RCAF.com
Nos. 424 & 405 Squadron Photographs
From the collections of C.G. Russel, Sgt., Armourer, 1940 - 1945
These are a few of the photos taken during my service with the RCAF in 1940-45. I am hoping that servicemen and/or their families may recognize themselves or family members in some of these photos. . If anyone would like to have a copy of any of these photos, just email me at cgrussell@cox.net with your request, and I will be glad to email copies to you.
My primary reason for posting these photos is to add to the historical record of the RCAF, and to help depict the very major role of the RCAF during World War II. I still remember with awe, the spirit that permeated throughout all ranks-no work was too hard, no hours too long, no weather too difficult-the determination to get the job done! What a formidable force was mobilized by the RCAF!
The following is a history of my service with the RCAF. I will be glad to hear from anyone whose path may have crossed mine, or from their families.
I still remember with awe, the spirit that permeated throughout all ranks-no work was too hard, no hours too long, no weather too difficult-the determination to get the job done! What a formidable force was mobilized by the RCAF!
I enlisted in the RCAF in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in June 1940. Went to the Manning Tool in Toronto, and from there was transferred to the Artificers' training program at Trenton, Ontario. On graduation, I was sent to the Bombing & Gunnery School at Fingal, Ontario and remained there to train aircrew gunners. Shipped to England in Jan. 1942, and assigned to the 405 Squadron, stationed at air fields at Pocklington and Topcliffe in Yorkshire, and Beaulieu in the New Forest. In 1943, was re-assigned to Squadron 424 and sent to Tunisia in North Africa. The squadron returned to England at Skipton-on-Swale in Nov. 1943. I returned to Canada in July, 1945.
Training Photographs
England 1942 Photographs
North Africa 1943 Photographs
England 1944 - 1945 Photographs