John Allardyce Allen was born on 28th December 1921 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, he was the son of David and Isobel (nee Allardyce) Allen. His father was a doctor and the family moved to Toronto when John was young. After attending school and college he worked as a junior clerk for the Empire Hanna Coal Company.
He enlisted for RCAF service in Toronto on 14th December 1940 before enlisting into the RCAF. He received his commission on 9th August 1941 the day after being awarded his pilot's Wings following initial training in Canada. After completing basic training he was posted overseas arriving in the UK later the same month. After continuing his training in the UK with 17 OTU he was posted to 107 Squadron on 10th March 1942 where he completed his first Tour of operations. He rose to the rank of F/O on 9th August 1942 and F/Lt (temp) a year later. He was posted back to 17 OTU to instruct on 24th September 1942 and then undertook a training course at a Flying Instructor School in May and June 1943. He was posted back to 17 OTU on completion of this course. By November 1943 he appears to have begun conversion to fly four engined bombers as he was training at 1679 HCU in November 1943, with this complete he was posted to 432 Squadron and begun his second Tour of operations.
F/Lt Allen was not injured as a result of baling out of Lancaster DS832 on the night of 16th / 17th December 1943. He was second to leave Lancaster DS832 and saved the life of the wireless operator who had injured himself in baling out, F/Lt Allen spotted his and followed him out, realising the first out had not opened his parachute Allen had dived towards him and released it for him and saved his life.
After the Danby Beacon incident F/Lt John Allen resumed operational flying but was sadly killed over Germany on 3rd January 1944 with 432 Squadron in Lancaster DS739 on his eighth operational flight of his second Tour. He was still only twenty three years old and is now buried in Berlin War Cemetery. My thanks to Mr Graham Sharpe for the photograph of his gravestone.
His parents are listed as living in Black's Harbour, New Brunswick. Canada at the time of his death suggesting that they had moved again. While in the UK he married Honor Mary Magee, of Paddington, London, marrying in Kensington on 15th October 1943.
