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Bouchard, Vernon John DFC (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-December-22

Birth Date: 1919 (age 25)

Son of Louis Vernon Bouchard and Myrtle Bouchard, of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Home: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Decorations: DFC


Distinguished Service Cross
Service
RCAF
Unit
22 HGCU- Heavy Glider Conversion Unit
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/85054
Prev: R/51217
Home in Regina; enlisted there 6 November 1939. Trained at No. 4 ITS (graduated 19 June 1942), No.5 EFTS (graduated 11 September 1942) and No.15 SFTS (graduated 30 December 1942). 22 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit Albemarle ST V aircraft V 1823 stalled after casting off towed glider and crashed at South Horsecroft Farm, Bratton, Wiltshire, England, 5 Km SSW of RAF Keevil. Flying Officer VJ Bouchard (RCAF) and Warrant Officer AW Bannier (RAFVR) were killed. Flying Officer Bouchard is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey, England. Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.550 Squadron - Award effective 24 May 1944 as per London Gazette dated 6 June 1944 and AFRO 1660/44 dated 4 August 1944. Award presented 28 February 1946. No citation other than "Completed...many successful operations against the enemy in which (he has) displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Burial
Google MapBrookwood Military Cemetery
56 B 8

Albemarle V1823

Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle

This is photograph CH 012048 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 4700-16) (Source Wikipedia)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svgAuthor Bellamy W (F/O) Royal Air Force official photographer
Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle ST Mark I series 2, P1475, of No. 511 Squadron RAF based at Lyneham, Wiltshire, in flight. One of six Mark I aircraft modified to "˜Lyneham Standard' transport configuration and used by 'C' Flight of the Squadron on the UK-Gibraltar-Algiers route.

The Armstrong Whitworth AW 41 Albemarle was a twin-engine transport aircraft developed by the British aircraft manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth and primarily produced by A.W. Hawksley Ltd, a subsidiary of the Gloster Aircraft Company. It was one of many aircraft which entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

The Albemarle had been originally designed as a medium bomber to fulfil Specification B.9/38; however, military planners decided to deemphasis the bomber role in favour of aerial reconnaissance and transport missions, leading to the aircraft being extensively redesigned mid-development. Performing its maiden flight on 20 March 1940, its entry to service was delayed by the redesign effort, thus the first RAF squadron to operate the Albemarle, No. 295 at RAF Harwell, did not receive the type in quantity until January 1943. As a consequence of superior bombers, such as the Vickers Wellington, having arrived in quantity, all plans for using the Albemarle as a bomber were abandoned.

Instead, the Albemarle was used by RAF squadrons primarily for general and special transport duties, paratroop transport and glider towing, in addition to other secondary duties. Albemarle squadrons participated in Normandy and the assault on Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. While the Albemarle remained in service throughout the conflict, the final examples in RAF service were withdrawn less than a year after the war's end. During October 1942, the Soviet Air Force also opted to order 200 aircraft; of these, only a handful of Albemarles were delivered to the Soviets prior to the Soviet government deciding to suspend deliveries in May 1943, and later cancelling the order in favour of procuring the American Douglas C-47 Skytrain instead. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Albermarle Transport

YouTube Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
Canadian Crewed (9)
last update: 2021-10-05 17:37:15

Albemarle V1823



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