Flight Sergeant John Allen Howell
A reconstruction of one Canadian airman’s journey from Montreal to wartime training in Canada, then overseas to Britain, Egypt, and the Western Desert with No. 12 Squadron SAAF.
Who Was Allen Howell?
Before he became a wireless air gunner, Allen was a young man from Quebec with a job, an education, hobbies, family, and a life still rooted in Montreal.
His service file reduces his civilian occupation to a single phrase: Junior Clerk. This exhibit expands that one line into a fuller picture of the young man who enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940.
Before the RCAF: A Young Clerk in Montreal
Allen’s pre-war life matters because it shows what he left behind. Before North Africa, before Egypt, before Halifax, and before Calgary, he was a young clerk working in Montreal.
Junior Clerk
At the time of enlistment, Allen worked as a junior clerk for Barwick Ltd., printers and stationers, a Montreal firm owned and operated by the Barwick family. Oliver William Barwick (1861-1948) and his son Angus Cameron Barwick (1895-1957) operated their business at 282 Ontario Street West, Montreal. They had promised to rehire Allen upon his return from the War.
Longueuil High School
Allen had completed Junior Matriculation at Longueuil High School. That educational background helped prepare him for the technical demands of wireless, radio, and aircrew training.
Sport, Machines, and Flight
His interests included swimming, paddling, model aircraft, engines, and sports. These details suggest a young man drawn to physical activity, mechanics, and flight.
Why This Matters
Military records often flatten a person into rank, trade, and posting dates. This section restores the civilian Allen: a teenager from Quebec whose ordinary life was interrupted by war.
Meet the Man I Knew
To his family, Allen was not only a wartime airman. He was Grampie. This exhibit holds both versions together: the young man in uniform and the grandfather remembered after the war.
Grampie
The Radio Man
Family memory described Allen as a wireless operator or communications man. His service file reveals the fuller role: Wireless Air Gunner.
A Combat Airman
Allen completed forty recorded operational sorties with No. 12 Squadron SAAF in Boston aircraft during the Western Desert campaign.
Allen’s Canadian Wartime Journey
Before North Africa, Allen moved through Canada’s wartime air training system. This map traces the Canadian places connected to his service, including Montreal, Calgary, Dafoe, Debert, Halifax, Lachine, and Three Rivers.
Becoming a Wireless Air Gunner
Allen’s family remembered him as a communications man, but his training record shows the fuller wartime role: Wireless Air Gunner.
No. 2 Wireless School
Calgary, Alberta. Allen trained in Morse code, radio procedure, aircraft communications, and airborne wireless operation.
No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School
Dafoe, Saskatchewan. This training shows that Allen was not only responsible for communications, but also trained to defend the aircraft.
Wireless Air Gunner
In combat, Allen’s role combined wireless communication, situational awareness, and air-gunnery responsibility aboard the aircraft.
North Africa Campaign Map
This map traces the landing grounds, aerodromes, and operational locations connected to Allen’s time with No. 12 Squadron SAAF.
The Crew
Combat flying was never a solo effort. Every operation depended on the skill, judgement, and teamwork of the men aboard the aircraft. Allen regularly flew with many of the same crew members, forming the relationships and trust that were essential to surviving combat operations over North Africa.
Lt. Gérard Greindl
Allen’s regular pilot throughout much of his operational flying with No. 12 Squadron SAAF.
View his Wikipedia page (French) →Sgt. Wimbridge
Sgt. Clarke
Flight Sergeant John Allen Howell
Allen served as the aircraft’s Wireless Air Gunner, responsible for communications and trained to defend the aircraft when under attack.
Sgt. Kewley
The Men Behind the Aircraft
Every sortie depended upon the mechanics, armourers, fitters, riggers and wireless technicians who prepared the aircraft before each mission.
Campaign Timeline
Allen’s wartime journey carried him from civilian life in Quebec through Canada’s air training system, across the Atlantic to Britain, into Egypt, and finally into combat with No. 12 Squadron of the South African Air Force.
Enlists in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Allen volunteered for the RCAF in Montreal at eighteen years of age.
No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary
Allen began specialist wireless training in Alberta, learning Morse code, radio procedure, and aircraft communications.
Completes Wireless Training
He completed his course at No. 2 Wireless School before moving on to bombing and gunnery training.
No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School, Dafoe
Allen trained as an air gunner, completing the second part of his Wireless Air Gunner role.
No. 1 Y Depot, Halifax
Allen reached Canada’s principal RCAF overseas embarkation depot before sailing for Britain.
Embarks Canada
Allen departed Halifax Harbour aboard the TC 12B troopship convoy sailing across the North Atlantic.
Troop Convoy Arrives in the Clyde
Convoy arrives in the Clyde, disembarkation at Greenock to trains destined to Bournemouth
No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre
Allen arrived at No. 3 PRC in Bournemouth, entering the RAF reception and training system in Britain.
Arrives in the Middle East
Allen reached Egypt, beginning the next stage of his overseas service.
Attached to No. 12 Squadron SAAF
Allen joined No. 12 Squadron of the South African Air Force in Egypt.
First Operational Sortie
Allen flew his first recorded combat operation over North Africa.
Final Recorded Operational Flight
Allen completed his fortieth recorded operational sortie.
Detached from No. 12 Squadron
His formal attachment to No. 12 Squadron came to an end.
Flight Log Explorer
Allen’s flight logbook records the aircraft, pilot, route, target, duration, and remarks for each recorded flight.
| Date | Sortie | Pilot | Aircraft | Target / Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1942 | 1 | Lt. Griendl | Boston | Derna Aerodrome | First recorded operational sortie. |
| 12 Jul 1942 | Log Entry | Lt. Griendl | Boston | LG 97 · Idku · Helwan | Communication/passenger flight involving General Auchinleck. |
| 22 Aug 1942 | 40 | Lt. Griendl | Boston | Fuka Aerodrome | Final recorded operational sortie. |
Daily Campaign Journal
The Campaign Timeline highlights the major turning points. The Daily Campaign Journal follows the experience day by day, from Allen’s arrival at No. 12 Squadron SAAF on 30 May 1942 through his final recorded operational sortie on 22 August 1942.
Each daily entry is designed to answer a larger question: when Allen woke up that morning, what world did he wake into? The entries will combine squadron records, Allen’s flight log, weather and conditions, landing ground research, wider war context, and family interpretation.
May 1942
Allen arrives at No. 12 Squadron SAAF as the Western Desert campaign enters a critical phase.
Arrival at No. 12 Squadron SAAF
Allen is attached to the South African squadron in Egypt.
First Full Day with the Squadron
Squadron activity and camp context to be added from AIR 27 and related sources.
June 1942
Allen begins operational flying as the campaign in Libya and Egypt intensifies.
Squadron Activity
Daily squadron record and wider campaign context to be added.
First Operational Sortie: Derna Aerodrome
Allen’s first recorded combat operation with No. 12 Squadron SAAF.
The Fall of Tobruk
A major Allied setback in North Africa. Add squadron and Allen-specific context.
July 1942
The squadron operates during the struggle to halt the Axis advance toward Egypt.
El Alamein Line
Daily squadron activity and front-line context to be added.
The Auchinleck Flight
Allen’s log records a communication/passenger flight involving General Auchinleck.
August 1942
Allen reaches the final days of his recorded operational flying with No. 12 Squadron SAAF.
Camp Life at LG 99
Sanitation work, enemy aircraft warnings, anti-aircraft fire, and shrapnel falling through camp.
Final Recorded Sortie: Fuka
Allen’s fortieth recorded operational sortie and final flight in his logbook for this period.
Research Sources
This exhibit is built from a combination of official military records, Allen’s personal flight log, archival squadron records, historical maps, and family memory. Where possible, this page links out to archival catalogues rather than reproducing restricted or copyrighted record images.
RCAF Service File
Allen’s official personnel file provides his postings, training, promotions, medical history, decorations, discharge details, and service summary.
Repository: Library and Archives Canada
Flight Logbook
Allen’s personal flying log records aircraft, pilots, targets, routes, dates, times, and remarks for his operational flying.
Repository: Private family collection
Landing Ground Research
Wartime landing ground numbers are mapped to modern coordinates so locations such as LG 97, LG 99, Idku, Helwan, Fuka, and Derna can be understood geographically.
Used for: Campaign map and daily entries
AIR 27 Operations Record Book (ORB)
The day-to-day operational diary of No. 12 Squadron SAAF This is the primary record used to reconstruct Allen’s daily service with No. 12 Squadron. Compiled by the squadron itself, the Operations Record Book records daily movements, operational sorties, aircraft, crews, targets, losses, administrative events, and the changing conditions experienced by the squadron during the North African Campaign.
Repository: The National Archives, UK
View AIR 27AIR 54/17–18 South African Air Force War Diaries
The wider operational record of the South African Air Force While AIR 27 records what happened within No. 12 Squadron, AIR 54/17 and AIR 54/18 place those events into the broader context of the South African Air Force in the Middle East. These records describe operational planning, campaign developments, administrative matters, and higher-level activities affecting multiple SAAF squadrons.
Repository: The National Archives, UK
View AIR 54/17 (Feb-Jun 1942) View AIR 54/18 (Jul 1942 – Apr 1943AIR 54/52 South African Air Force Intelligence Summaries
The intelligence picture surrounding Allen’s operations AIR 54/52 contains intelligence summaries prepared for the South African Air Force. These reports include information on enemy forces, operational assessments, reconnaissance, weather, target analysis, and the military situation immediately before and after operations. They help explain not only what the squadron did, but why those missions were flown.
Repository: The National Archives, UK
View AIR 54/52-1 (1942) View AIR 54/52-2 (1943)Copyright and Archival Use
Archival records are used here for interpretation, citation, and context. Where records are held by archives such as The National Archives or Library and Archives Canada, this exhibit links to the catalogue or describes the source rather than reproducing full record images without permission.
The Story Continues
Although this exhibit focuses on Allen’s operational service with No. 12 Squadron SAAF between May and August 1942, it represents only one chapter of a much larger story. His journey began in Quebec, continued through Canada’s wartime training system, crossed the Atlantic to Britain, and eventually carried him to Egypt, Palestine, and home again after the war.
Research into Allen’s service continues as new records, photographs, maps, and archival material become available. This exhibit will be updated as additional discoveries are made.
A Living Historical Record
This digital exhibit is part of the ongoing research published at MikeQuackenbush.com. Every effort has been made to distinguish between documented evidence, informed interpretation, and family memory. Where new evidence becomes available, the exhibit will be revised to reflect the best understanding of Allen’s wartime service.