Born in 1920 in Toronto, ON., the son of James Patrick and Elizabeth Henderson. He was the brother of Margaret, Jeannie and Don.

Jim enlisted in the RCAF at the age of 19 years. It happened that the recruiting officer in London was a man who Jim had swept floors for in Wallaceburg. He picked the air force because it was something new, unlike the army and navy that had been around for a ling time. Jim said, “If you could prove that you went to school, you were in.

He began his training at Weyburn SK.and North Battleford SK., generally he said, “Training took nine months to a year depending on the trainee’s aptitude.” He trained for flying on the Avro Ansen a twin-engined bomber trainer. Jim had his graduation at Haggersville, ON where he received his Wings. The WN 20/08/42 reported that LAC Henderson was visiting his parents Mr. and Mrs. Pat Henderson of Wallaceburg.

On his first operational flight Jim asked himself “What in the world am I doing here?” On bombing missions Jim flew the four engined  British Avro Lancaster. The usual requirement for a bomber pilot and crew was 31 combat missions, James completed 63. Beside the dangers of enemy fighters and anti-aircraft five  he was involved in five crashes, one in  particular was very harrowing.

On an attack on Hamburg, Germany “We were flying over the target and came under heavy fire. The aircraft was unfire and the only way to put to the flames was to set down in the North Sea.” Which Jim did and he spent three days in a life raft for three days before being rescued.

Pilot Henderson saw a lot of action across Europe before being stationed in North Africa in 1942. “The RAF put us in spots where we were needed. We were mostly in the desert, not the cities or towns and sometimes provisions didn’t make it. Water was a big thing, food in the desert spoils very fast in the desert.”   

There were ‘breaks’ between missions for bomber crew after five missions they could get seven days off. Crews were no strangers tragedy even when not on “Ops” James was “witness to a crash landing of a bomber that claimed the lives of all of the crew members on board.”

He would meet another pilot while in England, a woman from Wales who was interested in Canada. The meeting turned into a romance and marriage ensued. Tragically after eighteen months of marriage her plane was shot down.

James continued to fly right up to the German surrender in May of 1945. He would be promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader. His war was over. After crossing the Atlantic and by train to Chatham where his family was there to greet him.

He settled back in his hometown of Wallaceburg where he married Margaret (nee Cornelis (2012) and started a family. James was father and father-in-law of Becky, David, Cindy, Debbie and Peggy.

Like other members of Bomber Command he was aware of the “Bomber Command” bar to be attached to his Canadian Volunteer Service medal awarded 16 Sept. 2013.          

Served from 1939 – 45. James was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in North Africa, Italy and Europe flying 64 missions and was shot down over the north Sea.

Discharged from the RCAF in 1945. CDN 26/09/45.

He was alive and well in 2013 at the age of 93 years. CTW 6/11/13.

Alive and well in November 2016 Jim was interviewed by Mary Beth Corcoran of The Chatham Voice.   

James Douglas Henderson passed away 10 May, 2018. CDN-Obit.(P) at the age of 97 years.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Awards	DFC
Sources	2KRMR, CDN,, TCV, CTW, 2KRMR [A470555], WRH-MW, WN, TBD-RH
Supplemental Information	Appears on the ‘Muster Roll’ of the 2nd Bn., Kent Regiment (MG), N.P.A.N. (date unknown).

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