R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton

An American volunteer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Sergeant John Paul Merton served as an air bomber with No. 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force, during the Allied bomber offensive of 1943. Operating from RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire, the squadron flew Vickers Wellington bombers on night raids over occupied Europe as part of Bomber Command. On the night of 16 April 1943, Merton’s aircraft, Wellington Mk III HE862, was lost over the English Channel. According to later reports, he was rescued but succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, which honors airmen with no known grave.


Worn black crackle Zippo, hand engraved on the front with «JPM». The lighter bears the initials of Sergeant Merton, reflecting a personal keepsake carried during his service. After his death, the lighter was returned to his wife and family in the United States, where it was later sold by a relative. It's preserving the memory of a young American who gave his life flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the skies over Europe.

  • Model:

    four barrel hinge, flat bottom

  • Year:

    1942 - 43

  • Status:

    in collection

Vorderseite von R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton, Modell four barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1942 - 43, Bild 1Vorderseite von R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton, Modell four barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1942 - 43, Bild 2Vorderseite von R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton, Modell four barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1942 - 43, Bild 3Vorderseite von R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton, Modell four barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1942 - 43, Bild 4Vorderseite von R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton, Modell four barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1942 - 43, Bild 5Vorderseite von R.C.A.F. 166 Squadron – Sgt John Paul Merton, Modell four barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1942 - 43, Bild 6