John William Acheson DFC RCAF and crew - 576 Squadron – 1944/45 – Can/J12544
John Acheson ( pictured above ) and his crew were posted to 576 Squadron about the time they moved to Fisskerton. Exact date not recorded. His crew was as follows :-
F/L J W Acheson RCAF
Sgt R M Cameron
F/O R A Flight
F/S J R Tudehope
Sgt T R Bell
Sgt H Bukoski
Sgt I Lewis
According to the 576 Squadron ORB this crew flew together unaltered throughout their tour which was as follows :-
J W Acheson flew as “ 2nd Dickie” - 28/10/44 - Cologne - Point of Aim - PA173 - S/L B A Templeman-Rooke
02/11/1944 - Dusseldorf - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
04/11/1944 - Bochum - Point of Aim - LM227 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF - Combat with twin engined night fighter homebound. Evaded.
06/11/1944 - Gelsenkirchen - Oil - LM227 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
09/11/1944 - Wanne Eikel - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
11/11/1944 - Dortmund - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
18/11/1944 - Wanne Eikel - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF - Landed at diversionary airfield due to bad weather at base
27/11/1944 - Freiburg - Army support - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
29/11/1944 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
03/12/1944 - Urft - Dam - ME735 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
22/12/1944 - Koblenz - Railway yards - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF - Bad weather at Base. Landed at Charterhall
28/12/1944 - Bonn - Railway yards - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
31/12/1944 - Osterfeld - Railway yards - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
05/01/1945 - Royen - Army support - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
14/01/1945 - Leuna - Oil - ME735 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
16/01/1945 - Zietz - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
22/01/1945 - Duisburg/Hambourn - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
08/02/1945 - Politz - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
14/02/1945 - Chemnitz - Operation Thunderclap - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
20/02/1945 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
21/02/1945 - Duisburg - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
23/02/1945 - Pforzheim - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
02/03/1945 - Cologne - Army support - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
05/03/1945 - Chemnitz - Operation Thunderclap - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
07/03/1945 - Dessau - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
11/03/1945 - Essen - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
12/03/1945 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
15/03/1945 - Misburg - Oil - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
16/03/1945 - Nuremberg - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
31/03/1945 - Hamburg - Shipyards - RA562 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
03/04/1945 - Nordhausen - V weapons factory - RA562 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
04/04/1945 - Lutzendorf - Oil - RA562 - F/L JW Acheson RCAF
The tour was completed without any early returns.
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On completion of his tour John Acheson was awarded a DFC which was gazetted 8th September 1945. Citation below :-
"Flight Lieutenant Acheson , a Canadian officer, has completed 33 operational sorties as captain of a Lancaster bomber operating in Bomber Command. He has made many successful attacks on heavily defended targets in Germany, including Cologne, Dusseldorf, Dortmund and Essen. He has also made numerous deep penetrations to attack targets when fighters have been active, including Merseburg, Chemnitz and Nuremburg. His unconquerable spirit of determination under these trying conditions to achieve his objective has undoubtedly inspired a high standard of morale in his crew.
On two occasions Flight Lieutenant Acheson 's aircraft has been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, but this has in no way deterred him from pressing home his attacks with the utmost skill and determination.
Flight Lieutenant Acheson has acted as Flight Commander and has shown outstanding qualities of leadership. His courage, tenacity and endurance have led to a fine record of achievement, and I very strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."
What became of him postwar war is unknown and I will welcome any further information.
Compiled by David Fell with photo from my archive
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