The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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249798 Flt.Sgt. John Hugh MacEachern Royal Canadian Air Force 429 (Bison) Squadron from:Glace Bay, N.S. Canada John MacEachern left via Pier 21 as a young man from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force on his way to England during World War II. He was eventually stationed at Leeming with the 429 Bison Squadron where he assumed the position of rear-gunner on the Halifax bombers. He also returned home via Pier 21 after a horrific accident which occurred in Leeming when a plane his crew borrowed from the 427 squadron (it was a Halifax III Rg-347 coded ZL-P we believe?) blew a tire at take-off on 27th of February 1945. The full complement of bombs and gasoline on board to be used for their mission resulted in a devastating explosion. John was the only crew member to survive and with all his injuries and burns it was considered a miracle that he himself survived. He returned home to Nova Scotia through Pier 21 in a full body cast due to a broken neck and tried his very best to deal with his physical injuries, burns and the emotional scars left from losing his dear friends. John eventually married Mary Christine Mac Donald, also from Glace Bay and they raised eight children together. John sadly passed away on April 14, 2001. He is dearly missed by family and friends. His crew members who died that February day and second family as he referred to them were, F/O Richard M. Scott, Pilot, from Lacombe Alberta F/O Fred Fisher, Flight Engineer, Welland, Ont. F/O S. Carson, Navigator, Toronto, Ont. F/O K.F. Whitehouse, Bomb Aimer, Toronto, Ont. P/O A. Mackie, Wireless Operator, Toronto, Ont. F/Sgt M.J. Brewer, Mid-Upper Gunner, Kingman, Alberta We should never forget the extraordinary sacrifices that John and his crew made for us all. Doreen Burke Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 429 (Bison) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Leeming 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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