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Painting dedicated to RCAF Airman

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Elinor Florence, Jun 11, 2014.

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  1. Elinor Florence

    Elinor Florence Active Member

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    [SIZE=18pt]Seventy-two years after my uncle RCAF pilot trainee Alan Light died in a training accident, I uncovered a mysterious painting that shows the last moments of his life. His Cessna Crane struck a ferry cable over the South Saskatchewan River. Click on Wartime Wednesdays to read the whole story.[/SIZE]

    [​IMG]
     

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    Elinor Florence, Jun 11, 2014
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  2. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    That is a great story Elinor, albeit very sad. The original painting must be quite something to see !

    The thousands of trainee pilots who lost their lives in circumstances such as these are often overlooked today - best of luck with the event on the 17th......
     
    Martin Bull, Jun 11, 2014
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  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    By coincidence, we vacation in Cape May, NJ. Not only is there a memorial to trainee pilots who died in accidents, but there is a museum at the Air Station devoted to flight. We've seen both. Here is a small excerpt from a news article about these trainees.
    Some of the war's most lethal bombers - Helldivers and TBM-3E Avengers among them - were flown by members of naval fighter, dive-bombing, and torpedo-bombing squadrons based at the station from 1943 until 1945. At least 42 airmen lost their lives while training at the station, but their deaths brought about improvements in airplane design and tactics.
    http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/cape-may/cape-may-events/52025-mac-hosts-authors-for-book-signing-at-world-war-ii-tower-may-17.html
     
    LRusso216, Jun 11, 2014
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