Victoria Cross

William "Billy" Barker

Most Decorated Canadian Military

Dauphin Manitoba born WW1 flying ace. Most decorated Canadian in military history.

William Avery "Billy" Bishop

WW1 Flying Ace

Owen Sound Ontario born WW1 flying ace and WW2 Air Marshall. Bishop was director of RCAF recruiting for WW2.

Alan Arnett McLeod

WW1 Flying Ace - Died of Pneumonia

Stonewall Manitoba born WW1 flying ace.

Ian Willouby Bazalgette

Saving His Crew a Priority Over Self

Calgary Alberta born pathfinder pilot and Squadron Leader. Marked a target under overwhelmingly hostile conditions. Held is aircraft steady while his men baled out.

Andrew Mynarski

Heroic Air Gunner

Winnipeg Manitoba born mid-upper Gunner, Post humously received VC for attempting to save the life of the reaer gunner in his Lancaster aircraft.

David Hornell

Battle of the Atlantic hero

Toronto Ontario born Canso pilot. Died of exposure awaiting rescue in the north Atlantic after successful sinking a German U-boat.

Robert Hampton Gray

Persistence Against Great Odds

Trail British Columbia born naval pilot. Flew for Fleet Air Arm from HMS Formibable. Citation (in part): "for great valour in leading an attack on a Japanese destroyer in Onagawa Bay on the 9th August 1945. In the face of fire from shore batteries, and a heavy concentration of fire from some five warships, Lieutenant Gray pressed home his attack, flying very low in order to ensure success, and although he was hit and his aircraft in flames, he obtained one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. Lieutenant Gray has consistently shown a brilliant flying spirit and most inspiring leadership."

Famous

John Gillespie Magee

Child of Missionaries becomes Fighter Pilot

Chinese born American enlisted in the RCAF. Magee thought that the war against the Nazi's was a just war but his country (USA) was pursuing an isolationist policy. Author of the very famous poem: High Flight.

Leonard Joseph Birchall

Saviour of the British Fleet in Sri Lanka

St Catharines Ontario born pilot of a Canso, Birchall became "Savoiur of Ceylon". Birchall was subsequenetly captured and served in a Japanese PoW camp. Birchall went on to become RCAF Air Marshall.

Sir Frederick Grant Banting

Co-Discoverer of Insulin Killed in Ferry Plane Crash

Alliston Ontario born co-discoverer of insulin and youngest Nobel-laureate ever. Banting was killed when a ferry flight to Britain crashed.

Unusual

Catastrophic Losses

Losses of Nine People or More in a Single Event

Over the years there have been some very significant losses in air related events. This is a list of events numbering approximately 750 casualties from 1941 to 1974.

Dakota KN563

Aircraft Lost in 1945 Found in 1996

Dakota KN563 operated by 435 Squadron, RCAF, in India. Crashed in Myanmar (formerly Burma) 21 June 1945, 6 fatalities. Wreckage discovered 1996, crew given military burial in Yangoon (formerly Rangoon).

Complete Stories

Robert Alan Anderson

Young Brandon Manitoba man becomes Air Gunner (full story)

Brandon Manitoba born high school graduate who became a Bomber Cammand Air Gunner of 420 Snowy Owl Squadron. Anderson was trained in Canada, shot down over France, had his 20th birthday as a PoW on the train in Paris and served the balance of the war in Stalag Luft 3 in Germany (now Poland). This is a very complete story.

Claude Weaver III

High School Drop-out Becomes top Fighter Pilot

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA born Spitfire pilot joined the RCAF while the USA was still neutral (before Dcemeber 7, 1941). Claude was an unstoppable force bonth in and out of the military. Thanks to Tom Walsh who writes "American RCAF Warriors", we have his story.

Oswald Alfred Luce

Radio Operator Taken as Japanese Prisoner of War

British born, came to Canada at 14 months. Recruited to the RCAF because he was an amateur radio license holder, then sent to Britain and Singapore. Captured by the Japanese in 1942 and served the balance of the war in captivity. Oswald's entire history is recorded here.

Almost Famous

Norville Everett Small

Squadron Leader Perfects Technique

After studying and testing various techniques, Squadron Leader Norville Everett Small destroys U-Boat U-754 off the coast of Canada in 1942. U-754 had sunk 13 ships representing over 55,000 Gross tonnes of merchant shipping from Canada. In 1942 U-Boats had destroyed 1,322 Allied ships.

Edward James Wright

RCAF Youngest Casualty

Wright was 14 years old when he joined the RCAF, with permission from his parents. He died at age 16 in a flying accident 9 days before the end of WW2 in Europe.

John George Clothier

"Relic's" Brother Killed on Third Tour of Duty

Victoria British Columbia born pilot was killed on his third tour of duty. Clothier was the brother of Robert Clothier, also a successful RCAF pilot. Robert Clothier (the brother) went on to become a successful Canadian actor and his most famous role was as "Relic" on the beachcombers, a very successful CBC series.

Nortorious

Don Palmer Scratch

Sergeant Scratch Steals two RCAF Aircraft

Maymont Saskatchewan born, Sergeant Scratch stole and destroyed two aircraft

Great Escape

Coming Soon