Clarence Long

Flying Officer Clarence Long

Royal Canadian Air Force

Family Life:

Clarence was the son of George and Alice Long being born on September 20th, 1918, in Meaford, 

Ontario. He had two sisters, Marjorie and Isabel and three brothers Wilfred, George and Gordon. A letter 

reported that he was to marry an English girl the week after he was reported missing.

Clarence attended the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute before taking a job at the local 

branch of the Bank of Toronto. He has many surviving relatives in this community.

Military Service:

F.O. Long originally enlisted with the Grey and Simcoe Foresters in June of 1940, but transferred to the

Royal Canadian Air Force in March of 1941. His initial training took place at Toronto but he subsequently 

moved on to Goderich, Trenton and Malton.

On March 12th, 1942, F.O. Long received his wings at Jarvis and was commissioned as an officer in May 

of the same year. He disembarked in the United Kingdom on May 22nd, 1942.

Upon arrival in the United Kingdom F.O. Long prepared for active bombing missions as a navigator over 

occupied Europe. He was first attached to an Advanced Flying Unit followed by a posting to the 1651 

Conversion Unit.

On February 9th, 1943, F.O. Long was taken on strength by 15 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Ten days later 

Stirling B.F. 378 ‘T’ took flight with a crew of seven for an operational attack on Germany and was later 

reported ‘missing.’ Long was assigned as the aircrew’s navigator.

An investigation revealed that this was F.O. Long’s first operational sortie with Pilot Flying Officer Bernard 

Crawford and BF378 had been intercepted by German fighters based at Leeuwarden and shot down in the 

Wadden Sea off the northern coast of the Netherlands.

F.O. Long’s body was later recovered and was interred at Westdongeradeel (Wierum) Protestant 

Churchyard.

Decorations:

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-1945

1939-45 Star

Air Crew Europe Star

Lessons Learned:

Clarence was a student of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute where he earned his senior

matriculation in 1936. An R.C.A.F report noted that he “has definite ability as a navigator and it usually shows 

in his results. Capabilities superior to those indicated by ground marks.”