Hundreds attended the York funeral, which was marked by a lone bugler and tributes from former colleagues. Doug flew 31 missions over wartime Germany as a flight engineer with 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force and was one of the final members of the York branch of the Normandy Veteran’s Association.
On reconnecting with RAF Leeming more than a decade ago, Doug visited many times to share witty, incredible, and often deeply moving tales of his wartime years and ‘Mitch’s Crew’ – who remained in contact after six of the seven returned to Canada, and throughout their lives. It was at RAF Leeming that he was presented with the Legion d’Honneur in 2017, and to where he returned to mark 75 years since he joined the RAF in 2019.
“Doug was our veteran, and it was clear that service with the Royal Canadian Air Force at Leeming during the Second World War was incredibly special to him."
Group Captain Gareth Prendergast, Station Commander RAF Leeming, said: “Doug was our veteran, and it was clear that service with the Royal Canadian Air Force at Leeming during the Second World War was incredibly special to him."
“I was fortunate to hear him regale tales of the derring-dos during the war, but it is the antics on the ground and during training that will stick with me rather than the operational sorties. It was clear that, as a bomber crew, there was a shared fraternity and bond that helps provide a connection to the sense of service and loyalty that still lives today in the aviators at RAF Leeming. I am grateful for having known Doug and I will be forever indebted to the sacrifice and bravery Doug, and the many people like him, demonstrated during the war.”
Per Ardua Ad Astra
