RCAF.com
F/O Harvey Edgar Jones, RCAF
Born in Welland, Ontario, 1 July 1917; home in Niagara Falls, Ontario (tour guide and salesman); enlisted in Toronto, 1 August 1941. Trained at No.5 ITS, 28 October to 20 December 1941 (graduated 19 December 1941 and promoted LAC), No. 13 EFTS, 21 December 1941 to 14 March 1942 (graduated 27 February 1942) and No.9 SFTS, 1 April to 1 August 1942 (graduated 17 July 1942 when commissioned). Further trained at No.31 GRS, Charlottetown, 1 August to 9 October 1942 and at No.36 OTU, 10 October 1942 to 22 January 1943. Arrived in Britain, 4 February 1943; to No. 1 (Coastal) OTU, 20 April 1943; to No.269 Squadron, 10 June 1943, serving with that unit in Britain and Iceland until 20 January 1944; to No.282 Squadron, 14 February 1944; to No.575 Squadron, 25 February 1944; to No. 233 Squadron the same day. Killed in action 5/6 June 1944 (Dakota KG356).
Public Records Office Air 215010 has recommendation dated 30 June 1944 for the Victoria Cross; this was approved at the level of Station (Blakehill Farm), No.46 Group and AOC
F/O Harvey Edgar Jones, RCAF - MiDTransport Command; appears to have been knocked down at Air Ministry level. As of recommendation he had flown 44 sorties (792 hours ten minutes operational time).
Flying Officer H. Jones was the captain of a Dakota aircraft detailed to drop parachute troops in the Caen area on the night of 5/6 June 1944. The approach was made at a height of 600 feet above ground, in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Approximately four miles from the Dropping Zone the aircraft was badly hit and set on fire. Flying Officer Jones continued heading towards the Drop Zone and gave the signal for the parachute troops in the aircraft to jump, which they did successfully. He then ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft.
Flying Officer Jones could himself have abandoned the aircraft through the pilot's escape hatch at the same time as the crew were ordered to jump. Although well aware of the danger of remaining in the aircraft, he refused his parachute pack when it was brought to him and stayed at the controls to keep the aircraft on an even keel and maintain sufficient height for his crew to jump safety. Two of the crew jumped successfully after which the aircraft crashed and Flying Officer Jones was killed.
Gave Own Life
Sacrificing his
own life to save his gunner, PO. Harvey - Edgar Jones,
26, who was killed in action in Normandy, France, on
D-Day, has been mentioned in dispatches in the King's
New Year's Honors List. He was the only son of Mr. and
Mrs. Edgar Jones, 1066 Willmott Street, this city.
Pilot of a transport plane that was, carrying paratroopers to the fighting
lines in France on June 6, FO Jones had unloaded the troops and was returning
to Britain, when the craft was hit by flak and became unmanageable. H
e ordered the crew to bail out at 700 feet, when he noticed that the gunner, WO Cobby Engelberg of Montreal, had been hit and was unconscious. After the co-pilot and navigator had jumped from the plane, FO Jones attempted a crash landing with the injured gunner aboard. In the landing, PO Jones was thrown out of the cockpit and fatally hurt, but the gunner, WO Engelberg, survived. Engelberg was removed from the wrecked plane by French peasants, and hidden in a barn nearby for four or five days, receiving, medical care until rescued by British forces and flown back to Britain to hospital.
WO Engelberg recovered from his injuries and returned to this country, where he visited Mr. and Mrs. Jones here a few weeks ago, and gave them the details of their son's death, including the information that he had received from the co-pilot and navigator, both R.A.F. men, who also survived.
FO Jones crashed near Basseneville, Normandy, where his great grandfather is buried. He also was buried at Basseneville by the French, near his great-grandfather's grave. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have received pictures of their son's grave and a sketch showing the place where he crashed and where his grave is located. The map was sent by the R.A.F. members of the crew.
Born in Welland, FO Jones lived here most of his life, and attended Maple Street School and the Niagara Falls Collegiate. He also attended St. Catharines Collegiate and was a graduate of the University of Toronto. Before enlisting in the R.C.A.F. in 1941, he worked for the Proctor and Gamble Company in Toronto. He was engaged to be married to a Toronto girl.
OTTAWA, Canada, 20th October 1944
Mrs. Edgar Jones,
1066 Willmott Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Dear Mrs. Jones:
Information has been received from Overseas giving further particulars concerning the burial place of your son, Flying Officer Harvey Edgar Jones, The report states that your son is buried in the front garden of a demolished house near the house of Madame Duhamel as shown on the attached map. His aircraft had crashed in the adjoining field. His grave is being kept in an excellent condition and at the time it was seen, It had two pots of flowers upon it, roses and sweet peas and the cross bearing the words "Mort pour La France, Vivo L'Angleterre". Madame Duhamel is caring for the grave. Madame Duhamel stated that a bottle was buried just below the surface of the grave containing particulars of your son. This bottle was recovered and attached is the note which was contained therein. A Cross bearing your son's rank, number and was placed oh his grave, on September 14th, 1944, by an Airforce officer.
This information is passed to you as it was felt you would wish to know of all details.
I know full well how weak and fruitless are any words of mine which would try to divert you from your overwhelming sense of loss and it is my hope that the cherished memory of this gallant boy who made the supreme sacrifice to maintain the freedom of his country will be a source of great pride to you and the members of your family and sustain you in your sorrow.
R.C.A.F. Casualty Officer