McKenna, John Leo

Date of birth:: June 7th, 1922 (Montreal/Québec, Canada)
Date of death:: June 22nd, 1944 (Lozen/Limburg, Belgium)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Heverlee
Plot: 6. Row: F. Grave: 13.
Service number:: J/92153
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

John Leo McKenna was born on 7 June 1922 in Montreal, the son of John Andrew McKenna (American) and Mary E. McKenna-McCrory of Montreal. They were married in Montreal on 23 February 1916. He was the brother of Owen and Andrew McKenna and his sisters: Patricia, Katherine and Dorothy McKenna and another sister Eileen McKenna died on 29 May 1945.

He attended the Luke Callaghan Memorial School in Montreal from 1931-1938 and then the Luke Callaghan Memorial High School from 1938-1940. He was an office clerk and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. His sports were boxing, Canadian football, baseball, ice hockey, skiing and skating (intensive).

He enlisted in the RCAF in Montreal on 25 May 1942 and received the Air Bomber's Badge in Canada on 11 June 1943. He then went overseas to the UK on 7 July 1943 and after arrival participated in his squadron's various air operations to NW Europe.

John was killed during a mission to Wesseling, Germany on Thursday 22 June 1944 at the age of 22, exactly 15 days after this 22nd birthday due to a crash in Wateringen at Lozen (Bocholt) in Belgium. He was temporarily buried at an unknown location in Belgium and reburied at Heverlee on also unknown date. The other fallen RCAF crew member was WWII Frederick S. Dewis, age 30 in Coll. 6.F. 11-12. The other crew members killed (all RAF VR) were: P/O Robert C. Hooper (DFM), age 22 in Coll. 6.F. 11-12, Sgt Thomas D.S. Fraser, age 24 in grave 6-F-9, Sgt Peter H. Kano, age 21 in grave 6-F-7, F/Lt Thomas Neison (DFM), age 31 in grave 6-F-10 and Sgt Daniel F.O. Synnot, age 19 in grave 6-F-8.

His mother was awarded The Memorial Bar in February 1946.

His name is listed with the other crew members on a plaque at Lozen church in Belgium. He served with The Royal Canadian Air Force 630 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.

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