RCAF

FEAGAN Jack Walter

War
2nd Word War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London, Ontario
Original Unit
SQUADRON No. 50 - Group 5 RAF Bomber Command
Regimental Number
90344
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Date of Death
Age at Death
22 years 5 months
Cemetery
Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery
Cenotaph
Goderich Cenotaph
Southwold Veteran's Memorial - Shedden, Ontario
Biographical Summary

NAME                 FEAGAN      Jack Walter                                                                                                                 
RANK                 Flight Sergeant      90344                                                                                                                                           Group 5 - RAF Bomber Command                                                                                            SQUADRON      RAF No. 50 Squadron
                           “thus we keep faith”
                           RAF Skellingthorpe Airfield in Lincolnshire
                           Squadron Markings VN                                                                                                                  Residence          Shedden - Ontario                                                                                                                    Birth                    January 29, 1921 - Shedden - Township of Southwold - County of Elgin - Ontario                    Died                    June 19, 1943     22 years   5 months
Cemetery            Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery - Lincoln - Lincolnshire - England
                            G 291 North
Parents               Mr. William and Lottie Feagan - Shedden and Goderich

Jack was born on January 27, 1921 in Stratford - Ontario and while growing up in Goderich - Ontario he had scarlet fever, pneumonia and tonsillitis. He enjoyed reading and swimming as well as playing softball and hockey. He attended Goderich Victoria School and Goderich Collegiate from 1934-36 . The family would have attended either North Street United or Victoria Street United Church. He was employed as an oiler on the Great Lake boats with Patterson Steam Ships.

Canada                                                                                                                                                                        
On February 28, 1941 he travelled to London to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force and on that day he was    5' 8" and he weighed 156 pounds. His complexion was fair with blue eyes and brown hair. That same day he was posted to No. 2 Manning Depot in Brandon - Manitoba with the rank of Leading Aircraftman 2nd class. His next posting took him to No. 11 Service Flying Training School in Yorkton - Saskatchewan on March 25th. He was part of a training squadron for a period of 14 weeks and the final two weeks were spent on bombing and gunnery. His file suggest he was here for a total of 68 weeks. While here he became a Leading Aircraftsman.                          In the summer of 1942 on July 9th he was posted to No. 5 Reselection Centre. and then at the beginning of August he was assigned to No. 11 Service Flying Training School and the next day he was sent to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School where he would learn bomb aiming and aerial machine gunnery. From here one would become an Observer, Bomb Aimer or Wireless Air Gunner. He was given the rank of Flight Sergeant here.

Overseas

On December 12 he was posted to the "Y" Depot in Halifax and shortly after to the Royal Air Force Trainees Pool. On December 11, 1942 he embarked from Halifax and Canada. Flight Sergeant disembarked in the United Kingdom on December 18th and then a day later went to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre.                              On February 2, 1943 he was posted to No. 14 Operational Training Unit - Group 6 - RAF Bombing Command based at RAF Cottesmore. Here he would train for nigh bombing missions. Om May 4th he was posted to No. 1660 Heavy Conversion Units where they would now begin training on four engine aircraft. RAF Swinderby for night missions over enemy territory.

In the Field                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In the middle of June he was Taken on Strength with No. 50 Squadron based at RAF Skellingthorpe. Flight Sergeant Feagan had only been with the Squadron for three days and was a member of the crew of Lancaster  W 4932 that was engaged in bombing practice when it crashed 2 miles southeast of Dunholm in Lincolnshire. This aircraft had a total of 156 flying hours. This aircraft crashed at 1:56 am on June 19, 1943 while practicing night bombing 2 miles southeast of Dunholme Lodge airfield in Lincolnshire. Flight Sergeant Feagan died from extensive multiple injuries. The average age of this particular crew was 21 years. No cause of this accident was ever found 

Jack's mother Lottie received the Memorial Cross in September of 1943. His file does not tell us what medals he was awarded and when his family received them.

Jack is honoured and remembered on the Goderich - Ontario Cenotaph. He is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of Goderich Collegiate. As well he is honoured and remembered on either the Memorial Plaque of North Street United Church or Victoria Street United Church. He is honoured and remembered on the RAF 50 Squadron Memorial located at Birchwood - Lincolnshire - England. He is also remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial. Her is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of RCAF Group 6 Bomber Command Memorial.