George Hiram's Story.
Early life and EnlistmentGeorge Hiram Van Every was born in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, on 10 August 1925 to Stanley and Ida Van Every. Before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), he worked as a ledger clerk. He enlisted in the RCAF on 2 March 1943 at the age of 17 and volunteered for aircrew duty. Although his enlistment document states that he was granted a deferred enlistment he commenced his training in Canada when he was still 17 years old.
Training and deployment
George trained in Canada, starting at 5 B&GS in March 1943 where he trained as a wireless operator air gunner before embarking for the United Kingdom at Halifax on 25 March 1944. He arrived on 2 April 1944.
He initially trained at No. 6 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Staverton from 18 April 1944 until 23 May 1944, when he transferred to 83 OTU at RAF Peplow for operational training in Wellington bombers.
Loss of Wellington LP567
On the night of 22/23 July 1944, Van Avery was part of the six-man RCAF crew of Wellington LP567, which was assigned to a cross-country night training mission. The aircraft did not return, and it was later determined that it had crashed into the sea off the coast of Wales. The aircraft had last made contact near Glasgow, Scotland, and it remains unknown why it crashed so far off course. The cause of the accident was never determined.
Recovery and commemoration
Van Every was initially listed as missing. His body washed ashore in Wales on 10 August 1944, which would have been his 19th birthday. He was buried at the RAF Regional Cemetery at Blacon, Chester, alongside the other crew members, except for Sgt Robert Andrew Johnson, whose body was never found and who is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Note that many sources including CWGC mis report his age as being 19 when he died.
Crew of LP567
George in Civilian Clothes probably when he enlisted
Aircrew application which clearly acknowledges his age
Service and Training Record
Accident Form 1
Accident Form 2
Accident Form 3
Letter notifying his death
Medical Report on his body after recovery. Note his age is given as 20
Research by Steve Merrill