After graduating from high school, he spent two years cruising in the West Indies before returning home. He worked as a surveyor for the Quebec Department of Mines, before becoming a self-employed prospector. Between November 1939 and August 1941, he tried to enlist twice but was rejected. He finally enlisted on September 06, 1941 at Montreal, selected for Aircrew - Pilot or Observer.
Samuel's training in Canada followed the usual path of manning depot (Toronto(, initial training at Belleville, air observer school at Edmonton and air navigation school at Rivers, Manitoba. He was consistently rated as one of the best students and leaders in his class. On graduation from Air Navigation School, he qualified as an Air Observer, was commissioned and promoted to Pilot Officer, with regimental number J12979. He sailed to England in August 1942. His training path in England is unclear from is service file. He attended Number 16 Operational Training Unit in the late Winter of 1942-43, before being posted to RCAF 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron on February 13, 1943.
On March 01, 1943, Flying Officer Spector was a bomb aimer on a crew assigned to Vickers Wellington Mk III, serial number Z1724, squadron code PT-C. They were flying a daylight training flight from RAF Middleton St George (today known as Teeside Airport). At about 2:50 pm, the port wing separated from the aircraft and it crashed near High Brockholme Farm near Streatham, Yorkshire. All aboard were killed in the crash. Also onboard were:
Kenneth Joseph Brown, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Ernest Maurice Hollowell, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Philip Edward Thompson Townsend, Pilot
Jack Wreakes, Navigator
Contributor: jayelbee (49903513)
After graduating from high school, he spent two years cruising in the West Indies before returning home. He worked as a surveyor for the Quebec Department of Mines, before becoming a self-employed prospector. Between November 1939 and August 1941, he tried to enlist twice but was rejected. He finally enlisted on September 06, 1941 at Montreal, selected for Aircrew - Pilot or Observer.
Samuel's training in Canada followed the usual path of manning depot (Toronto(, initial training at Belleville, air observer school at Edmonton and air navigation school at Rivers, Manitoba. He was consistently rated as one of the best students and leaders in his class. On graduation from Air Navigation School, he qualified as an Air Observer, was commissioned and promoted to Pilot Officer, with regimental number J12979. He sailed to England in August 1942. His training path in England is unclear from is service file. He attended Number 16 Operational Training Unit in the late Winter of 1942-43, before being posted to RCAF 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron on February 13, 1943.
On March 01, 1943, Flying Officer Spector was a bomb aimer on a crew assigned to Vickers Wellington Mk III, serial number Z1724, squadron code PT-C. They were flying a daylight training flight from RAF Middleton St George (today known as Teeside Airport). At about 2:50 pm, the port wing separated from the aircraft and it crashed near High Brockholme Farm near Streatham, Yorkshire. All aboard were killed in the crash. Also onboard were:
Kenneth Joseph Brown, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Ernest Maurice Hollowell, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Philip Edward Thompson Townsend, Pilot
Jack Wreakes, Navigator
Contributor: jayelbee (49903513)
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Royal Canadian Air Force
J12979
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