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McPherson, Joseph Maxwell

Date of birth:
October 31st, 1921 (Blenheim/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:
June 17th, 1944 (Biezenmortel/North Brabant, The Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Roman Catholic Cemetery Biezenmortel
Grave: 1.
Service number:
J/90244
Nationality:
Canadian

Biography

Joseph was born on October 31 1921 in Blenheim, Ontario, the son of Hugh Hector McPherson and Margaret Beatrice McPherson nee Lancaster of Blenheim. They were married in 1910 in Cedar Springs Ontario.

His brother was D.H. McPherson (also with the RCAF) and his sisters were Mrs. F.J. Orr and Miss D.B. McPherson.

He was a farmer at his father’s fruit farm and member of the United Church and his sports were hockey and softball.

He enlisted on October 30 1942 in London Ontario and he went on October 8 1943 thereafter from New York USA overseas to the UK.

Joseph was killed in action on Saturday June 17 1944 age 22 due to a crash after an explosion near Biezenmortel before or after an attack on Sterkrade near Oberhausen in Germany.
The other fallen RCAF crew members were P/O Alan G. Fairless age 27 in grave 3, Sgt Donald C. McPherson age 20 in grave 6, Sgt George O. Massicotte age 29 in grave 5 and Sgt Herbert G. Robinson age 24 in grave 4. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was Sgt Edmund Guinan age 32 in grave 2.
The other RAF crew member Sgt L. Ellis survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war.

On his headstone: WE CANNOT, LORD THY PURPOSE SEE BUT ALL IS WELL THAT'S DONE BY THEE

He served with the 431 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Unit:
No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1946
RCAF Operational Wings

Sources