Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Name:
Charles Curtis Merril McCann
Rank:
Flying Officer
Service No:
J/9780
Service:
Royal Canadian Air Force
218 RAF Squadron
Date of Birth:
February 4, 1910
Place of Birth:
Wallace, NS
Date of Enlistment:
February 27, 1941
Place of Enlistment:
Moncton, NB
Address At Enlistment:
Pugwash, Cumberland Co., NS
Age at Enlistment:
31
Trade:
School Teacher/School Principal
Marital Status:
Single
Religion:
Church of England
Next of Kin:
Jessie Ann McCann (Sister) Halifax, NS
Date of Death:
December 17, 1942
Age At Death:
32
Cemetery:
Hanover War Cemetery
Cemetery Reference:
2. D. 14.
Commemorated on Page 95 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance
Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 1
Charles Curtis Merril McCann was the son of Arthur Wellesley McCann (1856-1926) and Mary Jane
McCann (1869-1930). His father was born in Wallace, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. His mother was
born in Prince Edward Island.
Charles’ half brother Sergeant Wellesley McCann (Service No. 229304) was killed in France serving
with the 44th Battalion during WWI on November 1, 1918. He was 29 and is interred at the Aulnoy
Communal Cemetery in France.
Charles graduated from Acadia University in 1933 with a major in English, and attended the Toronto
University (Ontario College of Education) in 1939/1940. Just prior to enlistment he was employed with
the Pugwash School Board.
Charles McCann first applied to the RCAF on August 9, 1940, but was rejected as his qualifications at
that time were not suitable. Following his RCAF acceptance in 1941 and training in Canada, he
proceeded overseas on February 19, 1942. He was assigned to 218 RAF Squadron on July 23, 1942.
He was serving as an Air Observer when, on the night of December 17, 1942, he was one of three
killed when his aircraft, Short Stirling W7 614 (HA-J), flying from RAF Downham Market in Norfolk,
England, on air operations (Bomber Command) to Fallersleben, Lower Saxony, Germany, crashed near
Langenhagen, Germany.
Also killed were the Flight Engineer, RAF Sergeant Michael William Lavelle (Service No. 530012), of
Lancashire, England, interred in Section 2, Row D, Grave 16, of the Hanover War Cemetery and the Air
Bomber, RCAF Warrant Officer Class II Joseph B. Nault (Service No. R/69378), of Ansonville, Ontario,
interred in Section 2, Row D, Grave 15 of the Hanover War Cemetery.
The other four crew of the seven onboard became prisoners of war:
RAF Sergeant William Cameron Fraser (Service No. 966737), sent to Stalag 344 Lamsdorf
RAF Flying Officer Robert Marshall (Service No. 413445), sent to Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria
RCAF Sergeant Henry Richard George Whittall (Service No. R/77343), sent to Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug
RAF Sergeant Samuel Wilson (Service No. 656088), sent Stalag 344 Lamsdorf
Charles Curtis Merril McCann was interred at the Hanover War Cemetery in Germany along side his two
comrades in Section 2, Row D, Grave 14.
Charles Curtis Merril McCann
McCann, September 15, 1940
Remembering World War II
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