John Gordon Jannings

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from John Hamblin, Researcher.

John Gordon Jannings, Flying Officer 151458, 76 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Killed in action on the 29th of June 1944, aged 21.

John Gordon Jannings was born in North London on the 8th of October 1922, the only son of Alfred Gordon Jannings, a company managing director, and Florence Kathleen Jannings (née Cripps) of 21, South Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11. He was christened at Great Amwell in Hertfordshire on the 18th of November 1938. He was educated at Haileybury School where he was in Edmonstone House from September 1936 to April 1939.

He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 5th of March 1943. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 5th of September 1943.

On the night of the 28th/29th of June 1944 Bomber Command dispatched 202 Halifaxes and 28 Lancasters, acting as Pathfinders, to attack the railway yards at Blainville-sur-Orne and at Metz in support of Allied ground operations following the invasion of Normandy. Both targets were hit by the attacking force.

John Jannings and his crew took off from RAF Holme-on Spalding at 9.59pm on the 28th of June 1944 in Halifax Mk III MZ679 MP-C for the operation on Blainville-sur-Orne. The aircraft was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lesges, five kilometres to the south-south-west of Braine on the south side of the River Aisne in France with the loss of the entire crew. The crew was: -

Flying Officer John Gordon Jannings (Pilot)
Sergeant Jack Edward Beeson (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Robert Logie Givens (Navigator)
Flying Officer Thomas Wellwood Thompson RCAF (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Colin Francis Poole (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Ronald Paul Lucas (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Burleigh Charles Acourt (Rear Gunner)

Theirs was one of twenty aircraft that were lost during the raids and one of three aircraft from the squadron lost that night. A memorial service was held at Lesges Churchyard in memory of the crew at 10.30am on the 24th of June 2006.

John Jannings is buried at Lesges Churchyard Grave 1 and is commemorated on the war memorial at Haileybury School and on the memorial at Lloyd’s of London.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of John Jannings. If you are aware of one or you are related to John we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.