Sergeant John Lewis Troman was serving as Wireless Operator on 17/18^th of August 1943 aboard Halifax Mk.V DK243 coded ZL-F when it took off from Leeming at 2125hrs. It was part of an operation to destroy the secret research centre at Peenemunde where the Germans were developing the V2 rocket. The raid was a success and delayed production of the V2. After the Halifax had bombed the target, it was attacked by a JU88 night-fighter. The Halifax attempted to dive and escape but was hit by fire. The order was given to bale out and the Halifax crashed at Wusterhausen,3km South of Lubmin. Five of the seven men aboard were killed, including Sgt John Troman.

The crew consisted of:

Name	Service	Trade	Hometown	Age
Sgt Francis Brady	RCAF	Pilot	Quebec City, Quebec	21
Sgt Ifor Pugh	RAFVR	Flight Engineer	Bontddu,Merionethshire,Wales	19
Sgt R. Charman - POW	RCAF	Navigator	-	-
Sgt R. Johnson - POW	RCAF	Bomb Aimer	-	-
Sgt John Troman	RCAF	W/Op/AG	Lethbridge,Alberta	28
Sgt Orville McIntyre	RCAF	Air Gunner	New Norway, Alberta	27
Sgt James Fletcher	RCAF	Air Gunner	-

 Sgt John Lewis Troman as the eldest son of Samuel and Louisa (nee Moore) Troman of Lethbridge, Alberta. His father, Samuel immigrated to Canada from Sunnybrow, Co Durham, working as a mines inspector, fighting in WW1, in the Canadian Army Signals Corps, before being wounded and discharged in 1918.

 On December 25^th 1941 John married Jessie of Vancouver, British Columbia. He enlisted in the RCAF in 1942, training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner before joining 427 squadron at Leeming, England.

 While in England, John was to visit his relations including his grandmother, Margaret Troman

John with brother Sammy

 His brother Sammy, also a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in the RCAF was killed three months later in November 1943. One other brother, Louis, also enlisted as a Wireless operator/Air Gunner in 1942,serving overseas and returning to Canada in 1945. He died in 1978.

John  Troman's grave.