These pages go with Rodolphe Lafrenière’s pictures I posted before.
One of reasons I write blogs about WWII is pictures like this one I posted yesterday on my blog about 425 Alouette.
That plane was not in that squadron although I could make up a story.
One day I will be able to tell you more about that airplane. Continue reading
If you want to share pictures or stories, you can add a comment or use this contact form.
Do you know what Facebook is?
Did you know there is a Facebook group about BCATP?
Did you know that two recruits were in the same course at No. 6 SFTS Dunnville?
Course 46.
They got their wings on the same day: April 24, 1942.
Collection Jacques Gagnon
Did you know I visited the Dunnville Museum in 2011 and took more than 200 pictures?
This was one of them…
Did you know recruit no.1 was Eugène Gagnon who became a Mosquito pilot with 23 Squadron?
Collection Tom Cushing
What about finding on Facebook that recruit No. 15 was someone’s grandfather?
Now you know how Facebook can be fun and be a great tool to reunite people with their relatives or strangers who got their training with the BCATP.
Updated 12 November 2020
Flight Lieutenant Ken Williams was taken on strength at No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School on March 7th 1943.
5 ITS December 28th 1942
20 EFTS March 7th 1943
6 SFTS May 1943
1 OTU August 27th 1943
3 PRC February 1st 1944
61 OTU March 21st 1944
3 TEU June 2nd 1944
1690 Flight June 6th 1944
83 GSU December 10th 1944
416 Squadron December 25th 1944
Rodolphe Lafrenière was in the same course as Ken Williams.
End of update
It has been a long time since I have written a post on this blog. I had one on the back burner and I had forgotten to post it.
I only write when I have something to share. I have something that might be of interest to someone who was stationed at No. 20 E.F.T.S., Oshawa or a relative. (broken link)
These are two pages taken from this logbook.
This is Rodolphe Lafrenière, a Handley Page Halifax pilot with 425 Alouette Squadron during WWII.
His son André shared his father’s logbook and several photos with me.
None were taken at No. 20 EFTS Oshawa. These are two I found on the Internet.
Oshawa Public Libraries’ online image collection
Oshawa Public Libraries’ online image collection
These logbook pages are interesting artefacts because we have the name of Rodolphe Lafrenière’s instructor: WO2 J. P. Lumsden.
Maybe someone knew this instructor, and maybe he or she has pictures to share. This is why I am writing this post on this blog about the BCATP.
There were also others names.
Flight Sergeant John Mac Keller, instructor, and Bert Pearson, engineer in charge.
If you have any information, you can contact me using this form.
The pilot whose name was Smith crashed at Rigaud Mountain near St. Eugene.
Paul Piché
Paul Piché was an instructor in St. Eugene in 1942, and was transfered to 127 Squadron, then later to 443 Squadron.
This is another picture taken at No. 13 E.F.T.S. St. Eugene.
A bad day flying
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan 