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CASPIR Data Archive Mission & Data Sources Significant Canadian Historians Our Team RCAF Assistance CASPIR Volunteering

CASPIR contains documents, images and history of Canada's military aviation. The personnel and aircraft data has been compiled using data provided by trusted Canadian military aviation historians and original source documents. Where possible source documents are linked.
Research

CASPIR Resources

RCAF Accident Cards (1939-1945) JA Griffin Documents 1968 and 2005 Obtaining a World War II Service File

External Resources

RCAF.info: Research Resources RCAF.info: Finding Your Family Records

Griffin Library, 17 Wing Winnipeg

John Griffin was a significant historian, documenting Canada's Military aircraft.
Aircraft

Military Aircraft Associated with Canadians Choose a Specific Aircraft Serial

Lancaster FM213

CWHM flies one of the two airworthy Lancasters in the world. FM213 is usually marked as KB726 honouring Andrew Mynarski, VC.
Personnel

Name or Home Town Search Unit (Squadron) Search Aircraft Type or Serial Search Browse by Letter This Day in History

War Status Search Catastrophic Losses (Ships Hotels Aircraft) Choose Specific Military Cemeteries (WW1 WW2 and Beyond)

Andrew Mynarski, VC

We Shall Remember Them.
History

Education & History
Start Here Glossary Canada and World War II Combatants & First Airmen Casualties Air Force Operations Battle of Britain Women in War War Artists Canada in Korean Air War 1950-1953

Blogs & Articles
CASPIR Overview First World War Neighbourhood - Dufferin & Dupont Canada's First Military Aeroplane 1917

"A" Able flying through the Eiffel Tower? (although this event likely happened, this photograph is likely fake.) It is signed by the late Bill Bryant RAF who was the navigator of that aircraft piloted by Bob Boorman RCAF. The caption reads "This Stars Stripes photograph was taken on 14 September 1944 and shows a Mosquito Mk XIII of 409 Squadron RCAF. Pilot - W/O Bob Boorman RCAF Navigator F/S Bill Bryant RAF Flying through the Eiffel Tower."
Contact

Knowles, George William (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-October-08

Pilot Officer George William Knowles RCAF

Birth Date: 1918-November-30

Born:

Parents: Son of Gordon and Catherine Knowles, of Sarnia, Ontario.

Spouse:

Home: Sarnia, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

36 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)

Base

RCAF Stn. Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/12998
Prev: R/90381

Home

Google Map

Sarnia, Ontario

Memorial Location

Google Map

Ottawa War Memorial
Panel 1 Column 5

36 Operational Training Unit, Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Hudson aircraft missing.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

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

Crew or Other Personnel

Hudson BW700

Sergeant Douglas Wilson Armstrong RCAF

Sergeant Armstrong, Douglas Wilson (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Robert Oliver Barrett RCAF

Sergeant Barrett, Robert Oliver (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Benoit Desmarais RCAF

Sergeant Desmarais, Benoit (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer George William Knowles RCAF

Pilot Officer Knowles, George William (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flying Officer Jack Campbell McFarlane RCAF

Flying Officer McFarlane, Jack Campbell (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flight Sergeant Daniel Shackell RAFVR

Flight Sergeant Shackell, Daniel (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
cemetery unknown

Pilot Officer Henry Raymond Woodman RCAF

Pilot Officer Woodman, Henry Raymond (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-08
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Accident Card - Lockheed Hudson Mk. III serial:BW700

This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1942-October-08. Hudson III s/n BW700.

This accident involved 7 people. Armstrong DW, Barrett RC, Desmarais B, Knowles GW, Mcfarlane JC, Shackell D, Woodman HR

This accident had 7 fatalities. Sergeant Robert Oliver Barrett RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/99737 Hudson BW700, Pilot Officer Henry Raymond Woodman RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/13145 Hudson BW700, Flying Officer Jack Campbell McFarlane RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/4748 Hudson BW700, Sergeant Benoit Desmarais RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/124068 Hudson BW700, Sergeant Douglas Wilson Armstrong RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/117525 Hudson BW700, Pilot Officer George William Knowles RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/12998 Hudson BW700, Flight Sergeant Daniel Shackell RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:745922 Hudson BW700

Unit Desciption

36 OTU (36 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour.

DH Mosquito

More information on the Air Force Station at Greenwood, Nova Scotia can be found at:

Royal Air Force RCAF.info - Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Unvetted Source NO36 OTU Roll Of Honor

Museum Greenwod Military Aviation Museum Video History Of Greenwood

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy