Name: Joseph Edgar Bastarache Rank: Leading Aircraftman Service Number: R/73387 Service: Royal Canadian Airforce RCAF Station Yarmouth Date of Birth: September 28, 1922 Place of Birth: Leger Corner, New Brunswick Date of Enlistment: December 9, 1940 Place of Enlistment: Moncton, New Brunswick Address at Enlistment: Leger Corner, New Brunswick Age at Enlistment: 18 Occupation: Mechanic Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Alyre Bastarache (Father) Leger Corner, NB Height: 5 feet, 6 inches Complexion: Dark Hair Colour: Brown Eye Colour: Blue Date of Death: October 16, 1944 Age: 22 Cemetery: Notre Dame Du Calvaire Cemetery, Chartersville, New Brunswick Grave: Lot 7-8 Grave 8-14 Commemorated on Page 224 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 23 Joseph Edgar Bastarache was the son of Alyre Bastarache and Evangeline Marie (LeBlanc) Bastarache of Leger Corner, New Brunswick. He completed his grade eight in 1938 and a Youth Training Course. On application to the RCAF he indicated interest in engine mechanics and was assigned for training in aero engine mechanics. In 1943 he was assigned to Eastern Air Command. He was transferred to No. 5 RCAF Squadron at Torbay, Newfoundland on May 6, 1944, and to No. 5 RCAF Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth on July 28, 1944. 5 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron operated between August 2, 1944, and May 7, 1945, from RCAF Station Yarmouth. The Squadron flew Canso aircraft. The Squadron was primarily used in an anti-submarine role with Eastern Air Command and was based at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Gander, Newfoundland, Torbay, Newfoundland, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Sydney, Nova Scotia. Leading Aircraftman would have served as ground crew for the Squadron. On October 16, 1944, he was admitted to the Yarmouth Hospital and died during an operation the result of complication with anesthetics, and degeneration of myocardium (heart muscle). His body was returned to his home in New Brunswick and he was buried in Notre Dame Du Calvaire Cemetery, Chartersville, New Brunswick.

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave