Name: Gerald Edward Wagner Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) Service No: R/124697 Service: Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron Date of Birth: May 25, 1923 Place of Birth: Sydney, NS Date of Enlistment: August 28, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Address At Enlistment: Sydney, NS Age at Enlistment: 18 Trade: Student Marital Status: Single Religion: First United Next of Kin: Mabel Nicholson (Grandmother) Sydney, NS Date of Death: December 20, 1942 Age At Death: 20 Cemetery: St John the Baptist Churchyard; Boldre, New Forest District, Hampshire, England Grave Reference: Row 2. Grave 4 Commemorated on Page 122 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 14 Flight Sergeant Wagner was the son of Duncan and Alma (Nicholson) Wagner of Sydney, Nova Scotia and grandson of Mrs. A. J. Nicholson, of Sydney. His mother died when he was one year old and he was brought up by his grandparents . He attended Ashby School and Sydney Academy. He left school in September, 1941 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Having completed his initial training in Canada he went overseas, leaving Canada on April 30, 1942. In England he first served with 22 Operational Training Unit and was then assigned to 405 Squadron on October 28, 1942. 405 "Vancouver" Squadron was a RCAF Squadron,under RAF operational command, and from October 23, 1942 to March 3, 1943 the squadron was part of Coastal Command, carrying out anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay and anti-shipping sweeps against Germany's coastal shipping. Between October 25, 1942 and March 3, 1943 there was a 405 Squadron Detachment (405 (B) Squadron) at RAF Beaulieu (Coastal Command base); this is where Flight Sergeant Wagner served. On December 20 the Halifax B. Mk. II (W7768) aircraft with No. 405 (B) Squadron, from RAF Beaulieu, crashed on the Isle of Wight. The aircraft suffered engine failure while on anti- submarine patrol and dove into the ground near Calbourne, Isle of Wight, Hampshire. All 6 crew were killed.

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Sources and Information: Veterans Affairs Canada