Gordon Richard Laslett (c. 1943)

Item

Title

Gordon Richard Laslett (c. 1943)

Description

Black and white photograph of Gordon Richard Laslett, receiving his graduation certificate at Number 4 Wireless School in Guelph Ontario.

Date

Identifier

009.058.004

Medium

Provenance

Gordon Richard Laslett, February 21, 1922 - March 4, 2003.
Gordon Laslett of Airport Road West, Mount Hope, was the only child of Richard and Lucy Laslett. Gordon graduated from Hamilton Collegiate Institute and was a pattern maker at Brown Boggs Foundry and Machine Company in Hamilton when he joined the Air Force on May 19, 1942.
Following orientation flights in Malton training on Ansons, he was transferred to #4 Wireless School in Guelph for eight months. He graduated with the highest ever recorded academic standing of 932 out of 1000, and received his Pilot Officer Commission and WAG Wing. Gordon was then posted to #1 Bombing and Gunnery School in Jarvis for six weeks where he earned the highest ranking gunnery scores to date. He was then moved to Malton where he trained on Wellingtons practicing night fighter affiliation, air and sea firings, circuits and landings.
In October 1944, he was posted to 434 Bluenose Squadron in England where he received his crew and completed 22 day and night operations over Europe including their longest flight of nine hours and forty minutes over occupied territory. For this the crew received a promotion in rank and a posting to Squadron #405 Pathfinder. Flying in a Lancaster, Gordon and his crew completed 20 day and night operations primarily over the Rhur Valley, the industrial base of Germany. Total flying time was 449:05 daylight, and 330:30 night time hours. Prior to flying their Lancaster home, they were also assigned to P.O.W. pickups at Dunkirk and Cologne.
By way of the Azores, Gander NL., and Scoudouc N.B., Gordon arrived home on June 17, 1945. Before being discharged, the crew flew two Lancasters to Pearce and Clairsholm Alberta, in October 1945.

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