Cenotaph here
Sgt Donald Carr Odell J/95168 RCAF
Donald Carr Odell was born on the 21st April 1925 at Oil Springs, Enniskillen in Ontario Canada. His father Leslie was a Carpenter by trade whilst his mother Leila Hazel was a busy mother looking after her large family who all lived in Petrolia, Ontario. Donald was the middle child of 11; he had 1 older brother, 4 older sisters, 3 younger brothers & 2 younger sisters. Prior to his enlistment on the 5th May 1943, 5' 7" tall Donald worked as a butcher & had served as a gunner in a naval battery during 1942-43. A keen golfer who also helped out as a greenkeeper he listed skating, pool & rugby as his other interests.
After his initial gunnery training for the RCAF, where he was awarded his gunners badge on the 12th November 1943, Donald embarked on his transit ship to cross the Atlantic on the 20th January 1944 from Halifax, Nova Scotia arriving in England 11 days later. Following further training & crewing up Donald passed through 12 OTU & eventually became a member of 115 Squadron on 29th August 1944; his base was at RAF Witchford in Cambridgeshire.
9 days after arriving at Witchford on the 8th of September 1944, Donald & his crew were listed on the battle order to attack the French coastal town of Le Havre. After briefing & their pre-flight meal of eggs & bacon they boarded Lancaster HK579 (A4-B) & took off for this daylight raid at 06.10 in the morning. Donald's crew were flying as part of a force of 333 aircraft taken from 1, 3 & 8 groups who were assigned to attack the German positions within the town. Unfortunately the weather was very bad over the target with very low cloud hampering the efforts of the crews; in fact only 109 aircraft reported actually dropping their bombs & the results were mixed, 2 aircraft failed to return, 1 was Donald's.
As Donald's aircraft flew over the town it received a direct hit from flak & fell to earth crashing at Cap de la Heve, on the edge of Le Havre & the English Channel. 5 members of Donald's crew managed to bail out of the stricken aircraft with 3 becoming POW's & 2 managing to evade capture. Donald & his Pilot Flt Sgt Kilsby sadly never made it out of the aircraft & their bodies were found amongst the wreckage, Donald was just 19 years old & this was his 1st ‘Op'.
He is buried at St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France in grave 67.G.13 & his name is listed on IBCC Panel 220
Sgt Donald Carr Odell J/95168 RCAF
Donald Carr Odell was born on the 21st April 1925 at Oil Springs, Enniskillen in Ontario Canada. His father Leslie was a Carpenter by trade whilst his mother Leila Hazel was a busy mother looking after her large family who all lived in Petrolia, Ontario. Donald was the middle child of 11; he had 1 older brother, 4 older sisters, 3 younger brothers & 2 younger sisters. Prior to his enlistment on the 5th May 1943, 5' 7" tall Donald worked as a butcher & had served as a gunner in a naval battery during 1942-43. A keen golfer who also helped out as a greenkeeper he listed skating, pool & rugby as his other interests.
After his initial gunnery training for the RCAF, where he was awarded his gunners badge on the 12th November 1943, Donald embarked on his transit ship to cross the Atlantic on the 20th January 1944 from Halifax, Nova Scotia arriving in England 11 days later. Following further training & crewing up Donald passed through 12 OTU & eventually became a member of 115 Squadron on 29th August 1944; his base was at RAF Witchford in Cambridgeshire.
9 days after arriving at Witchford on the 8th of September 1944, Donald & his crew were listed on the battle order to attack the French coastal town of Le Havre. After briefing & their pre-flight meal of eggs & bacon they boarded Lancaster HK579 (A4-B) & took off for this daylight raid at 06.10 in the morning. Donald's crew were flying as part of a force of 333 aircraft taken from 1, 3 & 8 groups who were assigned to attack the German positions within the town. Unfortunately the weather was very bad over the target with very low cloud hampering the efforts of the crews; in fact only 109 aircraft reported actually dropping their bombs & the results were mixed, 2 aircraft failed to return, 1 was Donald's.
As Donald's aircraft flew over the town it received a direct hit from flak & fell to earth crashing at Cap de la Heve, on the edge of Le Havre & the English Channel. 5 members of Donald's crew managed to bail out of the stricken aircraft with 3 becoming POW's & 2 managing to evade capture. Donald & his Pilot Flt Sgt Kilsby sadly never made it out of the aircraft & their bodies were found amongst the wreckage, Donald was just 19 years old & this was his 1st ‘Op'.
He is buried at St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France in grave 67.G.13 & his name is listed on IBCC Panel 220
Cenotaph here
Sgt Donald Carr Odell J/95168 RCAF
Donald Carr Odell was born on the 21st April 1925 at Oil Springs, Enniskillen in Ontario Canada. His father Leslie was a Carpenter by trade whilst his mother Leila Hazel was a busy mother looking after her large family who all lived in Petrolia, Ontario. Donald was the middle child of 11; he had 1 older brother, 4 older sisters, 3 younger brothers & 2 younger sisters. Prior to his enlistment on the 5th May 1943, 5' 7" tall Donald worked as a butcher & had served as a gunner in a naval battery during 1942-43. A keen golfer who also helped out as a greenkeeper he listed skating, pool & rugby as his other interests.
After his initial gunnery training for the RCAF, where he was awarded his gunners badge on the 12th November 1943, Donald embarked on his transit ship to cross the Atlantic on the 20th January 1944 from Halifax, Nova Scotia arriving in England 11 days later. Following further training & crewing up Donald passed through 12 OTU & eventually became a member of 115 Squadron on 29th August 1944; his base was at RAF Witchford in Cambridgeshire.
9 days after arriving at Witchford on the 8th of September 1944, Donald & his crew were listed on the battle order to attack the French coastal town of Le Havre. After briefing & their pre-flight meal of eggs & bacon they boarded Lancaster HK579 (A4-B) & took off for this daylight raid at 06.10 in the morning. Donald's crew were flying as part of a force of 333 aircraft taken from 1, 3 & 8 groups who were assigned to attack the German positions within the town. Unfortunately the weather was very bad over the target with very low cloud hampering the efforts of the crews; in fact only 109 aircraft reported actually dropping their bombs & the results were mixed, 2 aircraft failed to return, 1 was Donald's.
As Donald's aircraft flew over the town it received a direct hit from flak & fell to earth crashing at Cap de la Heve, on the edge of Le Havre & the English Channel. 5 members of Donald's crew managed to bail out of the stricken aircraft with 3 becoming POW's & 2 managing to evade capture. Donald & his Pilot Flt Sgt Kilsby sadly never made it out of the aircraft & their bodies were found amongst the wreckage, Donald was just 19 years old & this was his 1st ‘Op'.
He is buried at St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France in grave 67.G.13 & his name is listed on IBCC Panel 220
Sgt Donald Carr Odell J/95168 RCAF
Donald Carr Odell was born on the 21st April 1925 at Oil Springs, Enniskillen in Ontario Canada. His father Leslie was a Carpenter by trade whilst his mother Leila Hazel was a busy mother looking after her large family who all lived in Petrolia, Ontario. Donald was the middle child of 11; he had 1 older brother, 4 older sisters, 3 younger brothers & 2 younger sisters. Prior to his enlistment on the 5th May 1943, 5' 7" tall Donald worked as a butcher & had served as a gunner in a naval battery during 1942-43. A keen golfer who also helped out as a greenkeeper he listed skating, pool & rugby as his other interests.
After his initial gunnery training for the RCAF, where he was awarded his gunners badge on the 12th November 1943, Donald embarked on his transit ship to cross the Atlantic on the 20th January 1944 from Halifax, Nova Scotia arriving in England 11 days later. Following further training & crewing up Donald passed through 12 OTU & eventually became a member of 115 Squadron on 29th August 1944; his base was at RAF Witchford in Cambridgeshire.
9 days after arriving at Witchford on the 8th of September 1944, Donald & his crew were listed on the battle order to attack the French coastal town of Le Havre. After briefing & their pre-flight meal of eggs & bacon they boarded Lancaster HK579 (A4-B) & took off for this daylight raid at 06.10 in the morning. Donald's crew were flying as part of a force of 333 aircraft taken from 1, 3 & 8 groups who were assigned to attack the German positions within the town. Unfortunately the weather was very bad over the target with very low cloud hampering the efforts of the crews; in fact only 109 aircraft reported actually dropping their bombs & the results were mixed, 2 aircraft failed to return, 1 was Donald's.
As Donald's aircraft flew over the town it received a direct hit from flak & fell to earth crashing at Cap de la Heve, on the edge of Le Havre & the English Channel. 5 members of Donald's crew managed to bail out of the stricken aircraft with 3 becoming POW's & 2 managing to evade capture. Donald & his Pilot Flt Sgt Kilsby sadly never made it out of the aircraft & their bodies were found amongst the wreckage, Donald was just 19 years old & this was his 1st ‘Op'.
He is buried at St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France in grave 67.G.13 & his name is listed on IBCC Panel 220
Inscription
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT
Gravesite Details
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), Royal Canadian Air Force. Age: 19.
Family Members
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