Awarded the Air Gunner Badge on November 7, 1941.
Assigned to the 14 Operational Training Unit on May 19, 1942.
Awarded the Operational Wings.
Hampden I P1185 GL-B2, 14 Operational Training Unit was shot down by night fighter Horst Patuschka of the 7/NJG 2. The bomber crashed near Leffinge, Middelkerke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. They were on a mission to Dusseldorf, Germany. 3 out 4 crew members were killed. Pilot MCLEAN (R.C.A.F.), Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner BLOOMER (R.C.A.F.) and Air Gunner SHAILER (R.A.A.F.). 1 was taken prisoner by the Germans. Observer MCGOWAN (R.C.A.F.)
Patuschka himself was killed on March 6, 1943 after the Junkers crashed near Bizerte, Tunisia due to engine failure.
This page is still under construction.
Portrait: Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Photos: Aircrew Remembered and Wikipedia.
Photograph temporary burial: ??.
Info from War Diary and Service Records: LAC (Library Archive Canada).
Photograph Regimental patch: ??.
Photograph headstone: Michael van de Velde.
