel. The popular John Kalen, flying MN574 Typhoon, had started his dive from 7000 to 2600 feet, when the plane exploded over its target and crashed into a forest*4, 1.5 km. NW of Cagny. His body was found and buried a week later by the 7th Armoured Division. Later John was reburied in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Cemetery near Cintheaux, Normandy.
Flying Officer John Kalen, for his dedication to protecting the freedom of his country and helping in the liberation of others, received citations that included the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45. He was posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy 21 May 1945.*3
On the church at Cagny, a town 9 km. southeast of Caen, near where his plane crashed there is a memorial plaque dedicated to John.
A LA MEMOIRE DU
FTG. OFF. JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
ABATTU LE 18-07-1944
TO THE MEMORY OF
F/O JOHN KALEN
TYPHOON PILOT
CRASHED THE 18-07-1944
F.O. John Kalen of Canada was among the 151 Typhoon pilots killed in the Battle for Normandy during a ten-week period. A memorial honoring these men was erected at Noyers Bocage, a village near Caen. Helping with the work on the memorial was a man who had witnessed that war as a child and veterans of that fight, who when it was completed and dedicated on the 50th Anniversary of D-day, 6 June 1994 were present for the ceremony
"To the glorious memory of the 151 typhoon pilots and supporting staff who gave their lives during the liberation of Normandy May - August 1944."
June 24, 2014 the Government of Saskatchewan, having become aware of F/O John Kalen's connection with the province and in respectful remembrance of his service to Canada, named Kalen Lake as his geo-memorial. Kalen Lake can be found in the north east of the province 59 degrees 57' 22" North Latitude 102 degrees 12' 2" West Longitude.*5
*1 Wikipedia,the Free Encyclopedia
*2 40 (1953-93 -4 Wing Canadian Forces Base Baden Sollingen)
*3 The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans' Affairs of Canada
*4 Book of Remembrance - Volume 1
Copyright 1998-2011 Michael T. Melnick
*5 Heritage Conservation Branch, Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, the Government of Saskatchewan.
Inscription
FLYING OFFICER
J. KALEN
PILOT
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
18TH JULY 1944
Gravesite Details
Flying Officer (Pilot), 439 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. Age 21
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