Royal Canadian Air Force, Unit Text: 408 Goose Sqdn. Bomber. Son of Harry Beverley Pleasence and Betty Pleasence, of Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Harry was the proprieter of the Rankin Hotel on King St. West.

John enlisted in the RCAF in 1940, training at Brandon MB., Montreal, PQ., and graduates as a WAG (wireless-air-gunner) from Fingal base. He went overseas and had been involved as a member of a bomber crew since April. John was reported missing 25 July, 1942. CDN 21/08/42

The CDN 22/03/43 reported he was previously reported missing and believed killed on active service was included in a list from Ottawa Sgt. “for military purposes is presumed dead”.

The news was broken to his parents by telegram received from Ottawa the morning of the 25^th, as follows:

“Deeply regret to inform you advice has been received from Royal Canadian Air Force casualties officer overseas that your son, R67907, Sergeant John Beverly Pleasence, is reported missing as result of air operations July 21 1942. Letter follows.”

Mr. Pleasence received the telegram and immediately left for the family cottage at Erie Beach to break the new to his wife Betty.  John was one month short of reaching the ‘age of majority’ (21 years old).

Age: 20, KIA – Date of Death: 22/07/1942, R/67907.

Flying in Hampden bomber # AT 137, on Special night Air Ops. crashed into the sea off Denburg, Texel, Holland. All of the crew was lost.

Hampden aircraft AT137 was airborne 23:41 21 Jul 42 from Balderton. and crashed in the Waddenzee. Three bodies were recovered. F/S (AG) Pleasence, age 20, and F/S (P) Robt. Wishart, age 21, are buried in the Harlingen General Cemetery, Frisian Islands, Friesland, Holland. P/O T. R. Ashton, RAF, is buried at Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery. The body of F/Sgt (N) R. S. Doherty, age 21, was unrecoverable and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial for those with no known grave.

Flying in Hampden bomber # AT 137, on Special night Air Ops. crashed into the sea off Denburg, Texel, Holland. All of the crew was lost.

The local news at the time speculated, based on the date, that the aircraft John was in was in the group that attacked Duisburg and other targets in the Rhur Valley in Germany.

He had written enthusiastically about the efforts being made attacking German targets.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 to 12/08/1944., CWGC, Index of Overseas Deaths. They Shall Grow Not Old.
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot E. Row 3. Grave 8. Cemetery: HARLINGEN GENERAL CEMETERY.

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