Blue Hydrangea Memorial

The "Blue Hydrangea" garden was created by the Chilliwack Branch of the Women's Auxiliary to the Air Services.

Between 1942 and 1946, 48 blue hydrangeas were planted in a dedicated garden as a solemn tribute to the 48 Chilliwack airmen who lost their lives during World War II. A 49th hydrangea was planted in memory of the eleven Royal Air Force crew members who perished in the crash of Liberator KK241 on Mount Welch in 1945. The garden, once a place of remembrance, is largely forgotten today, except in the Chilliwack Museum & Archives and in the hearts of a few veterans and their families. It was originally located on the grounds of the former Chilliwack High School, which is now Chilliwack Middle School.

Links for all have been made to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial which provides much the same information given below. It also provides links to the appropriate pages in the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Those lost with no known grave are all commemorated in the Ottawa Memorial (Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial) as well as in memorials in the theatres of operation where they were lost.

More detailed information on Chilliwack's war dead can be read on the Chilliwack War Memorial page on the Chilliwack Museum and Archives website. Other information is often available on RCAF and RAF squadron histories, some of which are available on the Internet. The Chilliwack Poppy Project is part of the Museum and Archives collection.

Clicking on a photo may lead to other information such as Squadron history or war diaries or other information about the lost airman.

Further information on Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) recipients can be seen on our "History" page.

The Chilliwack Museum and Archives also lists post-war losses, some who came from Chilliwack, and others who were under training at CFB Chilliwack. Those with an air force affiliation are remembered at the end of this page as if Blue Hydrangeas had been planted in their memories.

Over the years students at the Chilliwack Middle School have undertaken projects in memory of the lost who were students or teachers at the Chilliwack High School. A plaque can be found on the grounds and a memorial wall is inside the school. These memorials include many, but not all, of the names on the Blue Hydrangea Memorial.

First High School Planting: May 14, 1942

Leading Aircraftman William Strongren Murray. Royal Canadian Air Force 9 Service Flying Training School. Age 24. Lost on March 20, 1941, Buried at Peoples Cemetery, Summerside, Prince Edward lsland. Son of Frederick A. and Hulda Johanna C. Murray, Chilliwack, B.C. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Maxwell MacLean Stewart. Royal Canadian Air Force. Age 35. Chilliwack High School teacher. Lost enroute to Europe in the sinking of the ship S.S. Yngaren on January 12, 1942. Son of Mr. A.M. Stewart, Grimsby, Ontario. Cemetery Ottawa Memorial, Ottawa ON. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Second High School Planting: May 28, 1943

Pilot Officer George Henry Green. Royal Air Force 79 Squadron. Lost February 24th, 1941 Age 26. Buried in Naples War Cemetery, Italy. Son of George William and Eleda Mae Green of Sardis BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sergeant John Lawson Lockwood. Royal Canadian Air Force 106 Squadron RAF. Lost October 20, 1941 Age 23. Buried in Kiel War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Son of Edwin John and Marie Lockwood, Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Thomas Douglas Holden. Royal Canadian Air Force 411 Squadron. Lost December 16, 1941 Age 25. Buried in Pihen Les Guines Communal Cemetery France. Son of Henry W.A. and Anna Northy Holden, Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Vincent Leslie Brice. Royal Canadian Airforce 10 Squadron RAF. Lost January 15, 1942 Age 21. Buried in Leeming (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, Exelby, England. Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Leslie Brice, Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Ronald Earle Archibald. Royal Air Force 61 Squadron. Lost June 4, 1942 Age 21. Buried in Sage War Cemetery, Oldenberg, Germany. Son of Wilbert Earle and Clara Jennie Archibald, Rosedale BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Sergeant Harry Kennedy Ford. Royal Canadian Air Force 83 Squadron RAF. Lost June 9, 1942 Age 24. Buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Albert George and Mary Jane Ford. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sergeant Frank Harris Wright. Royal Canadian Air Force. 6 Operational Training Unit. Lost September 4, 1942 Age 28. Buried at Thornaby On Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire, England. Son of Ernest and Hester Wright of Sardis BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer John William Williams DFC. Royal Canadian Air Force 249 Squadron RAF (Malta). Lost October 31, 1942 Age 20. Gibralter Memorial, Gibralter. Son of Herbert and Frances Williams of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and the Ottawa Memorial

Flying Officer Robert Douglas MacDonald. Royal Canadian Air Force 99 Squadron RAF. Lost November 24, 1942 Age 20. Buried in Chittagong War Cemetery, Pakistan. Son of Robert Maitland and Clara May MacDonald of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Sergeant John Douglas Baird. Royal Canadian Air Force 150 Squadron RAF. Lost February 10, 1943 Age 27. Buried in Dely Brahmani Cemetery, Algeria. Son of W.A. and I. Baird of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

WOII Peter Edwn Elkford Brown. Royal Canadian Air Force 458 Squadron RAAF. Lost on February 13, 1943 Age 32. Buried in Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery, Malta. Son of Peter John and Gladys Beatrice Baron Brown of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Aubrey Maxwell Tingle. Royal Canadian Air Force 162 Squadron Yarmouth West Camp NS. Lost on January 7, 1943 Age 28. Buried in Gander War Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland. Son of Cyril N. Tingle and Beryl B. Tingle of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Robert Charles Field. Royal Canadian Air Force 404 Squadron. Lost March 28, 1943 Age 23. Buried at St. Columb Major Cemetery, Cornwall, England. Son of Hugh Maynard Field and Ethel Margaret Field of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Third High School Planting: May 25, 1944

Flying Officer Lynn Harvey. Royal Air Force 203 Squadron. Lost July 28, 1942 Age 29. Buried at Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Son of Lynn and Grace Harvey of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Sergeant Leslie Alfred Parker. Royal Canadian Air Force 424 Squadron. Lost March 13, 1943 Age 28. Buried in Uden War Cemetery, North Brabant, Netherlands. Son of James Alfred and Alice Louise Parker of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Sergeant Sydney Eric Eversfield. Royal Canadian Air Force 12 Squadron RAF. Lost July 4, 1043 Age 37. Runnymede Memorial Surrey, England. Son of Sydney Linacre and Elizabeth Eversfield. Husband of Neva Josephine Eversfield of Duncan, BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flying Officer Frank Herbert Grainger. Royal Canadian Air Force 131 Operational Training Unit. Lost October 16, 1943 Age 20. Buried in Irvinestown Church of Ireland Churchyard County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Son of Herbert and Amy Grainger. Husband of Joyce E.B. Grainger of New Westminister, BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Francis Aloysius Doherty. Royal Canadian Air Force 44 Rhodesia Squadron RAF. Lost May 24, 1943 Age 23. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Son of Mabel Doherty of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flight Sergeant William Bligh Eaton. Royal Canadian Air Force 7 Squadron RAF. Lost October 9, 1943 Age 19. Buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Robert Berry and Violet May Eaton of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Flight Lieutenant John Robert Edgar. Royal Canadian Air Force 211 Squadron RAF. Lost December 27, 1943 Age 28. Buried in Ranchi Military Cemetery, lndia. Son of Dale Edwin and Lulu Josephine Edgar of Vancouver BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual Memorial

Warrant Officer II Everett Charles Smith. Royal Canadian Air Force 608 Squadron RAF. Lost May 7, 1943 Age 26. Malta Memorial, Malta. Son of Edward Charles and Eva Alberta Smith of Cultus Lake, BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flight Sergeant Nathaniel Wesley McNair. Royal Canadian Air Force 460 Squadron. Lost November 26, 1943 Age 26. Buried at Sage War Centetery, Oldenberg, Germany. Son of Nathaniel James David and Jennie McNair of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Warrant Officer II Russell Tyrrell Currie. Royal Canadian Air Force 410 Squadron. Lost February11, 1944 Age 21. Buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England. Son of Harvey Stanley and Lennah Currie. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Fourth High School Planting: May 29th, 1945

Flying Officer Richard Leslie Coulter. Royal Canadian Air Force 104 Squadron RAF. Lost December 17, 1942 Age 24. Malta Memorial, Malta. Son of Ralph Arnold and Edna Grace Coulter of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flight Lieutenant Ronald Ernest MacFarlane, DFM. Royal Canadian Air Force 101 Squadron RAF. Lost December 16, 1943 Age 21. Buried in Lemsterland (Lemmer) General Cemetery, Friesland, Netherlands. Son of John and Phoebe MacFarlane of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer John Allen Thompson. Royal Canadian Air Force. 24 Operational Training Unit. Lost July 14, 1944 Age 21. Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England. Son of Fred and Daisy Thompson. Husband of June Eleanor Thompson of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Warrant Officer I Lorne Clarence Rideout. Royal Canadian Air Force 165 Squadron RAF. Lost July 18, 1944 Age 28. Buried in Chilliwack (Royal Canadian Legion) Cemetery, Little Mountain, BC. Son of Clarence Walter and Amber May Rideout, Sardis, BC.

Husband of Vida Alwyn Rideout, Calgary, Alberta. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer John Ross Stoneman. Royal Canadian Air Force 166 Squadron RAF. Lost October 12, 1944 Age 31. Buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, England. Son of Frederick and Christina Stoneman of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Lloyd Snider. Royal Canadian Air Force 425 Squadron. Lost August 2, 1944 Age 32. Buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, England. Son of Mr. & Mrs.Thomas Snider. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Leading Aircraftman Stanley Harold Ling. Royal Canadian Air Force 5 Bombing and Gunnery School Dafoe SK. Lost October 30, 1944 Age 21. Buried in Sardis (Carman) Cemetery, Sardis BC. Son of Frank an Josephine Ling, of Saris, BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Squadron Leader Cyril Nisbet Tingle Jr. B.A., LL.B. Royal Canadian Air Force Civil Affairs Branch. Lost November 27, 1944 Age 35. Buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Cyril N. and Beryl McDermott Tingle. Husband of Margaret L. Tingle, Chilliwack, B.C. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Sergeant William Alexander Cameron. Royal Canadian Air Force 425 Squadron. Lost July 19, 1944 Age 23. Buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Alexander and Louise E. Cameron of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Fifth High School Planting: May 23rd, 1946

Flight Lieutenant Francis Thomas Sargent Brice. Royal Canadian Air Force 408 Squadron. Lost June 13, 1944 Age 25. Buried in Canada Cemetery, Tilloy Les Cambrai, France. Son of S. Leslie and Frances H. Brice of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Sergeant Alfred George Greenwoood Brown. Royal Canadian Air Force 489 Squadron RNZAF. Lost January 23, 1943 Age 22. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Son of Norman Vincent and Marie Brown. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and the Ottawa Memorial

Pilot Officer George Robert Berkey. Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron. Lost April 23, 1944 Age 22. Buried in Conde sur Aisne Communal Cemetery, France. Son of George Dewey and Martha W. Berkey of New Westminster BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Frederick Arthur George Wilmott Gerty. Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron. Lost June 2, 1942 Age 29. Buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of William Brimsley and Violet Lucy Gerty of Vancouver BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Alexander Harvey MacLeod. Royal Canadian Air Force 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Dishforth. Lost 15 October 1944 Age 22. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Son of William Ray and Beulah Rossland MacLeod of Cultus Lake BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and the Ottawa Memorial

Flight Lieutenant Frank James Ling. Royal Canadian Air Force 50 Squadron RAF. Lost March 14, 1945 Age 29. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Son of Frank and Josephine Ling of Sardis BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flight Sergeant Stanley Derek Spencer. Royal Canadian Air Force 166 Squadron RAF. Lost May 22, 1944 Age 22. Buried in Goudriaan General Cemetery, Netherlands. Son of Basil Geoffrey and Hilda May Spencer of Cultus Lake BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer James Leonard Norris. Royal Canadian Air Force. Lost January 19, 1946 Age 21. Buried in Chilliwack (Royal Canadian Legion) Cemetery, Little Mountain, BC. Son of James William and Emma Norris of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flying Officer Maurice Jorgenson. Royal Canadian Air Force 354 Squadron RAF. Lost December 5, 1944 Age 22. Singapore Memorial. Son of Marius and Elizalseth Jorgenson of Sardis BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Flight Lieutenant Terrance Patrick Jarvis. Royal Canadian Air Force 401 Squadron. Lost July 31, 1944 Age 29. Burried in Bayeux War Cemetery, France. Son of Sidney Earl and Norah O. Jarvis of Vancouver BC. Husband of Phyllis Edna Jarvis of Vancouver BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the Ottawa Memorial

Pilot Officer Alexander Gordon Devoy. Royal Canadian Air Force 426 Squadron Service Number J/85650. Lost March 31, 1944 Age 23. Buried in Dumbach War Cemetery, Germany. Brother of Mrs. Alan Minter and Miss Betty Devoy of Chilliwack BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Warrant Officer II Donald Montgomery. Royal Canadian Air Force 415 Squadron Service Number R/101199. Lost April 3,1943 Age 20. Buried in Littlehampton Cemetery Sussex, England. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Montgomery of Cultus Lake BC. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Pilot Officer Leicester James Tingle. Royal Canadian Air Force 45 Air Transport Group (Ferry Command). Lost March 5, 1944 Age 22. Buried in Fossvogur Cemetery, Reykjavik, Iceland. Son of Leicester and Martha Tingle, of Villanueva y Geltru, Province of Barcelona, Spain. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Warrant Officer I Laurence Munro McLean. Royal Canadian Air Force Service Number: R/62458 Royal Canadian Air Force. 1406 Meteorological Flight (RAF). Lost January 6, 1943 Age 27. Buried in Leuchars Cemetery, Argyllshire, Scotland. Son of Will and Bertha Mclean, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Brother of Don McLean. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. (WOI McLean is the only Chilliwack airman with a memorial hydrangea, whose name is not recorded on the Chilliwack War Memorial).

At this service, the 49th hydrangea was planted in memory of 11 Royal Air Force personnel who were killed ]une 1,1945 when their Liberator aircraft KK241 crashed on Mt. Welch. At the time they were undergoing training with No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Their remains are buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still and they are remembered in Canada at the Ottawa Memorial on Green Island, the Abbotsford Cenotaph, and at the Airplane Creek Memorial in Thompson Park, Chilliwack. Many are memorialized in the UK on local memorials and on a website maintained by the Banstead Historical Research Group. Their names are show below.

AIRPLANE CREEK MEMORIAL - In memory of the eleven Royal Air Force Members lost in the crash on Mt. Welch of Liberator KK241 on June 1, 1945

More information on the Airplane Creek Memorial can be read at http://www.airplanecreek.com/

Because of the mountainous terrain it was not possible to recover the remains of the crew of KK241. They rest in peace between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still and are remembered at the Airplane Creek Memorial near Chilliwack BC and in their UK homeland. These eleven are also commemorated on panels at the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum tribute

KK241 Crash Report

Facebook page RcafAbbotsford

The crew of Liberator KK241

2015-08-01-Missing-Airmen-Memorial-B.pdf

Aircrew trainees as well as military and civilian instructors and technical staff who lost their lives at British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) bases, and who have no known grave, are commemorated at the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial also known as the "Ottawa Memorial" on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Ontario.

Sergeant Stanley S. Aldridge. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1892574. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 20. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of Frederick Henry and Louisa Aldridge, Heathwood Gardens Charlton London S.E.7. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial Panel 4. Column 1, Ottawa, Ontario.

Sergeant Albert Eric Broadbent. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1591213. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 19. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of John and Alice Broadbent of Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant John Randall Dale. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1895153. Lost June 1, 1945, Age 31. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant William Peter Watt Drummond. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1565226. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 23 or 24. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of William and Mabel Drummond. Husband of Agnes Drummond of Cupar, Fife, Scotland. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant Isaac Gibbons. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1591213. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 19. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of Isaac and Charlotte Gibbons of Haswell, CO. Durham, England. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant James Leonard Gordon Hammond. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1865865. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 20. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of J.L. Hammond and Ethel Hammond of 32 Winkworth Road, Banstead, Surrey, England. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial and on the Banstead Memorial

Flying Officer Arthur William David Hill. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 164394. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 21. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of William Bucknell and Frances Irene Hill of Falmouth, Cornwall, England. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant David Robertson Langlands. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1564813. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 33. Buried between the summits of Mount Welch and Mount Still, BC. Son of James and Euphemia Wilson (nee Henderson) Langlands. Husband of Ina Langlands of Aberdeen, Scotland. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Pilot Officer Gilbert Ewart Ellis Long. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No. 5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 167802. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 21. Son of Gilbert Charles and Marjorie Sabina Long of Sunny Hill Farm, Shirehampton, Bristol, UK. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant Graham Murray. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1811515. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 20. Son of John George and Doris Murray of Isleworth, Middlesex, England. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Sergeant William Thomas Swatton. Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve No.5 Operational Training Unit, Abbotsford. Service Number 1564813. Lost June 1, 1945 Age 34. Son of Albert Tom and Louise Swatton. Husband of Evelyn Beryl Swatton of Malborough, Wiltshire, England. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Flying Officer Arthur William David Hill, pilot (21 years old)

Pilot Officer Gilbert Ewart Ellis Long, co-pilot (21 years old)

Sgt. Graham Murray, navigator (20 years old)

Sgt. Stanley Aldridge, Air Gunner (20 years old)

Sgt. Albert Eric Broadbent, Air Gunner (19 years old)

Sgt. John Randall Dale, Air Gunner (32 years old)

Sgt. William Peter Watt Drummond, Air Gunner (24 years old)

Sgt. Isaac Gibbons, Air Gunner (19 years old)

Sgt. James Leonard Gordon Hammond, Air Bomber (20 years old)

Sgt. David Robertson Langlands, Wireless Air Gunner (34 years old)

Sgt. William Thomas Swatton, Wireless Air Gunner (34 years old)

RCAF Accident Card courtesy of Jerry E. Vernon.

REMEMBERING AIRMEN NOT COMMEMORATED WITH A BLUE HYDRANGEA

Lieutenant George Arthur Leckie, 49 Squadron Royal Air Force. Lost on May 9, 1918 Age 23. Arras Flying Service Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Son of Robert J. & Annie Leckie, Vancouver, B.C. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Howard Kitchener Jones Service Number: J/15670, Royal Canadian Air Force 430 Squadron. Lost on June 21, 1944. Buried in Le Mans West Cemetery, Sarthe, France. Son of Elsworth B. and Ethel H. Jones of Chilliwack, B.C. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

REMEMBERING THOSE AIRMEN LOST POST WORLD WAR II

Flight Lieutenant James Stewart Lees, D.F.C. Service Number J/20727 Royal Canadian Air Force. Lost September 15, 1946 Age 32. Buried in Chilliwack (Canadian Legion) Cemetery, Little Mountain, British Columbia. Son of Thomas and Susan Lees, Abbotsford, B.C. Husband of Evelyn Gladys Lees, Abbotsford, B.C. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sergeant Malcolm Hutton Brooks (Service Number) 4811 Royal Canadian Air Force. Lost October 15, 1947 Age 37. Buried in Vancouver (Mountain View) Cemetery.

Son of Archibald Hutton Brooks and Jessie Brooks, of Chilliwack. Husband of Louisa Brooks of Vancouver. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Flight Cadet Howard Keith Geil, Royal Canadian Air Force Service Number: 38197 No. 2 Flight Training School Gimli, MB. Lost February 1, 1952 near Poplar Point and St Ambrose MB on a cross-country navigation flight. Age 22. Burried in the Chilliwack (Royal Canadian Legion) Cemetery. Son of Simon Geil of Victoria and Hilda Geil of Chilliwack, B.C. Husband of Margete Geil, Vancouver, B.C. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Clifford Raymond Jones. Royal Canadian Air Force. Service Number: 41591. RCAF Station Winnipeg. Lost in the crash of Expiditor 1470 on January 22nd, 1955 Age 22 near Sanford, MB on a routine navigation training flight. Burried in the Chilliwack (Royal Canadian Legion) Cemetery Grave 25, Block 1. Son of Arthur and Ida (nee Jackman) Jones of Chilliwack, British Columbia. Brother of Edward, Garvin, Richard, Donald, Evelyn Jones and Audrey B. Morgan. Cliff was a 147 Chilliwack Squadron Air Cadet from 1947-1951 and won the Air Cadet Cup for rifle marksmanship in 1948 and 1949. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flying Officer Anthony Robert Shelongosky. Royal Canadian Air Force, Service Number: 135450, 423 All Weather Fighter Squadron Lost January 27, 1961 Age 24 at Folschviller, France. Burried in CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY France. Son of Otto and Josephine Shelongosky, Chilliwack, B.C. Husband of Florence Shelongosky (nee Fleming), Chilliwack, B.C. Father of Travis. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Flight Lieutenant Lees was in a C-47 Dakota that crashed in Estevan SK. https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-douglas-c-47a-10-dk-dakota-iii-estevan-21-killed

In 2018 a chainsaw carving in memory of the airmen was completed.

Lieutenant Michael Dennis Aucoin, Canadian Armed Forces (Air), Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, Chilliwack, B.C. Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering. Lost June 20, 1988, Age 42 during a training exercise at the Slesse Creek demolition site located in the Chilliwack River Valley. Place of burial CHILLIWACK (ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION) CEMETERY ; British Columbia, Canada. Son of Cecil and Virginia. Husband of Heather Aucoin. Father of Tracey and Katherine Aucoin. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Captain Joseph William Best, Canadian Forces (Air), Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering. Lost June 20, 1988, Age 38. Place of burial Chilliwack Cemetery (Little Mountain). Son of Cecil and Louise Best of Balgonie, Saskatchewan. Husband of Debbie Lee (nee Grant) Best. Father of Brittany Lee, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Alanna Michelle and Daniel Joseph John of Whitecourt, Alberta. Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial Place of burial unknown. Husband of Debbie L. Best, Vedder Crossing, B.C

June 20, 1988

Captain Best and Lieutenant Aucoin were killed along with four other Canadian Forces Army personnel during a demolitions exercise at the Slesse Creek demolition site located in the Chilliwack River Valley on June 20, 1988.

Officer Cadet William James Whitley commemorated on the the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Second Lieutenant Kevin John Wilkinson commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Officer Cadet Wade Christopher Sutton commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Officer Cadet Kelly Rae Gawne commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse