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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

Thorn, Henry James (Sergeant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-October-25

Male Head

Birth Date: 1923

Born:

Parents: Son of George and Dorettho A. Thorn, of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

32 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)

Base

Patricia Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Service Numbers

1315905

Memorial Location

Google Map

Ottawa War Memorial
Panel 1 Column 4

32 OTU, Patricia Bay. B.C.

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Crew or Other Personnel

Hampden AJ988

Sergeant John Orrell RAFVR

Sergeant Orrell, John (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-25
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Henry James Thorn RAF

Sergeant Thorn, Henry James (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-October-25
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Accident Card - Handley Page Hampden Mk. I serial:AJ988

This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1942-October-25. Hampden s/n AJ988.

This accident involved 2 people. Orrell J, Thorn HJ

This accident had 2 fatalities. Sergeant John Orrell RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1232301 Hampden AJ988, Sergeant Henry James Thorn RAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:1315905 Hampden AJ988

Unit Desciption

32 OTU (32 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.

Avro Anson

More information on the RCAF Station at Patricia Bay, British Columbia can be found at:

Royal Air Force RCAF.info - Patricia Bay, British Columbia

Museum BC Aviation Museum Video On History Of Pat Bay

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy