May, George Alexander

Date of birth:: November 6th, 1924 (London/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: November 22nd, 1943 (Diever/Drenthe, Nederland)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Diever
Plot: E. Row: 5. Grave: 2.
Service number:: R197082
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

George was born in London Ontario on 6 November 1924, the son of Alexander May and Annie Ann May nee Archer (English and died 1939), of Hyde Park, Ontario. His parents were married in Nottingham England. His brothers were John Donald (also in the RCAF), Ronald Edward, Janis Lloyd, Archie, William, Alexander and Robert May. His sisters were Annie, Betty and Ann May.

He worked at a hosiery factory and was a member of the United Church. His sport was baseball.

On 16 October 1942, he enlisted in London Ontario and received the Air Gunner's Badge in Canada on 25 June 1943. On 22 July 1943, he went overseas to the UK and after arriving there participated in several air operations of his squadron to NW Europe.

George died on Monday 22 November 1943 aged 19 while on a mission to Berlin. Their Halifax bomber LW231 VR-F had taken off that evening from RAF Middleton St George for a mission to Berlin and was shot at by a German night fighter. The aircraft crashed burning in the “Staatsbossen” near Diever, killing all crew members.

The other crew members killed were Sgt George A. Howitson, age 21, Plot E. Row 5. Coll. grave 4-7, P/O William L. Hunter, age 21, Plot E. Row 5. grave 3 , W O II Joseph A. Lesage, age 22, Plot E. Row 5. grave 1, F/Sgt Malcolm A. McKellar, age 20, Plot E. Row 5. Coll. grave 4-7 and F/Of Richard J. Newman, age 21, Plot E. Row 5. Coll. grave 4-7 (all RCAF) and Sgt Wilbert B. Jones, age 18, Plot E. Row 5. Coll. grave 4-7 (RAFVR).

He was posthumously honoured with the RCAF Operational Wings and Certificate of gallant services in action against the enemy on 4 October 1946. His father was awarded The Memorial Bar in April 1945.

The names of the crew are inscribed on a monument at the crash site in the woods near Diever.

He served with the 419 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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