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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
ANDERSON, Gerald Arthur, Lt (P), RCNVR - MPK 09 Aug 1945, HMS FORMIDABLE - Son of Arthur J. and Annie E. Anderson, of Trenton, Ontario.
Lieutenant (P) Gerald Arthur Anderson was a Canadian fighter pilot who served in the Royal Canadian Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. As a pilot in 1842 Squadron Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm on HMS Formidable, Anderson flew the Corsair IV (tail number KD 548).
On 9 August 1945 – the same day that the B-29 Stratofortress “Bockscar” dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, Lt. Anderson participated in an aerial attack on Onagawa Bay in northern Japan. Anderson’s contingent, Call sign “RAMROD 3”, engaged Japanese ships in the bay that had been attacked by 1841 Squadron of HMCS Formidable.
All but one ship in the bay was destroyed by the Canadian Corsair and American Hellcat assaults. However, Anderson’s Corsair was struck, causing it to leak fuel rapidly. On his final approach to landing, Anderson’s engine cut out, causing him to hit the after end of the flight deck of HMS Formidable, his plane broke in two, and plunged into the Pacific Ocean. Lieutenant Gerald Anderson was the last Canadian to die in the Second World War.
Ships served in: * Transferred from the RNVR to the RCNVR 01 Apr 1944 as a Sub-Lieutenant, RCNVR HMS SAKER - Re-appointed to SAKER 01 Apr 1944 Add'l for f.f.d. and carrier training HMS SAKER - Re-appointed to SAKER 26 Aug 1944 for FFD in 1849 Sqn HMS GADWALL - Appointed to GADWALL 27 Dec 1944, Add'l for 1845 Sqn HMS SLINGER - Appointed to SLINGER 20 Dec 1944 for 1845 Sqn HMS NABBINGTON - Appointed to NABBINGTON D.T.B.R. Add'l for 723 Sqn * Appointed Lieutenant (P), RCNVR 28 Feb 1945 HMS FORMIDABLE - Appointed to FORMIDABLE 08 Aug 1945
Documents from the Service File of Gerald Anderson
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