AUBIN Joseph Gilbert Dollard

Joseph Aubin enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 14th July 1941 at Hamilton, Ontario. He was born on 24th May 1922 at Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada, the son of Albert Z. Aubin and Jeannette Aubin, nee Bourdon. Albert was employed as a Solicitor and the family were resident at Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada. Joseph was a student and working part time as a secretary for his father at the time of his enlistment; he was fluent in French and English. He was 5 feet 6½ inches tall with brown eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion. Joseph was posted overseas in 1943, arriving in the UK on 17th March 1943.

The RCAF record the following information on the crash in which Joseph Aubin died:
Rank: Sgt Pilot Unit: 425 Sqdn. RCAF. Tholthorpe, Yorks
Circumstances: Pilot of Halifax, L.W.395 which crashed at Carter’s Hill, Hanbury, Worcs. 21.07 hrs. 11.2.44.
Description of injuries: Multiple injuries, burns.

His next of kin were advised of his death on 13th February 1944.

A report on the accident in Joseph’s service records reveal the conclusions of a Court of Inquiry held on 12th February 1944:
(a) The Court found engines, engine components, empennage components and other parts of the aircraft scattered over a wide area in a radius of approximately 4 miles of the main body of the aircraft, which appeared to have fallen out of control and landed on its back. The main wreckage was almost totally consumed by fire.
(b) No conclusive evidence was brought to light by the Court of the cause of the accident.
In accordance with the terms of reference the Court finds:-
(1) that the cause of the accident is obscure, and is unable to allocate any responsibility.

The following information on the crash was taken from a website that is no longer online:
11/02/1944 Halifax LW395 KW-O of 425 Squadron suffered an engine failure, the pilot lost control and the aircraft broke up on pulling out of the dive. Crashed at Hanbury. Pilot F/Sgt J G D Aubin RCAF, navigator F/Sgt H B Mitton, WO/AG Sgt W E Dubroy RCAF, bomb aimer F/Sgt J H Y Albert RCAF, A/G Sgt J F Mayville RCAF, WO/AG Sgt J O R Fluery and F/Eng Sgt J J Shanahan all died. Also lost was passenger J L Dubroy, brother of Sgt W E Dubroy.

Pilot Officer Joseph Gilbert Dollard Aubin, age 21, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force was buried in unconsecrated ground in Pershore Cemetery on 16th February 1944. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend J.M. Laplente.

Register of Burials in War Graves in Pershore Cemetery courtesy of Pershore Town Council.