The oldest member of 441 (Huronia) Wing passed away on 05 December, 2020 in his 101st year.  

 

Pilot Officer (ret’d) Thomas George Leonard RCAF #R83607, joined the RCAF as ground crew on 25 November 1940 and transferred to aircrew in 1942, training at No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School at RCAF Station Jarvis, ON, as a Navigator "B" (Bomb Aimer before moving on to Air Navigation School, which he completed at No. 10 Air Observer School in Chatham, NB. He also did some of his aircrew training in PEI prior to shipping overseas to the UK on 26 May 1943.

 

After conversion training on Wellington Mk 13s at RAF Haverfordwest, Wales (# 3 Operational Training Unit), he served with 8 Sqn in Aden (Yemen). His Sqn was responsible for covering the eastern portion of the Indian Ocean, and its sister squadron, 244 Sqn, was responsible for covering the western portion of the Indian Ocean.

 

He was in the Gulf from November 1943 until January 1945. Tom demobilized from the RCAF in March 1945. 

 

 

The picture of Tom Leonard below, front row, 3rd from left, was taken at #10 Air Observer School, Chatham, NB, 1943 

 

 

This link is to his obituary. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/19235756/Thomas-George-Leonard