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Cleeland, James Rayson Wallace (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1943-May-05

Birth Date: 1920 (age 23)

John & Madge L. Cleeland

Home: Toronto, Ontario (parents)

Service
RCAF
Unit
5 (BR) Sqn- Squadron
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/11797

Canso 9807 crashed because it “stalled due to climbing at a critical angle in rough air” (Mulvihill 1943). The weight of the aircraft may have been a factor, as it was the second incident with a Canso under similar conditions. Therefore, it was recommended that the maximum weight of the aircraft be reduced to prevent further accidents.

Killed: F/Lt Brian Anthony Casey RCAF C.1061 1st pilot 5 Bomber-Reconnaissance Sqn F/Lt Joseph John Barsalou RCAF C.1237 2nd pilot 5BRSqn F/O James Rayson Wallace Cleeland RCAF J/11797 5BRSqn P/O James Herbert Millar RCAF J/20859 5BRSqn WO2 Alexander Frederick Morrice RCAF R/93368 10BRSqn Sgt John Benjamin Stallwood RCAF R/122657 5BRSqn

Survivor: Cpl. Edmond Antoine Dube RCAF R/63059 5BRSqn

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

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

Burial
Google Map CWG Cemetery, Canada
Plot 1 Row 2 Grave 9

Crew on Canso A 9807

Consolidated Canso Catalina PBY PB2B A-10 OA-10 Black Cat

RCAF Canso A (Serial No. 9754), No. 162 Squadron, F/L David Ernest Hornell aircraft.

The Consolidated Catalina and Canso were close cousins. The Canso was the true amphibious version of the design and therefore included a conventional undercarriage to allow for either water or land use. The Canso provided more than two decades of valuable service to the RCAF. The Catalina variant came first and was produced beginning in 1935 for the United States Navy. The amphibious version, designated PBY-5A, came in service early in 1941 and the RCAF began using the aircraft on anti-submarine patrols that same year. After the Second World War, the RCAF used Cansos for search and rescue, Arctic survey missions and various transport operations. RCAF

YouTube Canso PBY

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Canso PBY

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (274), RCAF 400 Squadron (13), Canadian Aircraft Losses (82)
last update: 2022-03-15 19:52:22

Canso A 9807

Served with No. 5 (BR) Squadron in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, or Quebec, coded "F". Crashed near Gander in early 1943 (or 1944?). To No. 19 Sub Repair Depot at RCAF Station Gander, Newfoundland on 6 May 1943. Wreckage still on site in 2012.

Canada Primary Source RCAF - Accident Investigation File


1943-02-12 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1943-May-05 Accident: 5 Squadron Loc: Aerodrome Names: Barsalou | Casey | Cleeland | Dube | Millar | Morrice | Stallwood
1944-03-20 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20

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