STINSON, Arnold Emerson
NAME STINSON Arnold Emerson
RANK Flight Sergeant 272834 RAF Group 1 RAF Bomber Command
SQUADRON No. 429 “Bison”
“nothing to chance”
Leeming Airfield in Yorkshire
Squadron Markings AL Born June 19, 1925 - Harriston - Township of Minto - County of Wellington Residence Fordwich - Ontario Died November 5, 1945 20 years 3 months Cemetery Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Harrogate - North Yorkshire - England
G K 4 Parents Mr. William and Eliza Stinson - Harriston Brothers William and Laverne Stinson - Harriston Sisters Pauline and Jewell Stinson - Harriston
Arnold was born on June 19, 1925 in Harriston and took his public schooling at SS 3 Minto Township 1930-37 and attended Harriston High School 1937-41. As he was growing up he enjoyed softball and football and he was a reader and was mechanical and enjoyed tinkering. He and his family would have attended Harriston United Church. Prior to his enlistment lived in Fordwich and worked for R. L.Marshall of Fordwich as a milk powder machine operator at a creamery.
Canada
Arnold enlisted at London into the RCAF on September 9, 1943 and upon enlistment he stood 5' 10" tall and he weighed 155 pounds. He had a fair complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He was posted to No. 1 Manning Depot from September 9-October 2, 1943 as an Aircraftsman 2. His next posting was to No. 23 Equipment Depot in Toronto from October 3-November 26. On November 27, 1943 he we t to No. 1 Initial Training School. A/C2 received Christmas Leave from December 12-28, 1943. Aircraftsman 2 Stinson while at NO. 1 ITS received a grade of 75%. While here he received the rank of Flight Engineer. On February 27-August 3, 1944 he attended Technical Training School in St Thomas-Ontario and here he received a grade of 69% for technical work and a grade of 73% for engine work. The next posting was a short trip to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School in Fingal from August 4-18. HIs last posting before going to the east coast was to No. 1 Flight Engineer School from August 19-November 1, 1943. While here he was promoted to Sergeant. Here he received Embarkation Leave from October 19-November 2. He also received Special Leave from October 28-November 11. On November 2 he received his posting to No. 1 "Y" Depot in Halifax and Aircraftsman 2 Stinson was posted there until December 9 at which time he was posted to RCAF Headquarters where he was until he was posted at RCAF Wing 31 Packing Depot from December 13-21.
Overseas
On December 22 he arrived at No. 3 Personnel Centre and the same day he departed from Halifax and Canada for overseas. He arrived in the United Kingdom on December 31, 1944. On the first day of 1945 he went to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre until March 27. While here he received leave from January 9-16 and from February 25-March 2. On March 28 he was posted to RAF St Athan located in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales where he remained until until July 13 when he was posted to RCAF Squadron 429. However, while he was at St Athan he was assigned to No. 4 School of Technical Training between April 11-May 7, 1945 where his average was 67%. He received leave from May12-22, from May 26-June 9. He arrived at RCAF 429 Squadron based at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire on July 13,1945. Shortly after his arrival at 429 Squadron he received the rank of Flight Sergeant. He had leave between September 8-14.
In the Field
On the morning of November 5, 1945 Lancaster RA 571 was tasked with flying a local exercise of an hour in length. They were to carry out a "George" test. They left the runway at 11:04 am and once in the air turned south. On the north return leg they encountered poor weather to the south-west of the county. All on board were due to return home to Canada in a matter of weeks. The flying conditions at this time in the Pennes was described as poor, with mist and low cloud covering the areas of the high ground. The "George" test was complete and they had turned for home. As they flew into the low cloud they appeared to have become lost and they gained radio assistance from Leeming who provided the right course for the base. The crew did not appreciate they were flying over higher ground and they began to descend in an effort to get a visual fix. This maneuver was against regulations and they were very near high ground and the aircraft then descended lower than the highest hill in front of them. Lancaster RA 571 then struck the southern side of Beamsley Beacon about 50" from the summit at 11:56 am and disintegrated and burned. One survivor was able to pullout 4 bodies before he went to locate help. One of those killed on impact was Flight Engineer - Flight Sergeant Stinson. The crash site was 190 miles from Leeming Airfield. Flight Sergeant Stinson while with 429 Squadron drove a BSA 350cc motorcycle around the base.
During the month of September 1946the Memorial Cross was presented to Flight Sergeant Stinson's mother. In February 1947 Flight Sergeant Stinson was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France - Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp. Mrs. Stinson also received her sons Operational Wings.
Flight Sergeant Stinson is honoured and remembered on the Fordwich Cenotaph, on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial, is in all liklihood honoured and remembered on the Harriston United Church Memorial plaque and on the Memorial Plaque of Fordwich United Church. He is also honoured and remembered on the RCAF Bomber Command Memorialand on www.canadianfallen.ca113920/STINSON. Also look atthe International Bomber Command centre at losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/226994. He is not honoured on the Harriston Cenotaph but his name should be inscribed.
