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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

Schell, Leonard Francis (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-May-29

Pilot Officer Leonard Francis Schell RCAF

Birth Date: 1921-February-20

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home: Vancouver, British Columbia

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

5 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

Boundary Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Navigator

Service Numbers

J/43902

Home

Google Map

Vancouver, British Columbia

Temporary Burial

Google Map

Inaccessible Grave On Vancouver Island, British Columbia At 48 - 56n Latitude And 124 - 11w Longitude

Memorial Location

Google Map

Ottawa War Memorial
Panel 3 Column 4

5 Operational Training Unit, Boundary Bay, British Columbia. Mitchell aircraft crashed.

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

Mitchell HD345

Sergeant Clarence Arthur Johnston RCAF

Sergeant Johnston, Clarence Arthur (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1944-May-29
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Harold Magnus Manson RCAF

Sergeant Manson, Harold Magnus (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1944-May-29
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Bruce Walter McGregor RCAF

Sergeant McGregor, Bruce Walter (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1944-May-29
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Pilot Officer Leonard Francis Schell RCAF

Pilot Officer Schell, Leonard Francis (RCAF)
Navigator
Killed in Flying Accident
1944-May-29
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flying Officer Harold Brand Whitlock RCAF

Flying Officer Whitlock, Harold Brand (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1944-May-29
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Accident Card - North American Mitchell Mitchell II series ii serial:HD345

This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1944-May-29. Mitchell II s/n HD345.

This accident involved 5 people. Johnson CA, Macgregor BW, Manson HM, Schell LFJ, Whitlock HB

This accident had 5 fatalities. Pilot Officer Leonard Francis Schell RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/43902 Mitchell HD345, Sergeant Bruce Walter McGregor RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/67192 Mitchell HD345, Sergeant Clarence Arthur Johnston RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/275157 Mitchell HD345, Flying Officer Harold Brand Whitlock RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:J/28562 Mitchell HD345, Sergeant Harold Magnus Manson RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/192989 Mitchell HD345

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

5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy