VE Day – Muskoka Airport – 8 May Norwegian Veterans Day

VE Day – Muskoka Airport – 8 May Norwegian Veterans Day

David Wold is sharing this today…

The wreath was safely delivered this morning! See attached photo.
For some reason the ribbon looks quite pale in the photo but it is darker in
person, like last year.

Eleven poppies to symbolize the 11 provinces of Norway.

Let us never forget what Canada did and what those who got their training
there contributed to the liberation of Norway.

My understanding is that there was at least 7 nations that stepped into
Norwegian uniforms to take part in the fighting for liberty.

Thank God and Country ,

Regards
David

In Memoriam – John Leonard Greaves (1964-2017)

Written in 2017

In my search for more information to use on my blog paying homage to VF(N)-101 I had found this Website earlier this week.

It was about the Battle of Midway.

This is the link…

http://www.midway42.org/Default.aspx

There was something that caught my attention.

A painting and the story behind it. I had to look and read the story.

“The Other Sole Survivors”Torpedo 8 TBF Avenger at Midway – June 4, 1942

 

All paintings © John Greaves Art (used by permission)

Now the story behind the painting.

 

The only survivor of a flight of six TBF Avenger torpedo planes struggles to return home to Midway Atoll after attacking the Japanese fleet. Flown by ENS Albert Earnest with radioman Harry Ferrier RM3c and turret gunner Jay Manning Sea1c, the badly damaged TBF has hydraulics shot out causing the tail wheel to drop and the bomb bay doors to open. Without a working compass, Earnest flew east towards the sun and climbed above the cloud deck where he could see the column of smoke rising from Midway in the far distance. Earnest managed to bring back the TBF using only the elevator trim tab for altitude control and successfully landed. Manning died in his turret and Earnest and Ferrier were wounded.

 

 

There is another story behind this story.

I wrote John Greaves to get his permission to use his painting on my blog.

But little did I know…

GREAVES, John Leonard

John Greaves died unexpectedly and peacefully at home on Monday, January 9, 2017 in Airdrie, AB at the age of 52 years. John is lovingly remembered by his wife Janet, and their 2 daughters; Emma and Katy of Airdrie, his parents; Len and Eleanor, brother; Stewart of Abbotsford, B.C., Janet’s sister; Sandra (Sam) Hamilton and family of Saskatoon, SK. John was born in Calgary, AB on September 1, 1964. John and his family moved to B.C. prior to John and his brother starting school, eventually settling in Abbotsford where John attended Abby Jr and Sr High School. John attended Fraser Valley College where he pursued his passion in Art, then went on to further study in graphic arts and business at BCIT. A Memorial Service will be held at Aridrie Alliance church, 1604 Summerfield Blvd, Airdrie, AB., on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 1:30, with a reception to follow. Sandy Isfeld and Nathan Kliewer will be officiating, please join us in Celebrating John’s Life In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 240, 2323 – 32 Ave. NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 6Z3.

Messages of condolence may be left for the family at http://www.myalternatives.ca.

The source is here

***

John Greaves’ artwork is being used on this blog by special permission of his wife Janet…

I give you permission to use his paintings in the two blogs you mentioned, with credit given to my beloved John, who had a passion for history and art.

Thanks.

Janet Greaves

 

In Memoriam of John Leonard Greaves (1964-2017) All paintings © John Greaves Art (used by permission)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website dedicated to RCAF 420 Squadron

RCAF 420 Snowy Owl

Updated 23 April, 2021

I have to start somewhere to pay homage to Wing Commander William Gerald Phelan.

PL-41602 UK-18125 22/12/44 420 SQN The leaders of the City of London’s Snowy Owl Squadron left to right are: F/L F.S. McCarthy, Windsor, Ontario, 722 Dougall Avenue, Flight Commander; W/C W.G. Phelan, DFC, Distinguished Flying Cross, Toronto, Ontario, 9 Glenayr Road, Squadron Commander; and S/L B.G. Motherwell, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2539 West 33rd Avenue, Flight Commander.

The SS Samaria arrived in Liverpool on November 6, 1943. The squadron disembarked and was transported to Dalton airbase. From Dalton it was moved to Tholthorpe, 12 miles northwest of York, on December 12, 1943. At Tholthorpe the squadron converted to the Handley Page Halifax Mark III. The squadron remained at Tholthorpe until the end of the war. McIntosh was replaced as CO by G. A. McKenna on April 6, 1944. McKenna, in turn, was replaced…

View original post 960 more words

April 9, 1940 A Dish Best Served Cold — Today in History

On the surface of the ocean, the Battle of the Atlantic raged on with torpedo and depth charge.  Under the surface, there unfolded a different story.

April 9, 1940 A Dish Best Served Cold — Today in History

April 8, 1942 In the Zone — Today in History

Rodman was no stranger to the brutal twists and the horrors of war. Nearly half his comrades were killed, fighting in the Philippines. The survivor’s guilt. What the man saw during WW2 changed his life, forever.

April 8, 1942 In the Zone — Today in History

de Havilland Mosquitoes in BOAC Service.

Aviation Trails is preserving the past with his research on the use of the de Havilland Mosquito in WWII.

Aviation Trails

Very few countries around the world managed to avoid the influence of the Second World War as it ravaged and rampaged its way across the globe. One such nation that did manage to keep its borders secure though was Sweden, a place that became known as a safe haven for downed airmen or those trying to escape the clutches of the Nazi tyranny that would engulf vast swathes of the European continent. Surrounded by conflict and declared neutral, Sweden was to all intents and purposes cut off from the rest of the world.

However, Sweden was a country reliant on imports and exports, a reliance that led to extensive negotiations between herself and both the axis and allied powers who effectively blockaded her supply routes. Through these negotiations she achieved an  agreement to the rights of passage for ‘safe-conduct traffic’, an agreement that allowed the passage through hostile waters of…

View original post 2,883 more words

It was not meant to be… The sequel

Eddy wanted me to have this book…

Eddy Dubois in the cockpit of a Martin Baltimore

Everyone who went to war to serve his country is a hero in my book even if I never wrote a book in my life.

I wrote what follows in 2011…

Eddy was a hero, just like his brother Larry who died on… December 18, 1944

Eddy is on the left on his way to Bermuda. This is the original picture Eddy sent before I made some minor modifications to it.

Eddy had written this caption…

Me on way to Bermuda from Elizabeth City, North Carolina in a Catalina flying boat in the bubble at rear

Eddy died on December 24, 2010 and rejoigned his brother Larry. He shared lots of pictures he had of his wartime service in the Ferry Command which I knew very little about.

I never got around to ask him permission to share these pictures with my readers but I know he would have given it. These pictures are precious mementos. Click on each to zoom in.

Eddy was stationed in Bermuda in 1942 and 1943.

Darrell’s Island Bermuda our base

 

Eddy had this caption…

Darrell’s Island

This was our base.

Flying over I took a picture of it and the Pan AM, BOAC BASE, from the Coronado flying boat which was piloted by Wing Commander Mo Ware, OBE. DFC. on a test flight. Only 1 PBM at anchor and one on the ramp. We were flying in CORONADO JX470 (which was a 4 motor flying boat, our first one) (Received on Apr. 4th, 1943). This was a training and test flight. They were new to us. They had to have 40 hours test flight and inspections done in Bermuda and it was used for local training for a while as well. It departed for Halifax (Dartmouth) on April 16th, 1943) and from there to Gander Lake, Iceland and Scotland or Gibraltar. These were used for transport of goods and passenger were unarmed.

Eddy had this picture also…

 

PBM Mariner

Eddy had this to say about that picture…

One of many that was ferried to Prestwick Scotland during 1943.

He also added this…

One like this sank off this island, one airman drowned (failed to inflate life jacket). I rescued him too late.

I had posted more of Eddy’s pictures since these kind of pictures are very rare. There are only a few like this one that can be could found on the Internet…

Photograph from Wing Commander Mo Ware, Commanding Officer of RAF forces in Bermuda during the War

To learn more about Bermuda during the war, click here…

Footnote

Eddy wanted me to have this book. His widow gave it to me when I went his funeral.

To be continued…

---

In Memoriam – Gordon McKenzie Hill (1923-2021)

Updating a post I wrote about honouring an unsung hero

RCAF 416 Squadron

Updated 25 March 2021 with a YouTube video at the end of the post.

In 2017 Clarence Simonsen met veteran Spitfire pilot Gordon McKenzie Hill who then shared with him all he had kept from his service with the RCAF during WWII. He shared stories and photos but mostly he remembered his comrades-in-arms.

Clarence then wrote me because he wanted Gordon’s stories and photos online to preserve Gordon Hill’s past.

In 2017 I knew nothing about 416 Squadron, but with Clarence’s research I learned so much more about Gordon HIll and also some French-Canadian Spitfire pilots who according to Gordon Hill were dawn good pilots. Being myself French-Canadian suffice to say that information made my day.

On Sunday Clarence wrote me again and asked something…

RCAF Pilot Gordon Hill died on 30 January 2021. Gordon was 97 years of age. Maybe you can add something at the end of this…

View original post 323 more words

It was not meant to be…

To be continued with what I had written in 2014.

---

A day in the life of Eddy Dubois – How I connected with Eddy…

I hope you have clicked on the image last Monday.

Eddy Dubois

If not, there is always time to do so…

Everyone who went to war to serve his country is a hero in my book even if I never wrote a book in my life.

I wrote what follows in 2011…

Eddy was a hero, just like his brother Larry who died on…

December 18, 1944

Eddy is on the left on his way to Bermuda.

This is the original picture Eddy sent before I made some minor modifications to it.

Eddy had written this caption…

Me on way to Bermuda from Elizabeth City, North Carolina in a Catalina flying boat in the bubble at rear

Eddy died on December 24, 2010 and rejoigned his brother Larry.

He shared a lot of pictures he had about his wartime service in the Ferry Command.

I never got around to ask him permission to share these pictures with my readers but I know he would have given it.

These pictures are precious mementos. Click on each to zoom in.

Eddy was stationed in Bermuda in 1942 and 1943.

Darrell’s Island Bermuda our base

 

Eddy had this caption…

Darrell’s Island

This was our base.

Flying over I took a picture of it and the Pan AM, BOAC BASE, from the Coronado flying boat which was piloted by Wing Commander Mo Ware, OBE. DFC. on a test flight. Only 1 PBM at anchor and one on the ramp. We were flying in CORONADO JX470 (which was a 4 motor flying boat, our first one) (Received on Apr. 4th, 1943). This was a training and test flight. They were new to us. They had to have 40 hours test flight and inspections done in Bermuda and it was used for local training for a while as well. It departed for Halifax (Dartmouth) on April 16th, 1943) and from there to Gander Lake, Iceland and Scotland or Gibraltar. These were used for transport of goods and passenger were unarmed.

Eddy had this picture also…

 

PBM Mariner

Eddy had this to say about that picture…

One of many that was ferried to Prestwick Scotland during 1943.

He also added this…

One like this sank off this island, one airman drowned (failed to inflate life jacket). I rescued him too late.

I will post more of Eddy’s pictures next week since these kind of pictures are very rare.

There are only a few like this one that can be could found on the Internet…

Photograph from Wing Commander Mo Ware, Commanding Officer of RAF forces in Bermuda during the War

To learn more about Bermuda during the war, click here…

Footnote

December 18, 1944

“A long forgotten war, wasted young lives” (1) — John Knifton

The Second Boer War (1899 – 1902) was fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer (Dutch) states, the Republic of Transvaal and the Orange Free State, over the British Empire’s influence in South Africa. The British Empire owned Cape Colony and the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The catalyst for the war was the discovery […]

“A long forgotten war, wasted young lives” (1) — John Knifton