George Cornelius Krahn

1939-1945 Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp

Royal Canadian Air Force

415 Sword Fish Squadron

George Cornelius Krahn was born 01 December 1920 in Russia to the Reverend Cornelius and Maria (Neufeld) Krahn. George had 8 siblings, brothers Bernard, Neil, Fred, Peter and sisters Mary, Nettie, Katherine and Ann. He grew up on a Reinland farm and went to school in Winkler for grades 9, 10, and 11 and then attended Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Manitoba for grade 12. George enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on 10 September 1941. He began training in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan at various bases throughout Canada and on 28 August 1942 he received his Pilots Wings. Training continued until the following spring, when he was posted overseas.

In an excerpt from a letter written to his brother Fred, 14 March 1944, “I’m still getting along fine. I’m doing quite a bit of skating here. Last week we played two hockey games against different stations and we trimmed them on both occasions. Our team has seven players of my crew on it. In other words, everyone on my crew is a good hockey player and can form a team of our own. Did you beat Winkler in the game you wrote you were going to have? Well old boy, this will have to do for now so cheerio and love to all”.

George was posted overseas in the spring of 1943 and eventually ended up in 415 Torpedo Bomber (TB) Squadron. His experienced crew of 7 participated, successfully, in many offensive actions. The squadron specialized in night operations and as part of Coastal Command were responsible for patrolling the English Channel and southern parts of the North Sea. On the night of 12-13 June 1944, they attacked a large group of enemy E-Boats, high speed torpedo boats, and his aircraft, a Wellington HZ659, became a victim of intense, concentrated enemy flak and was shot down. P/O Krahn as well as two other bodies from his crew were recovered by the Dutch Red Cross the following day.

Pilot Officer George C. Krahn was killed in action at the age of 23 years. His desire to serve his country outweighed the wrath his family would endure from the religious community, as it was against their religion to fight in a war. His father was a Minister in the Blumenorter Mennonite Church, so there was a certain amount of “judgement” felt by the family once it was known that George had joined the RCAF. In spite of his career choice, his family was accepting of his decision and were very proud of him.

Pilot Officer George Cornelius Krahn is buried in the Flushing Northern Cemetery, Vlissingen, Vlissingen Municipality, Zeeland Netherlands, Row H, Grave 21.

He is listed on Page 355 in the WW II Book of Remembrance, Memorial Chamber located in the Peace Tower, Ottawa.

He was recognized by the Manitoba Government in the naming of Krahn Lake (DMS) 58*51’51”N, 100*5’54”W in his memory.

Headstone inscription, “THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN”