Name: Stanley Evan Sutherland Service Number: J/15455 Rank: Pilot Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Date of Birth: January 8, 1921 Place of Birth: Forest Glen, Colchester Co., NS Date of Enlistment: October 24, 1940 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Age at Enlistment: 19 Height: 5 feet, 10 inches Complexion: Fair Eye Colour: Blue Hair Colour: Blond Trade: Lumber Martial Status: Married Religion: Baptist Next of Kin: Gwendolyn Mildred Sutherland (Wife) ℅ Mrs. Allen, William St. Yarmouth, NS Date of Death: November 20, 1942 Age at Death: 21 Cemetery: Brookfield Cemetery, Nova Scotia (Plot 3, Row 3) Commemorated on Page 118 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 12 Stanley Evan Sutherland was the son of George R. Sutherland and Carletta Ellis Sutherland, Brookfield, Colchester Co., NS, and the husband of Gwendolyn Mildred (Carter) Sutherland. Stanley Evan Sutherland trained in Canada, obtained his Air Gunners Badge on May 26, 1941 and embarked in the United Kingdom on June 19, 1941. He served with 23 Operational Training Unit, 101st RAF Squadron, and 156th RAF Squadron in England and with 40th RAF Squadron in Malta. He returned to Canada on September 5, 1942 and was assigned to 34 Operational Training Unit, stationed at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. On November 20, 1942 the Ventura aircraft (#AE932), crewed by three airmen, took off from RAF #34 Operational Training Unit in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, The aircraft experienced engine failure and crashed four miles north-est of Caledonia, Nova Scotia, killing all three air crewmen. They were RAF Aircraftman 1st Class Thomas Frederick Sargeant, RAF Pilot Officer Harold Otho Male and RCAF Pilot Officer Stanley Evan Sutherland. Aircraft AE932 flew to Dartmouth, NS, to collect hydraulic oil and to land two passengers, F/L Charles Shelley Turner (C/2144) and Cpl. Hubley at Dartmouth. The aircraft arrived at Dartmouth at 1640 hrs. The two passengers remained there and at 17:40 hrs. the aircraft took off on its return journey. Messages were received from the aircraft at 18:03 hrs. and 18:23 hrs. The last message was to the effect that the pilot had nothing to communicate. No difficulty whatsoever was had in exchanging signals with the aircraft. At 1828 hrs. the signals officer at base called the aircraft to tell the pilot he had a message for him, there was no reply. At 1830 hrs. the signals officer asked pilot for his estimated time of arrival and received no acknowledgement, and calls were continued until 1940 hrs., but with no reply. Then word came that the aircraft had crashed. Residents of the districts of Westfield and Caledonia in Queens Co., NS, heard the aircraft at about 18:20 hrs. as it flew in a south westerly direction. About 3 minutes later the aircraft was heard circling from the south east to north east; then at about 18:25 hrs. the sound of the engines ceased and within a minute there was a large flash of light followed by a loud explosion. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the occupants were killed instantaneously. The bodies of the crew were returned to Yarmouth, NS. On November 22 the body of P/O. Sutherland was escorted to the Yarmouth Railway Station by S/Ldr. Burbridge, O.C. Detachment, and all Officers of the Detachment. P/O. Kay accompanied the Body as representative of the Station Commander. Pilot Officer Stanley Evan Sutherland was buried in the Brookfield Cemetery, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia.

Stanley Evan Sutherland

Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave