The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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254524 Albert Jacob Augustine Royal Canadian Air Force 432 (Leaside) Squadron from:Ontario, Canada (d.10th Aug 1990) The following was shared with me by the son of my step-grandfather Albert Jacob Augustin), when I asked him for information regarding my grandfather's service in the war. My father joined the RCAF I believe in 1943 at Westdale High School in Hamilton. It operated as a school during the daytime and served as a training facility all night. At one time the school was the largest building in the British empire complete with rifle range in the basement. After his basic training he was selected for aircrew and became an air gunner. Next stop was Gimli, Manitoba, for air gunnery training before going overseas. He joined the 432 Squadron known as Leaside which was located at East Moor in England. It was part of the 6 Bomber Group and he flew as a tail gunner in a 4 engine Halifax bomber. He completed 36 missions with most being over industrial targets over Germany. His squadron flew night missions while the Americans flew during the daylight. He completed an extra 6 missions (30 was a normal tour) so he could return to Canada on leave in 1945. When he got to Toronto by train at Union Station in 1945 he heard the war in Europe was over. He was assigned to train on new Lincoln bombers for the war in Asia after his leave ended. Fortunately the war ended and he was mustered out. He and your grandmother went to England to attend the Bomber Group reunion at York, England, in the late 1980s. It was a highlight of the last years of his life. His 432 Squadron also had reunions in Toronto which he attended as he kept in touch with his fellow aircrew after the war ended. Evidently the casualty rate was 50% for bomber command aircrew, with the life expectancy of a tail gunner of 8 missions. Grumpy was a very fortunate to survive his extended tour of duty. Kelly Dunlop Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Eastmoor Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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