Jack Standish Banks J/15267 Flying Officer Royal Canadian Air Force Distinguished Flying Medal August 23, 1917 Torbrook Mines, Annapolis Co., NS September 14, 1939 Dartmouth, NS Torbrook Mines, NS 5 feet, 8 inches Electrician Baptist Single (at enlistment) Joseph Banks (Father) Torbrook Mines, NS June 3, 1943 25 Kidlington Burial Gound, Oxfordshire, UK Section B, Grave 15 Commemorated on Page 113 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 21 Jack was the son of Joseph Domock Banks and Amy Demont Banks (d. October 1934) of Torbrook Mines, Annapolis Co., NS. He was the brother of Merle Alexander Banks, Leon Demont Banks, Claude Wilson Banks and Chester Langley Banks. Merle Banks served in the RCN and was killed in action when HMCS Louisburg in which he was serving was sunk by enemy action. Claude Wilson Banks served with the Canadian Army overseas during WWII. Jack was married to Annie Mary Louise (Merchand) Banks on October 3, 1942 in Toronto. At the time of his death, she was living in Brantford Ontario and later at East Angus, Quebec. Jack attended the Torbrook Mines Public School between 1923 and 1933. Having completed his schooling he was first employed as a carpenter with J. D. Banks between 1933 and 1936 at Torbrook and with N. S. Banks between 1936 and 1939 as an electrician. Jack enjoyed hockey and baseball, photography, hunting and fishing. He enlisted in September of 1939 and was initially stationed at #5 Bombing and Reconnaissance Squadron at Dartmouth with the Accounts Section between September 14, 1939 and May 30, 1940. He then attended wireless course at #1 Wireless School (Montreal) between May 30, 1940 and October 12, 1940; a gunnery course at #1 Bombing and Gunnery School between October 25, 1940 and November 25, 1940. Following his training in Canada he went overseas in December, 1940 and was assigned to 75 Squadron, 214 Squadron and No 9 RAF Squadron. He completed thirty-one sorties as an air gunner and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on April 13, 1942 “One night in January, 1942, this airman was the front gunner of an aircraft which carried out a low level attack on the aerodrome Abbschipol. Nearing the aerodrome a Dornier 217 was intercepted and Sergeant Banks coolly shot it down from close range. During the bombing run his aircraft was held i the searchlights but by his accurate fire Sergeant Banks extinguished two of them and at the same time warned his pilot, who was blinded by the glare, of the danger of colliding with a hanger. Throughout he displayed determination and resource. This airman has participated in thirty-one sorties over enemy and enemy territory wherein targets have been attacked at important centres such as Dusseldorf, Hamm, Cologne, Kiel, Genda and Brest.” He returned to Canada in February 1942. He received his Pilot Flying Badge on February 5, 1943 and was appointed to a Commission returning to the United Kingdom on March 17, 1943 and was assigned to 20(P) AFU on May 5, 1943. On June 3, 1943 while on active service at RAF Station Kidlington, near Bagpuize, Oxfordshire, Flying Officer Banks was a passenger in an Oxford Aircraft (V.3821) that was involved in a mid-air collision with another Oxford Aircraft. Both planes spun into the ground and burst into flames. Both planes were completely destroyed. His death, the Pilot R. C. Wood, and Pupil Pilot D. J. Innes-Smith was instantaneous. The funeral of Pilot Officer Banks was held at 3:00 pm on June 7, 1943 in the Station Church at Kidlington. Full military honours were accorded, the coffin being carried by Offices of the Unit and the body interned in the village cemetery at Kidlington.