O'Connell, George Francis Leo

Date of birth:: December 8th, 1923 (Keeler/Saskatchewan, Canada)
Date of death:: June 22nd, 1944 (Oosterwolde, the Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Oosterwolde
Plot: 2. Grave: Coll. Gr.
Service number:: R/203907
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

George was born on December 8 1923 in Keeler Saskatchewan, the son of Leo Neal O’Connell (American) and Edith Graham O’Connell nee Kemp. They were married on February 28 1922 in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. His sisters were Hazelwood Enid and Reta Mae O’Connell.

He was a hardware clerk in a mercantile business and member of the United Church and his sports were softball and hockey.

He enlisted on December 21 1942 in Regina Saskatchewan and he went thereafter on October 16 1943 overseas to the UK.

George was killed in action on Thursday June 22 1944 age 20 due to a crash after or before an attack on Scholven-Buer near Gelsenkirchen in Germany. The other fallen RCAF crew member was P/O Ronald E. Horton age 19 who was buried too in the same grave. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members who were also were buried in this same grave: P/O James Brodie age 22, Sgt Frank A. Aldridge age 20, F/Sgt William Brownlee age 20 and Sgt Royston Sleep age 21 and the fallen RNZAF crew member was F/Sgt David R.N. Keith age 28.

An Information panel was unveiled on May 1 1915 in Oosterwolde (province of Gelderland) for the whole fallen crew members.

He served with the 106 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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