Gagnon, Lionel Edmond Charles (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-February-16

Flying Officer Lionel Edmond Charles Gagnon RCAF

Birth Date: 1918-December-10

Born: Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada

Parents: Son of Edmond Ulric Joseph and Rose de Lima Gagnon, of Vancouver

Spouse: Husband of Mavis Cecile(nee Kern) Gagnon, of Vancouver

Home: Vancouver, British Columbia

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: 1940-September-25

Service

RCAF

Unit

1 (OT) OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

Bagotville, Quebec, Canada

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/4865

Home

Vancouver, British Columbia

Final Burial

Ocean View Burial Park
Calvary Section Plot 89 Grave 4

Flying Officer Gagnon had previously been employed by the Royal Bank of Canada at the 25th Avenue branch in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia from August 21, 1936 until he enlisted in the RCAF September 25, 1940

Unvetted Source Enlisted Staff - RBC

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)

Accident Card - Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII serial:5644

This accident involved 2 aircraft on 1943-February-16. They are: Hawker Hurricane IIB s/n 5644, Hawker Hurricane IIB s/n 5444.

This accident involved 2 people. Gagnon EC, Gilson AI

This accident had 2 fatalities. Flying Officer Arnold Irwin Gilson RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/12698 Hurricane 5444,Flying Officer Lionel Edmond Charles Gagnon RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/4865 Hurricane 5644

Mission

Hurricane Mk. XII 5644

Operational 1943-February-16 to 1943-February-16

1 (OT) OTU (RCAF) RCAF Bagotville

1 Operational Training Unit, Bagotville, Quebec. Hurricane aircraft 5644 and 5444 were flying in formation at 12,000 feet when they collided in mid-air between St Anne and St Honore, Quebec. Both Flying Officer L E C Gagnon (RCAF) flying Hurricane 5644 and the pilot of Hurricane 5444, Flying Officer A I Gilson (RCAF) was killed in this flying accident

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database...

Unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

Unit Desciption

1 (OT) OTU (1 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.