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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

Niven, Robert Henry (Wing Commander)

Killed in Action 1942-May-30

Wing Commander Robert Henry Niven RAF

Birth Date: 1914

Born:

Parents: Andrew & Lillian Niven

Spouse: Andrea Niven.

Home: Calgary, Alberta (parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Distinguished Flying Cross

Service

RAF

Unit

59 (MP) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Ab Uno Disce Omnes From one learn all

Base

RAF North Coates

Rank

Wing Commander

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

37627

Home

Google Map

Calgary, Alberta (parents)

Memorial Location

Google Map

Runnymede Memorial Surrey
Panel 64

59 Squadron (Ab Uno Disce Omnes). W/C RH Niven DFC (RAF)(Can) had flown Spitfire aircraft on photo reconnaissance operations during 1940 and 1941. He lost his life while on an anti-shipping mission in Hudson V aircraft AM 842, hit by ship's flak

W/C Niven DFC has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Please see Reilly, JJ for complete casualty list

Addendum: He was the Commanding Officer of 459 Squadron and was killed when his Hudson aircraft went missing during operations off the Dutch Coast, Three RAF members of the crew were also killed. Detail provided by J. Stevens, Ontario.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Crew or Other Personnel

Hudson AM842

Wing Commander Robert Henry Niven RAF

Wing Commander Niven, Robert Henry (RAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1942-May-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Pilot Officer James Joseph Reilly RCAF

Pilot Officer Reilly, James Joseph (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1942-May-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK