Flying Officer Michael Francis Griffin
Missing, presumed Killed in WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Michael Francis Griffin was born at Montreal, Quebec, on 23 March 1914. Before the war he completed commercial schooling and worked as a clerk, becoming chief clerk with Nichols Chemical Co., Valleyfield, Quebec He married Eileen I. McIntosh at Montreal on 6 September 1941, and their son Michael David was born at Winnipeg on 11 January 1944. Griffin enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 7 October 1942 and trained as an air bomber. He received his Air Bomber badge and was commissioned Pilot Officer on 26 November 1943. He embarked for overseas service from Halifax on 10 April 1944, was promoted Flying Officer on 26 May 1944, and joined 103 Squadron on 27 November 1944. On 5 March 1945, during air operations over Chemnitz, Germany, his aircraft was lost. Returned crew reported that Griffin was the first to bale out and appeared to do so successfully, but he was never seen again and was later presumed dead as of that date. With no known grave, Flying Officer Griffin is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
J38819
Cause of Death (in war):
Missing, presumed Killed
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
103 Squadron
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Montreal, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
28 years 6 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
30 years 11 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
30 years 11 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Chief clerk
Next of Kin:
Eileen McIntosh Griffin (wife), 2 Nichelson Street, Valleyfield, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
2 Nichelson Street, Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 11.3 in / 181 cm
Weight:
167 lbs / 76 kg
Chest:
36.0 in / 91 cm
Expansion:
4.0 in / 10 cm
Marital Status:
Married
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Missing after air operations over Chemnitz, Germany, on 5 March 1945. Returned crew stated that Griffin, the bomb aimer, was the first to bale out and appeared to do so successfully, but he was never seen again. One crew questionnaire described the aircraft loss as a collision on the bomb run; later casualty correspondence described it as shot down.
Length of Service:
880 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Flying Officer |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
103 Squadron |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Temporary Sergeant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
|
|
|
|
| Source records specify Temporary Sergeant (Paid); normalized rank stored as Temporary Sergeant. |
| WW2 |
Pilot Officer |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman Second Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
|
|
Canadian Forces |
|
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
1939-45 Star |
Import |
|
|
Service Award Card p. 23 |
| WW2 |
France and Germany Star |
Import |
|
|
Service Award Card p. 23 |
| WW2 |
Defence Medal |
Import |
|
|
Service Award Card p. 23 |
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-45 |
Import |
|
|
Service Award Card p. 23 |
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
Import |
|
|
Service Award Card p. 23 |
Service Chronology
1914-03-23 — Born
1941-09-06 — Married Eileen I. McIntosh
1942-07-18 — Signed R.C.A.F. application for flying duties
1942-10-07 — Attested/enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as Aircraftman 2nd Class, R195041
1942-12-01 — Completed Pre-Aircrew Education Course; passed English, Science and Mathematics and was recommended for aircrew training
1942-12-05 — Struck off strength No. 13 Recruiting Centre and posted to No. 5 Manning Depot
1943-01-21 — Posted from No. 5 Manning Depot to No. 15 Elementary Flying Training School
1943-01-22 — Posted from No. 5 Manning Depot to No. 1 Service Flying Training School
1943-04-03 — Posted from No. 1 Service Flying Training School to No. 6 Initial Training School
1943-05-29 to 1943-06-21 — Attended No. 6 Initial Training School, Course 16
1943-07-10 — Posted from No. 6 Initial Training School to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School
1943-10-16 — Posted from No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School to No. 5 Air Observer School
1943-11-26 — Appointed Temporary Sergeant (Paid), received Air Bomber badge, and commissioned Pilot Officer
1943-12-10 — Struck off strength No. 5 Air Observer School, Winnipeg, and posted to No. 1 Y Depot, Halifax
1944-01-17 — Posted to No. 3 A.G.T.S.
1944-02-02 — Posted to No. 1 A.G.T.S.
1944-02-17 — Posted to No. 1 Y Depot
1944-04-10 — Embarked from Halifax for overseas service
1944-04-18 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom
1944-04-19 — Taken on strength No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre
1944-05-26 — Promoted Flying Officer
1944-05-30 — Posted from No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre to No. 9 (O) Advanced Flying Unit
1944-09-29 — Posted through No. 11 Base to 1658 Conversion Unit
1944-11-27 — Posted from 1658 Conversion Unit to 103 Squadron
1945-03-05 — Reported missing after air operations over Chemnitz; Griffin was first to bale out and appeared to do so successfully but was not seen again
1945-11-06 — Certificate of Presumption of Death issued, presuming death on or since 5 March 1945
1947-02-14 — Operational Wings Certificate sent to his widow in recognition of operational service
1952-06-30 — Widow advised that he had no known grave and would be commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Notes
Born at Montreal, Quebec, on 23 March 1914. Completed primary school, three years of commercial high school, and a four-month commercial course at O'Sullivan's Business College. He was out of work from 1930 to 1932, worked as a clerk for Atlas Construction Co. from 1932 to 1940, and as chief clerk for Nichols Chemical Co. from 1940 until enlistment. The file contains service photographs on PDF pages 19 and 21.
Additional Service Notes
Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 7 October 1942 and trained for aircrew duties as an air bomber. He completed the Pre-Aircrew Education Course at the University of Montreal on 1 December 1942, then Initial Training, Bombing and Gunnery, and Air Observer School training in Canada. He received his Air Bomber badge and was commissioned Pilot Officer on 26 November 1943. He embarked from Halifax on 10 April 1944, disembarked in the United Kingdom on 18 April, completed further operational training, and was promoted Flying Officer on 26 May 1944. He joined 103 Squadron on 27 November 1944. He was reported missing after air operations over Chemnitz, Germany, on 5 March 1945. Returned crew stated that he was the first to bale out and appeared to do so successfully, but no further trace of him was found.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Married Eileen I. McIntosh at Montreal, Quebec, on 6 September 1941. At enlistment Eileen McIntosh Griffin was listed at 2 Nichelson Street, Valleyfield, Quebec. Their son Michael David Griffin was born at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 11 January 1944. The 1945 Estates Branch family statement lists his father Michael Griffin, age 66, living at 1195 Smith Street, Montreal; his mother Mary Ann Griffin (née Woodlock) had died on 29 January 1929. It also lists brother John Joseph Griffin and sisters Mary Griffin, Margaret Griffin and Helen Griffin at 1195 Smith Street, Montreal. Eileen and Michael David were then at 2047 Coleraine Street, Montreal. Other wartime correspondence records additional addresses as the family moved.
Son of Michael and Mary Anne Griffin, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada; husband of Eileen Griffin.
Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-09-19 02:05:03
by: marc
