Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Honours and Awards: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address At Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eyes: Hair: Trade: Marital Status: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Memorial: Memorial Reference:

Reginald Willis McManaman

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Reginald Willis McManaman Flying Officer J/26840 Royal Canadian Air Force 619 Squadron Mentioned in Despatches February 4, 1924 Maccan, NS July 6, 1942 Moncton, NB Amherst, NS 18 5 feet, 11 inches medium blue brown Fitter (Canadian Car and Foundry, Amherst) Single Presbyterian Florence Laccretta McManaman (Mother) Amherst, NS December 2, 1943 19 Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK Panel 174 Commemorated on page 192 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 19 Reginald Willis McManaman was one of nine children of Daniel and Florence Laccretta (Salter) McManaman of Amherst, NS. He attended the Amherst Academy between 1928 and 1940. He worked as a usher at the Capital Theatre in Amherst between May and August of 1940 and as a reporter with the Amherst Daily News from August, 1940 until January, 1941. He then worked as a fitter with the Canadian Car and Foundry, Amherst until his enlistment. Following training in Canada he embarked Canada on June 16, 1943 and disembarked in the UK on June 24, 1943. He was taken on strength with 619 Squadron on September 29, 1943. On the night of December 2/3, 1943 Lancaster JR 847 with a crew of seven failed to return from air operations against Berlin. The plane was attacked by an enemy aircraft and badly damaged. The pilot gave instructions for the crew to bail out; however, was again attacked. Four of the crew managed to leave the plane and were taken as prisoners of war. Three of the crew, including Flying Officer McManaman who was an gunner on the flight, were killed in the resulting crash. When the pilot gave the order to bail out from the plane, the rear gunner was trapped in his hatch and Flying Officer McManaman fought his way up the plane to try and release him and as he did the engines failed and the plane burst into flames and crashed. He was awarded a Mention in Despatches (1946) “in recognition of his gallant gesture in endeavouring to rescue his fellow crew member from the damaged aircraft”.