Awarded the Pilot Flying Badge on November 20, 1942.
Assigned to the 419 R.C.A.F. Squadron on November 10, 1943.
Awarded the Operational Wings.
Lancaster KB711 VR-C was off to a mission to bomb rail targets in the region of St. Ghislain, Belgium. On the return flight they were spotted by German night fighter Hans-Heinz Augenstein and shot down north of Gent, Belgium.
Five out of seven members were able to bail out. Rear Gunner SANGSTER jumped being wounded to the eye and arm. He was repatriated after being prisoner of war. Navigator LOVE, Flight Engineer WILSON, Bomb Aimer LONG and Air Gunner HILL were taken prisoner of war.
Pilot John Crawford MCNARY died in attempt to help Wireless Air Gunner CHARTRAND who was injured. The aircraft blew up in the air.
Augenstein was killed in action on December 7, 1944 when he was shot down by a R.A.F. night fighter near Münster, Germany.
This page is still under construction.
Portrait: LAC (Library Archive Canada).
Photos: 419 Squadron (Lancaster KB711) and Wikipedia (German night fighter).
Info from War Diary and Service Records: LAC (Library Archive Canada).
Photograph Regimental patch: ??.
Photograph headstone: Michael van de Velde.
