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- R/139233, Flight Sergeant (pilot), RCAF serving with 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Halifax Bombers) was shot down on a bombing raid over the Ruhr on 19 November 1943. He was 25 years of age.
The Ruhr was Germany's industrial heartland which made it a prime target for Bomber Command & a top priority for German air & ant- aircraft defense.
THE BARRIE EXAMINER
Obitituary: February 1944
"Flight Sergeant McCUTCHEON believed killed"
Mr. Mrs. J.A. McCUTCHEON, 524 Albert Street E, Sault Ste. Marie, recently received word from RCAF Casualties Officer that German sources have informed the International Red Cross that their son, Flt-Sgt. Franklin Tees McCutcheon (R-139233) lost his life on November 19. No other particulars were given & pending further confirmation, their son is now for official purposes considered "Missing, believed Killed."
Flight-Sgt. McCUTCHEON was captain & pilot of a 4 engine aircraft which was sent to bomb targets in the German Ruhr on November 19 & on November 22 his parents were notified that he was missing from his aerial operation which was his third over enemy territory. Three members of his crew have already turned up as prisoners of war & among these is the only other Canadian, the bomb-aimer. Flight-Sgt. McCUTCHEON had previously taken part in the big raids over Hanover & Kassel & in this later raid, which was on the night of his 25th birthday, his plane was badly chopped by flak, but he managed to pilot it back to its bomber-base in England.
The young airman had done exceedingly well in his training, having got the highest assessment in his class before being attached to the RAF. In a letter received from his Commanding Officer, high tribute was paid to his zeal & conscientiousness & in furtherance, the officer stated that "he was a pilot of very great promise."
Flight-Sgt. McCUTCHEON was born at Bruce Mines, Ontario, but prior to joining the Air-force, spent the greater part of his life in Sault Ste. Marie & Barrie. He attended Alex Muir Public School & SCI Sault Ste. Marie & BCI in Barrie. At the time of his enlistment, he was employed by National Steel Car, Hamilton. A brother, Harold, RCAF, after having spent 18 months over-seas in ground-crew duties, has been recently repatriated for the purpose to re-muster to aircrew & is now stationed at No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto. Another brother, Wallace, is in Sault Ste. Marie.
Flight-Sgt. McCUTCHEON enlisted in Hamilton, Ontario, & trained in Cap de la Madeleine & Victoriaville, Quebec, & was winged by the Governor-General in St. Hubert in December 1942 & proceeded overseas during the following month.
Frank McCUTCHEON is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. He is also memorialized on page 189 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa.
Ref: Barrie Examiner & research by ADAM McARTHUR. - - -
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1918 - 1943 (25 years)