William Avery "Billy" Bishop, VC.

One of Canada's great pilots from that period is William Avery "Billy" Bishop, VC.

"It was the mud, I think, that made me take to flying I had succeeded in getting myself mired to the knees when suddenly, from somewhere out of the storm, appeared a trim little aeroplane.

It landed hesitatingly in a nearby field as if scorning to brush its wings against so sordid a landscape, then away again up into the clean grey mists.

How long I stood there gazing into the distance I do not know, but when I turned to slog my way back through the mud my mind was made up. I knew there was only one place to be on such a day - up above the clouds in the summer sunshine.

Within a few months, Billy transferred from the 7^th Canadian Mounted Rifles to Royal Flying Corps as an observer. It was not long before he became an ace, with seventy-two victories. William A. Bishop,Winged Warfare by William Avery Bishop

Wing Commander William "Billy" Barker, VC

William'Billy' Barker, VC

An early First World War ace, William 'Billy' Barker, VC was killed in 1930 while demonstrating an aircraft to the RCAF

Billy grew up around Dauphin Manitoba, working on the family farm and sawmill. He had a natural ability for horseback riding and shooting while on the move. He became a First World War ace. His RCAF commissioned number in 1924 was 2!

Billy Barker is the most decorated military person in Canadian history: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order with Bar, Military Cross and 2 Bars, Mentioned in Dispatches 3 times, French Croix de Guerre and Italian Star of Valour.

Billy was president of Fairchild Aircraft Canada. He was killed in a crash while demonstrating a Fairchild KR to the RCAF at Rockcliffe Ontario.

Norville Evert Small

His friends called him "Molly".

When Squadron Leader Small promised he would do better next time, he was true to his word. After failing to deliver a coup de grace versus the U-boat in April 1942, he re-evaluated Air Force anti-submarine tactics off the coast of Canada. He had learned by trial and error that bombs with contact fuses were useless against U-boats; however, depth charges triggered by water pressure (hydrostatic detonation at a specific depth) would inflict more damage.

In addition, he recognized that Allied aircraft, painted with dark colours might be less visible in the sky if their undersides were painted white instead. He noted that attacking from high altitude - from 5,000 feet instead of one hundred feet would also increase the element of surprise.

In July 1942, he and his Hudson bomber crew caught U754 unaware. Unnoticed by the U-boat crew, Small dove from altitude and released a cluster of depth charges straddling the submarine.

Fifty-five minutes later, his report noted, a further heavy explosion took place where the depth charges had exploded, and Small's crew became the first anti-submarine aircraft crew in the RCAF to destroy a U-boat. Ted Barris website

FlightLieutenant David Hornell, VC

David Hornell, VC

David Hornell was a Sunday school teacher from Mimico (Toronto), whose dedication to duty and the welfare of his crew is unquestionable.

Flight Lieutenant Hornell's Victoria Cross citation begins: "Flight Lieutenant Hornell was captain, and first pilot of a twin engine amphibian aircraft engaged in anti-submarine patrol in northern waters. After several hours, the patrol sighted a fully surfaced U-boat travelling at high speed on the port beam. Flight-Lieutenant Hornell at once turned to attack. The U-Boat altered course. The aircraft had been seen and there could be no surprise. The U-boat began anti-aircraft fire, which became increasingly fierce and accurate.

At a range of 1,200 yards the front guns of the aircraft replied, then the starboard gun jammed, leaving only one gun effective. Hits were obtained on and around the conning tower of the U-boat, but the aircraft itself was hit, two large holes appeared in the starboard wing.

Ignoring the enemy's fire, Flight Lieutenant Hornell carefully maneuvered for the attack. Oil was pouring from his starboard engine that was, by this time, on fire, as was the starboard wing; and the petrol tanks were in danger. Meanwhile, the aircraft was hit repeatedly by the U-boat's guns. The aircraft had multiple holes, was vibrating significantly, and was difficult to control.

Despite the risks, the captain decided to continue the attack, aware that their chances of escape were diminishing. He flew his aircraft low and released depth charges accurately, causing the U-boat to rise out of the water before sinking. The crew was seen in the sea."

Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett

Air Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett, CB, CBE, DSO (14 September 1910 -15 September 1986) was an Australian aviation pioneer and bomber pilot who rose to be the youngest Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Air Force. He led the "Pathfinder Force" (No. 8 Group RAF) from 1942 to the end of the Second World War in 1945. He has been described as "one of the most brilliant technical airmen of his generation: an outstanding pilot, a superb navigator who was also capable of stripping a wireless set or overhauling an engine". Wikipedia

In 1940, Don Bennett became flying superintendent of the Atlantic Ferry Organization "ATFERO", headquartered at Dorval in Montreal by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Bennett led the first group of 7 Hudsons flying in formation across the Atlantic in Hudson T9422.

Major Sir Frederick Grant Banting

Sir Frederick Grant Banting

Every Canadian knows, or ought to, that Frederick Banting and his lab student Charles Best isolated insulin, saving millions of lives. But most did not know that he was instrumental in establishing the new field of aviation medicine.

This story is about Major Sir Frederick Banting travelling to the UK in early 1941. Banting had researched high altitude illnesses and designed the first oxygen mask that did not freeze at low temperatures. On his team was Wilbur Franks who pioneered the early flight suits. University of Toronto History.

Banting's transatlantic flight in Hudson Mark III T9449 experienced engine trouble and was forced to return to Gander Newfoundland, but it crashed before landing taking Major Bantings life.

John Gillespie Magee

John Gillespie Magee was an American child of Christian missionaries born in China. At the outbreak of war, he felt a call to a just war. Because the USA was not officially involved, John enlisted in the RCAF and flew with 412 Squadron and was Killed in a Flying Accident in 1941, while flying out of Friston UK in AD291, a Mark Vb Spitfire. He is remembered for his famous poem "High Flight" which is so often recited at Remembrance Day services across the English-speaking world.

Claude Weaver III

In early 1941 Claude, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma got in trouble with the law in grade 11. The judge offered him a choice of discipline through military service or juvenile detention. The USA had not entered the war, but Claude wanted to fly and RCAF it was. He enlisted, trained and was eventually Killed in Action flying a Mark IX Spitfire MA642 over France. But Claude had also been shot down over Italy, escaped from an Italian prison camp and returned to Britain to fight again.

This well told story, from American RCAF Warriors was graciously offer to CASPIR by Tom Walsh.

Oswald Alfred Luce

The war against Japan in the far east is so beyond our imagination today. Oswald Alfred Luce was taken prisoner in 1942 and his story which is captured in CASPIR is beyond reasonable description.

Oswald, born in the UK, came with his family to St Catharines as a small child. Oswald was an amateur radio enthusiast and became a radio operator with the RCAF. He was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in 1942. He gave a detailed interview to a medical researcher from McMaster University. It is captured here and offers insight into Japanese PoW experience. These PoWs were seen by their captors as slaves, who could be worked until dead. Disease was rampant and untreated. But the interview shows that his spirit was unbroken.

Air Commodore Leonard Joseph Birchall

Leonard Birchall, CM, OBE, DFC

Leonard Joseph Birchall "Birch", a young man from St Catharines Ontario, always wanted to fly. In 1933 he became a Gentleman Cadet at Royal Military College in Kingston and gradually worked his up to become an RCAF pilot.

In April 1943 he was assigned a patrol over the Indian Ocean. After 12 hours aloft in their Catalina (Canso AJ155) they spotted something on the horizon. Going perilously close, they discovered it was the Japanese fleet including several aircraft carriers. Their target was the Royal Navy, at anchor in Columbo Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Birch pressed so close that they were strafed by Japanese Zero fighters launched from the approaching carriers.

But the message got back to base, and the next Pearl Harbour was avoided. Leonard Joseph Birchall was "The Saviour of Ceylon".

He retired from the RCAF in 1967 as Air Commodore.

Robert Hampton Gray, VC

On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was bombed with the first atomic weapon ever used in warfare. On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki received the last atomic bomb used in war. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced via radio the surrender of Japan.

On August 9, 1945, Robert Hampton Gray "Hammy" was Killed in Action while successfully attacking and sinking a Japanese destroyer.

Acting Lieutenant Gray was awarded the VC when he flew his Corsair IV aircraft KD658 115-X into a hail of cannon and machine gun fire during an attack on the Japanese destroyer escort Amakusa anchored in Onagawa Bay. The aircraft was hit, appeared to catch fire and one of the two 500 lb. bombs was shot off, Acting Lieutenant Gray righted the aircraft and pressed on with his attack. At an altitude of 50 feet, he released his remaining bomb which resulted in the sinking of the Amakusa, as he was weaving out of the area his aircraft was hit again, flicked over and dove into the ocean, there was no time for him to bail out.

Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, VC

Ian's family was from Britain, but he was born in Calgary before they returned to the UK.

On his 58th mission on 4 August 1944, Ian Bazalgette was a Master Bomber for a daylight raid against V-1 rocket storage caves at Trossy Saint-Maximin, France, 40 km north of Paris. As he neared the target, his Lancaster bomber ND811 came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Both starboard engines failed, and a major fire broke out. Two other Master bombers had been shot-down, leaving Bazalgette next to mark the target.

Bazalgette pressed on, accurately marking and bombing the target. After he dropped his bombs, his aircraft went into a spin, out of control. He managed to regain control of his aircraft, but the inner port engine failed, and the starboard wing was aflame. Bazalgette ordered his crew to bail out as he searched for a place to land safely. Four crew members parachuted to safety and evaded capture by the Germans, but two wounded ones could not. Bazalgette managed to land his bomber safely near Senantes, but it exploded immediately, killing him and the other two crew members aboard. Canadian Encyclopedia

Robert Allan Anderson

Anderson was a prairie boy from south-western Manitoba. He was trained as an air gunner and assigned to mid-upper in a Halifax LW692. He traded with his friend Paul Bourcier and became a rear gunner. On April 21, 1944, on a bombing mission to Lens, France, they were off course and flew over Dieppe enroute to the target. Dieppe was a heavily guarded naval facility, and they took flak and were shot down. Anderson's son Bill has recorded the events of his father's war-time experience, and we have offered them here. From the night he was shot down, landing just offshore, to riding in the back of the German truck next to the coffins of his former crew members, to the long march from Stalag Luft 3 as the sound of the Russian guns could be heard in the distance, to finally coming home. It is all in CASPIR.

Andrew Mynarski, VC

Andy was a son of a Polish immigrant who grew up just north of the Arlington bridge in Winnipeg Manitoba. The story about Mynarski being awarded the Victoria Cross is as much about his best friend and rear gunner on Lancaster KB726 as it is about Andrew. Even though they were shot down in June 1944, the VC was not issued and written in the London Gazette until October 11, 1946. The story of Pat Brophy's survival in the frozen rear turret as the hydraulics were out, is a miracle. Pat fully expected to die as he was trapped in the rear turret, but by some miracle he survived the crash landing, went on to work with the French underground and after the war nominated his best friend Mynarski for the Victoria Cross. It was a long shot, but the citation reads:

Pilot Officer Mynarski must have been fully aware that in trying to free the rear gunner he was almost certain to lose his own life. Despite this, with outstanding courage and complete disregard for his own safety, he went to the rescue. Willingly accepting the danger; Pilot Officer Mynarski lost his life by a most conspicuous act of heroism which called for valour of the highest order.

Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson

Guy Gibson

Guy Penrose Gibson, born in Cornwall, England, was a fierce, iron-willed character. He was the Squadron Leader of 617 Dambuster Squadron and led the squadron on the famous Operation Chastise on May 16/17, 1943. A great aviator and a stubborn "don't take no for an answer" officer. Don't believe the smooth character in the movie version. Guy is in CASPIR because he was killed in KB267, a pure Bomber version of the Mosquito manufactured in Downsview Ontario Canada.

Edward James Wright

Ted Wright had been independent since aged fourteen.

Edward "Ted" was born in 1928 but stated on his enlistment papers that he was born in 1925. He had permission from his parents to enlist. He passed his physical and in late 1943 he trained as an air gunner - he was 14 years old.

On April 30, 1945, 8 days before VE day, Ted perished in the training crash of Lancaster KB879 flying with 428 Squadron out of Middleton St George. He was the youngest Canadian aviator to die in the Second World War.

Thomas Andrew Thorrat

Acting Pilot Officer Thomas Andre Thorrat of the RAF was on a routine NATO training exercise in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. He was engaged to be married to Donna Brodie of Moose Jaw. On April 8, 1954 during a routine cross-country navigation exercise, while climbing to his 9,000 foot assigned altitude in Harvard Mark IIb 3309, his aircraft struck Canadair North Star TCA223 which was on a flight from Winnipeg to Calgary. The North Star had thirty-one passengers and four flight crew on board. All perished in the accident. Also killed was Martha Hawden, a housekeeper working in a suburban home in Moose Jaw.