Born in Chatham, ON. 24/03/1923 the son of Alexander and Alice Illman of Harvey St., Chatham, ON., brother of Don, they were living at 163 Harvey St., Chatham, Ontario, Canada.  Jack went to Central Public School and Chatham Collegiate Institute.

John enlisted in the RCAF 11/07/1941.

Jack enlisted 12/06/1941 and began his training soon after that. In May of 1942 ‘Jack’ had been on furlough at his parents before resuming his training at RCAF Rockcliffe at Ottawa, ON. CDN 31/05/42 John received his wings at Aylmer ATS. 10/04/1942 CDN 14/02/42 and from there served on the west coast at Sea Island, BC. He reported to Halifax 20/04/1943 and went overseas as a Pilot Officer and from England left for India as a Flying Officer in October of 1943. He was awarded his RCAF Operational Wings in “recognition of gallet service in actions against the enemy”.

John had his 19^th birthday in March of 1942 and four months he entered the RCAF.  Jack enlisted 12/06/1941 and began his training soon after that.

John received his wings at Aylmer ATS. 10/04/1942. CDN 14/02/42 From there served on the west coast at Sea Island, BC. In May of 1942 ‘Jack’ had been on furlough at his parents before resuming his training at RCAF Rockcliffe at Ottawa, ON. CDN 31/05/42  It was reported in the CDN 4/07/42 Sgt. Pilot Illman was attached to the 132^nd Fighting Squadron on the west coast. He flew a “Kitty Hawk” aircraft from Ottawa over the Rockies. Jack received his Wings 10^th of April at Aylmer, ON. Since then he was stationed at Rockcliffe, Ottawa.

He reported to Halifax 20/04/1943 and went overseas as a Pilot Officer and from England left for India as a Flying Officer in October of 1943. He was awarded his RCAF Operational wings in “recognition of gallet service in actions against the enemy”.

Mr. and Mrs. Illman received notice that their son was “missing after air operations over Japanese held territory on March 22. Additional information indicated that his Hurricane fighter was seen making a forced landing on an enemy air strip. He had been involved in operations against recent Japanese thrusts into India. CDN 27/03/44

The following is the incident report of F/O Illman’s last mission from the Officer Commanding RAF Squadron 113:

       P415098

F. B. HURRICAN IIC. LB-793 F/O. J. A. ILLMAN

MISSING BELIEVED PRISONER OF WAR – 22.3.44

The above named officer was pilot of one of three aircraft of 113 Squadron, which were airbourne at Palel, Manipur State, at 14.35 hours, 22^nd March 1944, for a bombing mission with nine aircraft of 34 Aquadron. The R/T call signs and numbers of the aircraft were Negro Yellow one, two, three.

At approximately 16.45 hours, the mission presumably having been carried out, a request for an emergency homing was heard over the R/T, but the fact that there was another “Negro Yellow” section in the air at the same time, led to some confusion. Receiving no reply, and presumably being short of petrol, the three pilots were heard to decide to land at a strip that they had just seen. The strip was Tams and was occupied occupied by the Japanese. The formation had encountered very bad weather and had been obliged to make detours. Long range tanks were not carried.

A reconnaissance trips made by 34 Squadron reported that there were three Hurricanes at Tams. These were straffed the following day. Nothing futher has been heard of the pilots.

Sgd. R. Courtney

Squardron Leader, Commanding,

No.113 Squadron, RAF.

Date of Death: 22/03/1944, Killed in Hurricane fighter # LB 793, ran out of fuel over India and landed at an enemy aerodrome. No known grave. John was 21 years old when he died, two days before his 21^st birthday.

A more complete description of the incident involving the three aircrew of Negro Yellow is from the only survivor of the mission. As follows:

F. B. HURRICAN IIC. KX-922. F/SGT. H. CLEMNT 1215624 (RAF)

REJOINED UNIT 6/4/44.

I was pilot of Hurricane IIC. KX.922, one of the a/c of 113 Squadron, which were a/b at Palel, Manipur State, at 14.36 hrs. 22.3.44 for a bombing mission with 34 Squadron. The H.T. callsigns and umbers of the a/c were Negro Yellow 1,2, and 3. I was Negro Yellow 3, and we were being led by 3 a/c of 34 Squadron, Red 1, 2,and 3.

2. All 6 a/c stayed together till the target was reached, and then Red Section went into bombing first. After they had bombed, our section went into bomb and strafe. Well we engaged over the target Red section decieded to go back to base independent of our section. Red Leader gave us a course to steer for base (215 degrees) and asked if we were O.K. Yellow leader replied in the affirmative and and we formed up and set course 215 deg. We stayed on this course for quite a time, flying just below 10/10 cloud about 1,000 ft. above the tops of the mountains, encountering several thunderstorms which we detoured. We were asked again by Red Leader if everything was O.K. and our reply was in the affirmative. We passed a landing strip 2 miles or so on the Eastern side at a height of 2,000 ft. and continued flying down the valley we were in, for several minutes. By this time we were getting very short of fuel and the leader decided to ask for homing (emergency) while we were more or less circling. He did so several times on Channel ‘B’ and received no reply. He then asked Y2 and myself to do the same, which we did, again receiving no reply. Our height was approx. 2,000 ft. above the ground. Yellow 2 then suggested that we return to the strip we had previously seen and the leader set course to the N for the strip. We reached same after about 10 Mins flying and Y2 went down to investigate its serviceability. He reported it suitable for landing and the leader landed first from S to N followed by Y2 and myself. Y2 and myself parked our machines outside some a/c bays at the N end of the strip on the E side, whilst the leader taxied around a clearing at the N end to investigate some drums he had seen. He returned and parked his machine in between myself and Y2’s. All my gauges read zero. We all switched off, and gathered round the main plane of the centre machine to discuss our whereabouts. The leader thought we were on some emergency landing strip in some continuation of the Imphal valley to the N. I noted landing time to be 16.30 Hrs by my watch. After about 20 Mins we walked about 100 yds to the N to investigate these drums previously seen by leader and found them empty. Then leader and Y2 decieded to investigate a path leading through the woods on the N side of the strip to try and find some sign of life, whilst I remained around the strip. I asked them to return before 18.00 Hrs and accompanied them across the runway to the beginning of the track. Then they went away, and I investigated more drums in an a/c bay some 50 yds. From the track to the N on the W side of the strip, and found them empty. I returned to the track and sat down in a small hut to have a smoke. The a/c were almost directly opposite on the other side of the strip. At approx.. 17.30 Hrs I heard the a/c, a Hurricane approaching. It flew overhead at 400 ft approx. and I rushed onto the track and waved to it. Almost simultaneously 5 shots were heard from the direction of the woods to the S.W small arms fire. I turnedaround and saw 2 Japs heads behind a bush some 100 yds away. I first thought they were Ghurkas but they were wearing oval shaped steel helmetsand I dived for cover some yds from the track to the S not far from the edge of the strip.

3. I did not see or hear of F/O Herbert or F/O Illman after they had left me. The shots I heard came from the vicinity of where I presumed these two officers to be.

Sd/ – H. Clement.     

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Index of Overseas Deaths, They Shall Not Grow Old, IODE, CCI-RH, Donald J. Illman (brother) Chatham, ON.
Supplemental Information	Born in Chatham, ON. 24/03/1923 the son of Alexander and Alice Illman of Harvey St., Chatham, ON., brother of Don, they were living at 163 Harvey St., Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 442. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL.

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