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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

Desrochers, Joseph Raoul Real Gilles (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1955-September-09

Flying Officer Joseph Raoul Real Gilles Desrochers RCAF

Birth Date: 1934-April-21

Born: St. Claire, Quebec

Parents: Armand & Lucienne (nee Fournier) Desrochers, Montreal, Quebec.

Spouse:

Home: St. Claire, Quebec

Enlistment: Montreal, Quebec

Enlistment Date: 1953-September-09

Service

RCAF

Unit

3 (AW) OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

RCAF Stn. Cold Lake, Alberta

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Service Numbers

216393

Home

Google Map

St. Claire, Quebec

Final Burial

Google Map

Cote Des Nieges Cemetery
Sec M Plot 3412 Grave 4109

Pilot Officer J.Y.J.M. Roberge also killed.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Crew or Other Personnel

Canuck 18127

Flying Officer Joseph Raoul Real Gilles Desrochers RCAF

Flying Officer Desrochers, Joseph Raoul Real Gilles (RCAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1955-September-09
Cote Des Nieges Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Pilot Officer Joseph Yvon Jean Marc Roberge RCAF

Pilot Officer Roberge, Joseph Yvon Jean Marc (RCAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1955-September-09
St Vincent Ferrier Rc Cemetery, Brome, Quebec, Canada

Unit Desciption

3 (AW) OTU (3 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.

Lysander NO3 OTU

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.info - RCAF Station Patricia Bay B.C.

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy