159 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca PANTING, Thomas William WWII Thomas was born on August 25, 1925 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943, trained as a gunner and served in Canada and England with 106 Squadron Metheringham and 630 Squadron East Kirby. He went on twenty-four bombing missions over Germany, France, East Prussia, Norway, Holland, and also to Heimbach Dam in Germany. On January 13, 1945, Thomas and his crew were flying to Stettin, Germany when an engine caught fire and they were forced to bail out of the burning plane. The mid upper gunner was killed but the others landed in Sweden where they were interned for two months before returning to England on March 19, 1945. Thomas was discharged with the rank of Warrant Officer-2 and was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal. Thomas has been a member of Transcona Legion Branch 7 for thirty-five years. PARSONS, Leonard R. WWI Leonard was born in Wells, Somerset, England in 1896. He joined the Army and served in the Canadian Engineers during World War I. He was injured in one of the campaigns and lost a kidney. Leonard was a member of St. James Legion Branch 4 and he passed away in 1956. PATTERSON, Albert A. WWI Albert was born in Boissevain, Manitoba in 1896. He joined the Army and served in Canada and France. Albert was a Life Member of Boissevain Legion Branch 10 for more than fifty years before he died in 1950. PATTERN, Edward “Ted” WWII Ted was born in 1922 in Fisher Branch, Manitoba. From 1940-45, he served overseas as a Private within the Army’s Canadian Dental Corps during the Battle of Britain. He remained to serve in England for the duration of the war. Upon discharge, he received the War Medal, the Defence Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. Ted was a member of the St. James Legion Branch 4 for over ten years. He died in 1995.
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