Hazelwood Cemetery
According to the Unit Daily Diary, at 1750 hours on 1945-06-23 Sergeant J. Bennett drowned in Mill Pond, Abbotsford, British Columbia while swimming.
However according to his sister, he was a very bad swimmer and actually afraid of the water. Mill Lake was a centre of logging at the turn of that century and there was a small gauge logging train that skirted across the West end of the lake. The trestle that crossed the water was then more than 60 years old and very depilated. Several RAF Airmen were walking along it when the portion they were on collapsed. This is how he drowned. (this information was provided by Michael DesMazes.)
Bennett, James (Sergeant)
Drowned 1945-June-23
Birth Date: 1925-August-12
Born:
Parents: Son of James and Mary Ellen Bennett, of Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
5 OTU- Operational Training Unit
Base
RCAF Stn. Abbotsford, British Columbia
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Service Numbers
1891553
School Daily Diary Entry - 1945-06-23
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Unit Desciption
5 OTU (5 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.
NO5 OTU Boundary Bay
RCAF.Info
Project 44 BCATP
YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy