Flight Sergeant Ian Reay Watson

Ian Reay Watson was born at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 8 April 1922. He attended Huntingdon Academy in Quebec and worked as a sign painter before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 12 December 1940. After training in Canada, he qualified as an Air Gunner and was promoted Sergeant on 8 November 1941. He proceeded overseas in December 1941, later serving with No. 22 Operational Training Unit and 1652 Conversion Unit. He was appointed temporary Flight Sergeant effective 8 May 1942. Watson was the rear air gunner aboard Handley Page Halifax Mk II V9993, code GV-U, of No. 1652 Conversion Unit. The aircraft took off from RAF Marston Moor at 23:58 on 25 June 1942 to participate in the large RAF raid on Bremen. It was intercepted by a German night fighter and brought down approximately 1.5 km north of Luttenberg, Overijssel, Netherlands, about 6 km east-northeast of Raalte early on 26 June 1942. Watson was initially reported missing after overseas air operations on 26 June 1942 and was subsequently presumed to have lost his life as a result of those operations. He is commemorated at Raalte General Cemetery, Grave 5.

1922-04-08 — Born.
1940-11-21 — Huntingdon Academy principal certified that Watson had completed three full years of high school and about two and a half months of his final year.
1940-12-02 — RCAF recruiting interview assessed him as good material for training and best fitted for Wireless Operator/Air Gunner duties.
1940-12-03 — RCAF medical examination: height 5 ft 5 in, weight 117 lb, chest 31 in with 3.25 in expansion; fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair; Category A3B.
1940-12-12 — Enlisted and attested in the Royal Canadian Air Force as Aircraftman Second Class, R77490.
1940-12-12 — Taken on strength of No. 2 Manning Depot.
1941-01-02 — Struck off strength of No. 2 Manning Depot for No. 11 Service Flying Training School.
1941-01-03 — Taken on strength of No. 11 Service Flying Training School.
1941-03-03 — Posted from No. 11 Service Flying Training School to No. 2 Wireless School.
1941-04-03 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman.
1941-05-31 — Absent from barracks without permission after 2230 hours; awarded three days confined to barracks.
1941-06-21 — Disciplined for neglecting to obey local orders; awarded three days confined to barracks.
1941-08-16 — Struck off strength of No. 2 Wireless School to Composite Training School.
1941-08-17 — Taken on strength at Composite Training School.
1941-09-27 — Remustered to Air Observer.
1941-10-07 — Remustered to Air Gunner.
1941-10-11 — Posted from Composite Training School to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1941-10-12 — Taken on strength of No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1941-11-08 — Completed Air Gunner training, was authorized to wear the Air Gunner's Badge, and was promoted Sergeant.
1941-11-08 to 1941-11-17 — Granted 10 days leave.
1941-11-09 — Posted from No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School to No. 1 "Y" Depot.
1941-12-08 — Posted from No. 1 "Y" Depot into R.A.F. T.P./embarkation movement for overseas service.
1941-12-19 — Posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre.
1942-02-20 — Posted to No. 7 Air Gunnery School at Stormy Down.
1942-04-16 — Posted from No. 7 Air Gunnery School, Stormy Down, to No. 22 Operational Training Unit.
1942-05-08 — Appointed temporary Flight Sergeant (paid).
1942-06-21 — Posted from No. 22 Operational Training Unit to 1652 Conversion Unit.
26 June 1942 — Killed in action while serving as rear air gunner aboard Halifax V9993 (GV-U), No. 1652 Conversion Unit, during an operation against Bremen. The aircraft was attacked by a German night fighter and brought down approximately 1.5 km north of Luttenberg, Overijssel, Netherlands.
1943-04-17 — Air Ministry certified that he was presumed to have lost his life on 26 June 1942 as a result of air operations.
1946-04-15 — RCAF Records Officer sent Operational Wings and a certificate recognizing his operational service to his mother.