Gordon Ivey was born in Athabasca, Alberta on November 28, 1920 to Garfield Ivey (born November 30, 1885 in Broadoak, Cornwall, England) and Edith Minnie (Crocker) Ivey (born March 7, 1889 in Plymouth, Devon, England). Garfield and Edith Minnie Ivey homesteaded near Ellscott, Alberta. Gordon grew up on the farm and attended school in the Ellscott/Colinton area. He had one younger sibling, Basil Charles Ivey (born October 24, 1922 in Athabasca, Alberta). Upon leaving school, Gordon worked for a time at the Municipal District of Cartier, Boyle, Alberta as an Assistant Secretary Treasurer (Book-keeper) and later as a farm hand on his father’s farm.

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On March 13, 1942, Gordon enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Edmonton, Alberta.  He was assigned Regimental #R150959. 

Gordon commenced his basic training in Edmonton at No. 4 Initial Training School (I.T.S.).  The base was located on the University of Alberta grounds.  He then travelled across Canada by train to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he was stationed at “Y” Depot for further training. 

He set sail from Halifax on the R.M.S. ANDES for the United Kingdom on January 27, 1943 to continue his operational training as a Flight Navigator.  

Gordon was promoted to Flight Sgt. (F/Sgt.) on June 18, 1943 and to Warrant Officer 2nd Class (W.O.2) on December 12, 1943. 

On January 25, 1944, Gordon was assigned to 625 Squadron, a Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) Squadron based out of Kelstern, Lincolnshire, England. The Squadron motto was “We Avenge.” 

He continued his operational training on a number of aircraft.  During his time in the United Kingdom, Gordon spent much of his leave time visiting his grandmother, aunts and uncles and other family members who were living there.  Letters reflect their admiration and appreciation for his visits as well as his strong Christian faith.  

On the evening of March 15, 1944, on his 5th operational mission, Gordon and his crew departed Kelstern in an Avro Lancaster 111 Bomber, ND637, CF-L.  The target was Stuttgart. 

The air crew consisted of: 

• • R144034, R.C.A.F. Pilot Officer F/Sgt. John Percy Bulger (Toronto, Ontario)

  • 1532964, R.A.F. Flight Engineer Sgt. Alfred William Aiston (South Africa)

  • R150959, R.C.A.F. Navigator W.O. 2 Gordon Ivey (Ellscott, Alberta)

  • J25514, R.C.A.F. Air Bomber F/O Robert Roy Jones (Medicine Hat, Alberta)

  • 1490563, R.A.F. Wireless Operator Sgt. Dennis Hewitt (United Kingdom)

  • 1678501, R.A.F. Air Gunner Sgt. John Douglas Dadswell (United Kingdom)

  • 1126142, R.A.F. Rear Gunner Sgt. Richard James Fettis (United Kingdom)

Sgt. Aiston was not a regular on Gordon’s crew.  Sgt. Bennett, the crew’s regular Flight Engineer, was ill and unable to fly on this fateful mission.  Sgt. Bennett attended the funeral services of his fallen comrades.  Sgt. Alfred Bennett #1149235 was killed April 18-19, 1944 near Kelstern, shot down by an intruder as he was returning from a mission to Rouen. He was a member of the Cosgrove crew.  

After a successful bombing run, the Gordon's crew was returning to their home base.  In the early morning hours of March 16, 1944, at an aerodrome near Branston, Lincolnshire, England, Gordon’s aircraft collided midair with another aircraft from 463 Squadron, a Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) Squadron.  That aircraft was also an Avro Lancaster 111 Bomber, ED606, JO-E. Both aircraft crashed in flames, killing all onboard instantly. 

The crew of ED606 consisted of:

• • R.A.A.F. Pilot Officer W.A. Graham

  • R.A.A.F. Flight Sgt. A.S. Humphreys

  • R.A.F. Sgt. D.M. Munro

  • R.A.F. Sgt. J.A. Coates

  • R.A.F. Sgt. J.G.B. Jameson

  • R.A.F. Sgt. H.A. Baxter 

  • R.A.F. Sgt. T.H. Jones

To be completed