FLYING OFFICER JOHN WILLIAM DOWNS  RCAF  SERVICE NUMBER J.12886

Pictured L-R: Bill Wake, Ron Lewis-Lavender, 'Brush' John Downs, Reg Windett, Mike Wagstaffe (Wellington aircraft in the background). This photo received courtesy of Bill Wake.

  A tragic story of a 458 hero. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his family, friends, country.  We are grateful to our Canada Flight Correspondents Cate and Adam, who have written a great article about F/O John (Jack) Downs in our recent Newsletter #272, pages 2-8. We welcome the family to Contact us to add more content to this/his webpage.

 Footnote: from https://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage/history/fallen-aviators/rcaf-casualties-second-world-war/doidge-to-dwyer/

DOWNS, JOHN WILLIAM F/O(P) J12886. From Welland, Ontario. Died Sep 27, 1943 age 21. #458 Australia Squadron. Death by natural causes(*) while in the #1 RAF General Hospital. Flying Officer Pilot Downs was buried on the Borgel Cemetery, Tunis, exhumed, and reburied in the Medez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia.

                     *Our current (2024) Co-President Bill Wake, who was in John's crew, mentions in his video message (at the 2022 Squadron Reunion in Williamtown, NSW) his admiration for captain "Brush" John Downs, and that very sadly, he had died from malaria. A tragic story of another 458 hero. RIP.