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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

Ransom, William Vivian (Flying Officer)

Prisoner of War 1944-April-28

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

622 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Bellamus Noctu We wage war by night

Base

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Service Numbers

J/22438
PoW: 4468

Target

Google Map

Friedrichshafen Germany

Took off from Mildenhall at 21:50 in Lancaster Mk III (Sqn code GI-R Bomber Command) on an operation to Friedrichshafen Germany.

At least four night fighters converged on the Lancaster which was flying at 17000 feet and eventually brought it down in France.

Killed: F/Lt James Andrew Watson RCAF J/20076 KIA pilot KIA Choloy War Cemetery grave 1A. B. 23. France.

POWs includes Ransom: Sergeant Roy Eames RAF POW camp not listed. Sergeant Ronald Joseph Hayes RAF POW Stalag 357 Kopernikus. Flight Sergeant Murdock Daniel Mackinnon RCAF R/176583 POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug. Flight Sergeant William Samuel James McKee RCAF R/139478 POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug. Pilot Officer Wilson Henry Russell RAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria.

Crew or Other Personnel

Lancaster ND781

Flight Sergeant Murdock Daniel MacKinnon RCAF

Flight Sergeant MacKinnon, Murdock Daniel (RCAF)
Rear Gunner
Prisoner of War
1944-April-28
cemetery unknown

Flight Sergeant William Samuel James McKee RCAF

Flight Sergeant McKee, William Samuel James (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Prisoner of War
1944-April-28
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer William Vivian Ransom RCAF

Flying Officer Ransom, William Vivian (RCAF)

Prisoner of War
1944-April-28
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer W V Ranson RCAF

Flying Officer Ranson, W V (RCAF)

Prisoner of War
1944-April-28
cemetery unknown

Flight Lieutenant James Andrew Watson RCAF

Flight Lieutenant Watson, James Andrew (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1944-April-28
Choloy War Cemetery, Meurthe-Etmoselle, France