Flying Officer John Edward Garrigan

John Edward Garrigan was born at Lachine, Quebec, on 20 June 1923, the son of James Edward Garrigan and Martha Edna Courtney Garrigan. He attended Montreal High School, Westhill High School and Sir George Williams College and worked as a clerk before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 2 August 1941 as R117723. He trained in Canada as a Wireless Air Gunner, qualifying on 3 August 1942, and later served overseas in the United Kingdom and India. Garrigan rose through the non-commissioned ranks to Warrant Officer First Class before being commissioned Pilot Officer J91080 on 18 October 1944; he was promoted Flying Officer on 18 April 1945. Serving with 407 Squadron, he was returning from an operational sortie on 31 May 1945 when his Wellington crashed into the sea off Sharp Nose Point, North Devon, England. He was reported missing, then missing believed killed, and was subsequently presumed dead for official purposes. His body was not recovered. He was 21 years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, United Kingdom.

1923-06-20 — Born.
1939-11-16 to 1941-02-20 — Employed by Elmhurst Dairy.
1941-02 to 1941-08 — Worked as a junior clerk with the T. Eaton Company, Department H95.
1941-08-02 — Enlisted in the RCAF for aircrew service as Aircraftman 2nd Class R117723.
1941-08-03 to 1941-08-17 — Leave of absence without pay before reporting for duty.
1941-08-18 — Taken on strength No. 2 Manning Depot.
1941-08-20 — Struck off strength No. 2 Manning Depot.
1941-08-21 — Taken on strength No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1941-11-22 — Struck off strength No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1941-11-23 — Taken on strength No. 4 Wireless School.
1941-12-22 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman.
1942-07-04 — Struck off strength No. 4 Wireless School.
1942-07-05 — Taken on strength No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1942-08-03 — Qualified for Air Gunner's Badge and promoted Temporary Sergeant.
1942-08-28 — Struck off strength No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1942-08-29 — Taken on strength No. 36 Operational Training Unit.
1942-12-12 — Struck off strength No. 36 Operational Training Unit.
1942-12-13 — Taken on strength No. 1 Y Depot.
1942-12-28 — Struck off strength No. 1 Y Depot for overseas service.
1943-01-07 — Posted to 1 Y Depot (UK).
1943-01-08 — Posted to 3 PRC.
1943-01-20 — Posted to 11 RS.
1943-02-03 — Promoted Temporary Flight Sergeant.
1943-03-03 — Posted to ACRC.
1943-03-10 — Posted to 5(C) OTU.
1943-05-12 — Posted to 1 TTU.
1943-06-18 — Posted to 301 FTU.
1943-07-07 — Posted to India Command.
1943-07-23 — Posted from India Command to Main HQ Pool.
1943-08-03 — Promoted Temporary Warrant Officer Class II.
1944-02-03 — Promoted Temporary Warrant Officer Class I.
1944-04-18 — Movement from Main HQ Pool toward Bombay-area headquarters recorded.
1944-04-19 — Bombay-area posting followed by movement toward Home Establishment (UK).
1944-04-29 — Return movement from India through Egypt recorded.
1944-05-12 — Further return/transit posting recorded before UK reception/depot sequence.
1944-07-28 — Struck off strength of a reception/depot posting to 407 Squadron.
1944-10-18 — Commissioned Pilot Officer J91080.
1945-04-18 — Promoted Flying Officer.
1945-05-31 — Reported missing after flying operations. A 407 Squadron Wellington returning from an operational sortie crashed into the sea off Sharp Nose Point, North Devon; no body was recovered.
1945-11-30 — Presumption-of-death authority recorded; presumed dead effective 31 May 1945 for official purposes.
1947-03-08 — Operational Wings and Certificate sent to his father.