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Paradie RCAF Archive: 45,000+ Entries

Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
Check the Databases Menu for the extensive list of our databases which represent decades of original research by our Editors
Data derived from many sources. Corrections/Additions requested through Helpdesk
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This data is constantly being updated and enhanced by Captain François Dutil RCAF
Further RCAF information is on our Pages Relating to Canada and our RCAF Notes Database and in the RCAF section of our Allied Losses and Incidents Database

This database lists all known RCAF flying-related personnel who served 1939 - 1945 and onwards in many cases.
You may also want to check RCAF entries in the Allied Losses and Incidents Database.
(1) Check Spelling Names link
(2) To search for 3-character names add 'x' to name e.g. for 'coe' search for 'coex'
(3) Check Serial has no spaces eg NB456
(4) Check date format is YYYY-MM-DD include hyphens
(5) Check you have seen all pages, see bottom of table
(6) All squadrons use form '5Sqn' You must include 'Sqn'
(7) Read Search Tips: Database section
(8) Scroll to right to see last column
(9) Try portion of searchword (using Contains Word option)
(10) Cntact us via Helpdesk for assistance

In November 2017 François Dutil began adding extensive information and many images from his research files,
for which we are grateful. Please contact us via our Helpdesk if you have additional information or images.
"Conversion from the original data held as images of old teletype sheets must have taken Major Paradie years.
The Paradie database is as close to a treasure as the World will see.” François Dutil

DUPLICATES EXIST IN THIS DATABASE
We have integrated entries from several databases in the Paradie Archive and as a result there may be more than one entry for a given individual. To ensure you read all the data we have on a person, use the Service Number (without the prefix J/ P/ R/ etc.) to perform a further search for more information on that person.
DATA ALIGNMENT IN PROCESS OF BEING ADJUSTED
Owing to problems with encoding methods, some records require manual adjustment to bring data elements within the record into alignment. This is a lengthy and ongoing process. If the record you are looking at is hard to read, it means we have yet to make the appropriate manual adjustments, so send us a message via the Helpdesk and we will correct that record.
SEARCHING ON SERIAL NUMBERS
Most records were originally encoded with aircraft serial numbers in the format AB 123. The standard is to use the format AB123. We have a long term project underway to change all serial numbers to the standard form, but with 50,000+ records this is a long process.
If you would like our team to research a family member or friend who appears in this database, contact us via the Helpdesk. We will send you instructions.

Our hosting service imposes a 4-character search minimum for database tables. We have modified our databases to support 3-character name searches.

Add 'x' to 3-character name: e.g. to search for 'coe' put 'coex' in search box, for 'fox' put 'foxx'.

If you need help, EMAIL us with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.
To search on squadron, append 'Sqn'. Examples: '72Sqn' or '416Sqn'


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You searched for: “"French, Donald Arthur"

#•••••••••••••••Name••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Initials•••••••••••••••RankPhoto•••••••Awards••••••••••••Fate••••••••••••••••Origin•••••••••••PrefixNumber••••••••••Position•••••••••••••••••••••••••Unit••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Aircraft••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••FurtherInformation••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Notes••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Links•••••••••••••••
1 FrenchDonald ArthurP/O
F/O
F/L
J11035PLTRCAF
2Manning Depot
2ITS (RCAF)
19EFTS (RCAF)
12SFTS (RCAF)
2ANS (RCAF)
1CNS (RCAF)
14SFTS (RCAF)
1OTU (RCAF)
A-33CACTE (RCAC)
1ATTD (RCAF)
1“Y” Depot (RCAF)
RCAF
3PRC (RCAF)
53OTU (RAF)
3TEU (RAF)
56OTU (RAF)
83GSU (RAF)
440Sqn (RCAF)
83GSU (RAF)
3PRC (RCAF)
RCAF
RCAF
RCAF
RCAF
X
X
X
Tiger Moth
Crane
Anson
Anson
Anson, Harvard, Yale, Lysander
Harvard, Hurricane
X
Hurricane
X
Liberator
X
Master, Spitfire
Master, Typhoon
Master, Typhoon
Typhoon
Auster, Typhoon
X
X
X
X
X
Chipmunk
21-Jul-1941 - Vancouver, B.C. Enlisted in the RCAF
23-Jul-1941 to 1-Sep-1941 - Brandon, MB.
1-Sep-1941 to 27-Oct-1941 - Regina, SK. Course No. 36
27-Oct-1941 to 19-Dec-1941 - Virden, MB Course No. 41
26-Dec-1941 to 10-Apr-1942 - Brandon, MB. Course No. 45
27-Apr-1942 to 26-May-1942 - Pennfield Ridge, N.B. Short Navigational Course No. 15
29-May-1942 to 14-Sep-1942 - Rivers, MB. Short “N” Course No. 16 & Navigation Instructor Training
25-Sep-1942 to 10-Mar-1944 - Aylmer, ON. as a Navigation Instructor
25-Mar-1944 to 17-Jun-1944 - Bagotville, QC. Course No. 25
1-Jul-1944 to 15-Jul-1944 - Camp Borden, ON. Course No. 25B
16-Jul-1944 to 29-Jul-1944 - Greenwood, N.S. Course No. 25B
19-Aug-1944 to 8-Sep-1944 - Lachine, QC. for Overseas Posting
8-Sep-1944 - Trans-Atlantic Flight - Dorval, QC. to Gander, NFLD. to Prestwick, Scotland
10-Sep-1944 to 2-Oct-1944 - Bournemouth, U.K.
2-Oct-1944 to 19-Dec-1944 - Kirton-in-Lindsay & Hilbaldstow, U.K. Course No. 51
23-Dec-1944 to 27-Dec-1944 - Aston Down, Gloucestershire, U.K.
29-Dec-1944 to 7-Jan-1945 - Milfield, Northumberland, U.K.
8-Jan-1945 to 18-Mar-1945 - Westhampnett, West Sussex & Dunsfold, Surrey U.K. for Typhoon conversion
18-Mar-1945 to 18-Jul-1945 - Airfields B.78, B.100, B.110, B.150, Warmwell, B.166
19-Jul-1945 - Dunsfold, Surrey U.K.
20-Jul-1945 to 6-Aug-1945 - Bournemouth, U.K. for Repat to Canada
11-Aug-1945 - Arrived in Canada aboard the Louis Pasteur troop ship for 30-Day Leave
9-Oct-1945 - Released from the RCAF
1-Mar-1947 - Transfers to RCAF Active Reserve (Class A)
22-Mar-1951 to 17-May-1951 - Vancouver Aero Club Operation Chipmunk

(Photo: July 1945, B116 Airfield Flensburg, Germany. FO. D.A. French in front of Typhoon.)
F/O Don French flew 35 combat ops from 20-Mar-1945 (first ops) to 20-Apr-1945 (last ops) with 440 Sqn. Deceased on 23 July 2004 in Leatherhead, Surrey, England.
(Information courtesy Francois Dutil and Chris Wolfe)

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