My Family And The R.C.A.F.

Here’s where I get off the First World War for a bit. My father and uncles all served in the armed forces during the Second World War. Dad and his youngest brother with the R.C.A.F., and his oldest brother as a mechanic in the Canadian Army. When I asked Dad why a farm boy from Dutton, Ontario opted for the air force there seemed to be two reasons. One he grew up listening to stories from the old vets of the Great War, and was not enamored of the idea of trench warfare. Secondly, he did not want to serve in any service where there was any walking involved. He did not say anything about patriotism here. That apparently came later. The ironic thing was that during the period (March 1944-May 1945) when he was a P.O.W. he ended up walking from northern Poland to the Rhine. I suspect that he put in more miles than anyone in the Canadian Army,

Dad was a member of the 426th. Squadron based in Linton-on-Ouse near York. He served on a Hercules-engined Avro Lancaster Mk II. His younger brother  flew Spitfires and Hurricanes with the 65th. Squadron which was a R.A.F. unit.



Photos
1.Graduation photo Guelph Bomber School 1943
2.Lancaster Crew 426th  Squadron 1944
3.Spitfire Crews 65th. Squadron (date unknown)
All photos are in my own personal collection.