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My Great Uncle The following story was sent to us by a young woman that made it a top priority to find out about a great uncle she never had the chance to know. Her tenacity paid off, and she has now pieced together her own story. This summer she will be attending Canadian Forces and Air Display Weekend 2009, on July 4 and 5, with her grandfather, to see a Lancaster up close and personal. Originally published in The Contact, April 24 My story is about my great uncle that I have never known. During the Second World War, I had an uncle that flew in a Lancaster Bomber as a tail gunner. On November 1st, 1944 he died on a mission with 106 Squadron. It took years of searching, and dedication, for me to find out what had happened to my uncle. Some other people had tried once or twice to find out as well, but had given up early as it was a hard task. I, myself, never gave up and 12 years after I started my search (I am now 23-years-old) I finally discovered what had happened to him and where his body lays. I have made numerous trips to the museum/foundation centre that is currently home to the Halifax Bomber in Trenton (National Air Force Museum of Canada) and I have never myself been to an air show at the base but that is because I never needed too! I use to live on West Moira Street in Belleville and I would just sit with my parents on my back deck and watch the air show from home. Every time I saw the planes, or heard the planes, it would make me think of my uncle and how much my grandfather misses him still to this day. The loss of his brother when he was only 10 years old has made my relationship with my grandfather an even closer one. We now go on trips together to the museum, watch movies and documentaries together regarding the Second World War, and enjoy looking at artefacts from my uncle, Sergeant Clifford Eugene Leroy Cook.
My grandfather told me today that the air show is coming back this year and that it is suppose to have old bombers and air craft. Immediately I told him that it is a date – that he and I are going. I know that it is going to be an emotional day and event to see a Lancaster up close and then to see it fly. We will be there, thinking of my great uncle that died in service, and how he was loved and is greatly missed. Nicole Van Luven,
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