Person:Henry Feldhans (1)

Casualty of War Henry John Feldhans, son of Henry William and Elizabeth, was killed in World War II. Henry was an Engineering Student at the University of Toronto when he enlisted. He was awarded an Air Navigator’s Badge and commissioned (Pilot Officer) February 11, 1944; and subsequently promoted to Flying Officer August 11, 1944. Henry joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as Navigator. Henry planned to return to university after the war for Mining Engineering. An RACF Training Report indicated Henry was “one of best on course”. He flew 5 sorties and had 40 operational hours over enemy territory .

Henry was part of the 431 Squadron and was on a Lancaster Bomber# KB858. Targets at Chemnitz, Germany included factories producing military goods, an oil refinery was also situated in the area. The bombing left most of the city in ruins but not without cost to the allied bombers. Nine aircraft were lost shortly after take off due to very icy conditions and a further twenty-two aircraft were lost on the raid itself. Henry's Lancaster was reported missing, he died on March 5, 1945.

From the Sudbury Star November 20, 1945 “Cliff Airman Now Presumed to Have Died – Failing to return to his operational base in England following a raid over Chimitz, Germany, on March 5 of this year, Flight Officer John H. Feldhans, son of Dr. and Mrs. H. W. Feldhans, of 10 Park Street Copper Cliff, is now presumed to have been killed in action. This word was received by the flier’s parents from air force headquarters on Monday. The 21-year-old Copper Cliff resident had been serving as a navigator with a Canadian Lancaster bomber squadron, and had made a number of operational flights before being listed as missing in action. Besides his parents, the flier is survived by a twin sister, Mary, at present attending the Faculty of Education, Toronto; and two other sisters, Mrs. Ned Leore at present making her home in Sudbury, and Agnes, of Washington, D. C.”

From the Sudbury Star February 24, 1947 “Flight Officer John Feldhans Given Posthumous Air Award – Reported missing over Germany in March, 1945, while completing his first operational tour, Flying Officer John H. Feldhans, of Copper Cliff, has been posthumously awarded the gold operational wings of the RCAF. The decoration and parchment have been forwarded