Lloyd William McElroy
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Air Force
415 (Swordfish) Squadron
WW II
Lloyd William McElroy was born in Morden, Manitoba 23 March 1924 to William Lorne and Francis Mary (Greenacre) McElroy. Lloyd’s mother, Francis, was born in Norfolk, England. Lloyd had 2 brothers Robert (Bob) and Mervyn and one sister Ina Mae, they grew up on the farm at Darlingford, Manitoba. Lloyd attended the Lorne School, 1930 -1939. He left school at 14 and worked on his father’s farm for the next 3 years and enjoyed playing sports, in particular hockey, baseball and football.
Lloyd signed his Royal Canadian Air Force attestation papers 12 January 1943 and was immediately granted unpaid leave until 08 June when he began his basic and aircrew selection training at Brandon. From Brandon it was on to the Pre-Aircrew Education Course at Regina, finishing in August with a recommendation, “qualified for the category of AIRCREW.” He subsequently trained at numerous RCAF Stations, Rivers and in Quebec and upon successful completion of this phase, 23 December 1943, he received his Air Gunner (AG) Badge and was promoted to Sergeant.
While on Christmas leave at Darlingford, Lloyd married Isobel Helen Pearce on 25 December 1943. Isobel lived for some time at 1482 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Mb.
Training, for the newly married Sgt McElroy, continued in Canada at MacDonald, Lachine and Valleyfield until posted to the United Kingdom (UK) 05 March 1944. After further training at No. 22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) and completion on 12 June 1944, he was assessed as being “Keen, conscientious and reliable” and was also recommended for a commission by the Officer Commanding. Lloyd had certainly matured since his recruitment interview in June of the previous year where he was considered “immature, slack and irresponsible.” Upon completion of training 21 July 1944, Sergeant (AG) L.W. McElroy was transferred to 415 Squadron.
415 (Swordfish) Squadron was initially formed 20 August 1941 at Thorney Island and served as a torpedo-bombing unit with Coastal Command. The Squadron was transferred to No. 6 (RCAF) Group of Bomber Command 12 July 1944 and was then based out of East Moore. The Squadron assumed a heavy bomber role when equipped with the Halifax at the same time. Hamburg, Germany was the target of the first operational mission of the squadron with 15 Halifax Bombers. It was a night bombing operation 28/29 July 1944. Lloyd’s aircraft, LW 595 was attacked, hit by enemy fighters and subsequently crashed at Stotel Kreis Wessermunde, Germany. A witness stated that in the summer of 1944 “an aircraft was seen burning in the air and crashed 1 km south of the village of Stotel. It exploded on impact.” Of the 9 crew on board the Halifax, only Flying Officer R.A. Harvey managed to bail out but was captured and taken prisoner the following day. This was Lloyd’s first mission, he had been with the squadron 8 days.
On 01 August 1944 Mrs. L.W. McElroy (Lloyd’s wife Isobel) received the following message from the RCAF casualty officer;
“REGRET TO ADVISE YOUR HUSBAND R TWO ONE FIVE SIX FIVE SEVEN SERGEANT LLOYD WILLIAM MCELROY IS REPORTED MISSING AFTER AIR OPERATIONS OVERSEAS JULY TWENTY NINTH STOP LETTER FOLLOWS.”
A message dated 20 September 1944, again from the R.C.A.F. Casualty Officer, to Lloyd’s wife Isobel states that information from Germany, through the International Red Cross Society says, “your husband previously reported missing, lost his life.” This was followed up by another letter to both Isobel and Lloyd’s father on 26 September.
Sergeant Lloyd William McElroy’s recommendation for commission was approved and he was posthumously promoted to Pilot Officer, effective 27 July 1944.
Pilot Officer (AG) Lloyd William McElroy is buried in the Becklingen War Cemetery, Plot 24, Row A, Grave 14, Soltau, Germany and is commemorated on Page 385 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in Ottawa and also named in his honour is Lake McElroy, Manitoba 59 degrees, 46 minutes, 13 seconds north latitude and 98 degrees, 20 minutes, 43 seconds west longitude. This is approximately 447 km north of Thompson, Manitoba.
Information from Library and Archives Canada (P.O. L.W. McElroy’s war records), the family, 415 (Swordfish) Squadron history and the Province of Manitoba.