Peter William Lochnan

Peter William Lochnan was a Royal Canadian Air Force flying officer during the Second World War. He was born on August 3, 1913, in Ottawa and lived in 40 Broadway. He was the only son of Frederick Michael Lochnan and Lillian May Lochnan and was the second oldest of four: Violet, Claire, and Dorothy. He was described to be 5'11, 170 lbs, athletic, as well as a ”desirable type” and “cheerful and intelligent” in his enlistment interview.

From 1928-1932, he attended Glebe Collegiate Institute. In his spare time, he participated in sports, and he stated he enjoyed wrestling and skiing and would go on to become a Lightweight Heavyweight champion, compete in a Northern Ontario Skii Championship, and finish 4th in an international skiing meet at Dartmouth, New Hampshire. Later, he would join both Glebe’s and Queen’s rugby teams. His post-secondary education consisted of St. Patrick's College, and he graduated from Queen’s University in 1937. He attended Queen’s for Arts and Medicine, and though he struggled academically, he excelled in sports. I believe he wanted to “do something more,” to outshine his exceptional academic, and make his life “meaningful.”

Before enlisting, he worked as a gold mine surveyor, though not for very long. Peter Lochnan was 25 when he enlisted, which he did in Toronto on May 10, 1939, before joining on June 5, 1939. According to the Officer’s Declaration papers he signed in September of 1939, Lochnan had previous experience with the R.C.A.F. in the AeroClub of B.C. as a Petty Officer. There, he learnt how to fly in a precursor program before learning combat flying at Camp Borden, Ontario. He was said to be careless with instruction while flying but above average regarding his ability with practical air firing at the range. Lochnan’s appearance and disposition were fair, but he was “easily led” as an officer. He passed his flying test with regular, not below or outstanding numbers, and was remarked by his supervisor to be an “average pilot.” They recommended that he should fly single-engined land planes (bombers).

Peter Lochnan served in the R.C.A.F. for around a year and 7 months, but his journey started in June 1940, when he was sent to No. 112 Squadron before finally being deployed to the United Kingdom. Lochnan was one of three pilots chosen to fly the Hurricane (a combat aircraft) and fight with the No. 1 Squadron and participate in the Battle of Britain (or the September Blitz). During the battle, he was credited with damaging two bombers on September 9, the kill of a Messerschmidt ME-110 on September 27, another victory on October 7, before being removed from the battle on October 10.

Lochnan married Elizabeth Jane Lumbers on May 18, 1940. They would have no children, but his father-in-law would often write to Lochnan’s squadron leader to enquire about his health and well-being.

He was posted to No. 400 Squadron in February 1941 until his death. And, on May 10, 1941, he and two other pilots were sent to the Sea Rescue Department of No. 225 Squadron at Pembrey, Wales. Just days after his wedding anniversary, on May 21, 1941, he would receive word that an R.A.F. officer and an Army officer had gone down in the Bay. Lochnan bravely decided to head out in search of them, regardless of the foggy weather that plagued the area. Then he would find that the weather was not suited for flying and that his courage would lead to his plane clipping a tree. Peter William Lochnan’s aircraft crashed and burned. He was pulled from the wreckage and died one and a half hours later.

Peter William Lochnan was buried on May 24, 1941, at Brookwood Military Cemetery, UK. He displayed courage, bravery, and initiative, and it was stated that his brother officers held the deepest admiration and respect for him. “His death was keenly felt by all who knew him.”

Primary Source Documents : https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2667459?Peter%20William%20Lochnan

Works Cited

“The Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM) - Memorials - Remembrance.” Veterans Affairs Canada, Government of Canada, 15 January 2024, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial. Accessed 29 October 2024.

“Profiles of courage - Royal Canadian Air Force.” Canada.ca, Government of Canada, 12 August 2021, https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/history-heritage/battle-britain/profiles.html. Accessed 29 October 2024.

“Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947.” Collection search, Government of Canada, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/help/kia. Accessed 22 October 2024.

The biographies appearing on this website have been written by students, roughly the same age as the soldiers they are studying, using primary source evidence from Library and Archives Canada, in addition to primary source documents from The Virtual War Memorial on veterans.ca. We welcome any corrections or additions you may have to these biographies.

'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'

- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.

Glebe Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

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