McIVER, Henry Carbee

NAME McIVER Henry Carbee
RANK Flight Lieutenant Royal Canadian Air Force
SQUADRON No. 408 “Goose”
“for freedom”
Group 6 RAF Bomber Command
Linton-on-Ouse Airfield in Yorkshire
Squadron Markings EQ X
AGE 31 June 13, 1944 J / 8169
CEMETERY Avesnes-Les-Aubert Communal Cemetery
Avesnes-Les-Aubert – Cambric - Pas de Calais
France
PARENTS Malcolm and Charlotte McIver - Rapid View in Saskatchewan.
• Henry was born on March 29, 1913 in Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. While he grew up he was involved in
baseball, softball, hockey, hunting, swimming and music. After his education his employment was in
farming.
• On March 10, 1941 he enlisted into the RCAF in Saskatoon and his training took him to Brandon,
Carberay, Regina, Vancouver and then Calgary.
• When he was in England and posted at HCU 1666 they said he was an average pilot but an exceptional
captain. He had organized an excellent crew and it was one of the best ever to fly.
• They also say he was one of the best night pilots and after only 3 landings in four-engine aircrafts he soloed.
• The target for this mission was Cambria in France.
• Flight Lieutenant McIver and his crew lifted off the runway at 22:01 hours and the mission was to bomb the
rail yards along with the transport system in support of the Normandy landings. There were 16 aircraft from
408 Squadron detailed for this mission. The target defences were light and heavy flak but no searchlights.
They were to bomb from 4,600 feet.
• This aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter, burst into flames and crashed at 00:16 hours.
• Lancaster DS 772 “T” was not involved in any key missions before being shot down 5 ½ miles east of
Cambria, at Avernes les Aubert during night operations.
• Flight Lieutenant McIver had completed 12 missions prior to this one. This was the 13th. Up to this point he
had 68 hours of flying time.