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| Casualty No.: |
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Ranks: |
Sergeant Flight Engineer |
Initials: |
J |
Service No.: |
1777165 |
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| Date of Birth : |
- |
Place of Birth : |
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Age at Death: |
22 |
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| Unit: |
97 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. |
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| Place Enlisted: |
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| Place of Residence: |
Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
1 Allen Terrace, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
|
| Civilian Employment: |
Worked at J.L. Morley's, Main Street, Crawcrook, collecting shoe repairs and accumulators. |
| How Died: |
Killed in action |
| Date of Death: |
Thursday 8th February 1945 |
| Place of Death: |
Netherlands |
| Battle/Campaign: |
Undertaking air operations. |
| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Emma Colliery Memorial, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
St John's Church, Roll of Honour, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Font, at Robert Young Memorial Methodist Church, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| UK Commemorated: |
- |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery, |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1939-45 Star. Air Crew Europe Star. War Medal. |
| Photographs: |
1 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
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| Family Details: |
Son of John and Lavinia Shield, of 1 Allen Terrace, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Brother: Thomas.
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| Notes : |
The Shield family were well known within the district and were connected with the Crawcrook Methodist Church where their father, John, was a preacher. Their mother was from Allendale, Northumberland, and was a keen member of the Crawcrook Church Women's Choir. Jonathan was educated at Emmaville and Ryton Schools. Brother, Thomas, was also serving with the RAF.
Jonathan was on board Lancaster 111 ND931 that took off from RAF Coningsby, at 21 05 hours on the 7th February 1945. The mission was to attack the Dortmund Ems Canal, near Ladbergen, in Germany. Whilst flying over the target area the Lancaster collided with another Lancaster, 111 PB181OL C that was part of 83 Squadron which had also taken off from RAF Coningsby. Both of the aircraft crashed at Best (Noor d Brabant) and all nine crew members were killed. All of the crew members from the other Lancaster were also killed apart from Flight Lieutenant A.P. Webber who was thrown clear by the impact and landed by parachute. He eventually returned to England.
Both bomber crews are buried in cemeteries at Nederweert, and Eindhoven, Holland.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register.
Blaydon Courier, 16th March 1945.
Newcastle Journal, 12th March 1945.
Information from family members.
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