471 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND STEWART, John R. John was born on April 30, 1921 in London, ON. He enlisted in the RCAF on March 10, 1942 as a Leading Aircraftman. After training, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. He became a flying instructor and eventually got operational training on Hurricanes. He was transferred to England training on Spitfires and Typhoons (Tiffies). Typhoons were single seater fighter bombers whose tactics were low level dive bombing specific targets. They provided close support for the Army and Artillery through Normandy, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He served with 438 Squadron which was one of 3 RCAF Typhoon Squadrons that made up 143 Wing under the Allied Expeditionary Air Force. One of his last flights was dropping “leaflet bombs” which were safe conduct passes encouraging German soldiers to surrender. He was honourably discharged on November 6, 1945 at the rank of Flying Officer. His decorations include the 1939 – 1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp and the War Medal 1939 – 1945. John passed away in 1986. STICKLEY, Fred J. Fred was born on January 13, 1918 in Toronto, ON. He enlisted in the Navy in 1939. He joined the RCNVR. He advanced from Ordinary Seaman, Gunner to Leading Seaman to Petty Officer to Warrant Officer. On the shake-down cruise on Lake Ontario, there was a wager as to which ship would come closest to the target on gunnery practices. He didn’t come close – he blew the target out of the water! Also, the glass around the wheelhouse was shattered. On one trip, the ship was painted white – so as to provide an easy target for the submarines. The crew was ordered to write home and to make their last will. He was a member of the Mount Denis Legion Branch 31 for 33 years before he passed away on June 12, 1988. STICKLES, James A. “Jim” Jim was born on March 12, 1925 in East Angus, QC. He was trained as an RCAF electrician. He ended up in 39 (Reece) Wing, landing on Juno Beach on D+19 (June 25, 1944). Until the end of the war, he was always with the most forward Allied airfields in Europe and praying for rain so the Germans would be unable to bomb of strafe them. This worked, except for January 1, 1945 when many allied airfields, including Jim’s were strafed and bombed in the last big air assault by the Germans. He saw the horrors of Bergen-Belsen first-hand and spent one year in Germany in the Allied Occupation Forces before demobilizing and joining the RCAF Reserve. He ended up as the Manager for Safety, Security and Fire Prevention for DOMTAR and later Uniroyal for the rest of his working career.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==