LINDENFIELD, Alvin Edward

NAME                  LINDENFIELD                   Alvin Edward
RANK                  Flying Officer / Air Bombardier                 29690                                                                                                          Royal Canadian Air Force                                                                                                                                            Group 5     RAF Bomber Command                                                                                       
SQUADRON       No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit
                            RAF Wigsley Airfield in Nottinghamshire
                            Squadron Markings UG                                                                                                          Born                    February 15, 1919 - Hensall - Township of Hay- County of Huron                                    Residence          Exeter - Ontario                                                                                                                                Died                    June 7, 1944          25 years   3 months                                                                              Cemetery            Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Harrogate – North Yorkshire - England
                           B     F     2                                                                                                                                  Wife                    Mrs. Ruth Ann Lindenfield - Zurich - Ontario                                                                                                               Wife remarried with the last name of Gemming - Zurich - Ontario                                                  Son                     Master Edward - 10 months                                                                                                            Parents               Mr. Edward and Laura Lindenfield - Zurich - Ontario                                                          Brothers              Mr.Lloyd Lindenfield - Serving with the Canadian Army overseas                                                                             Mr. Arnold Lindenfield - Exeter - Ontario                                                                              Sisters                Mrs. Mervyn Cudmore - Toronto - Ontario                                                                                                                   Mrs. Norma Floddy - Windsor - Ontario

Alvin was born in Hensall on February 15, 1919. Growing up he liked to play baseball and softball. Growing up he had the measles and chicken pox. Alvin attended Exeter Public School from 1929-1933 and attended Exeter High School from 1933-36.He enjoyed music and liked to fly. He had played coronet in an orchestra in London. From December 1941-April 1942 Alvin had attended a War Emergency Training Plan and had studied an Observer Pilot Course. Prior to enlistment he had worked in a hardware store for his father for five years as a clerk and plumber. He had enlisted into the Non Permanent Active Militia from August 1941-November 1941 with the 1st Hussars. Following his completing the WETP course he enlisted into the RCAF..

Canada

Upon enlistment in Hamilton on April 16, 1942 he stood 5' 10" and weighed 166 pounds. He had a fair complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. With the rank of Aircraftsman 2 he was posted to No. 1 Manning Depot from April16-June 10. His next posting took him to No. 4 Manning Depot in Quebec City - Quebec from June 11-  July 24. From July 25-August 15 he went to Lachine - Quebec. From August 17-October 9 he was at No. 6 Initial Training School in Toronto and placed 89 in a class of 102 and had a 69% average. He was given the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. He then moved on to No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School based in Goderich on November 9. He was in a class of 43.                                                                                                                On January 29, 1943 he had an average of 74% and placed 26th. In the first week of February he moved to    No. 16 Service Flying Training School based at Hagersville- Ontario. He was here from February 8-May 5. But while here he spent from March 5-April 17 he was at No. 7 Manning Depot at Rockcliffe - Ontario. His next posting sent him to No. 4 Bombing /Gunnery School based at Fingal - Ontario from April 19-July 9. He placed 34 out of a class of 54 and had a 69% average. His next posting was when he received the rank of Pilot Officer and received his Air Bomber Badge. This was at No.4 Air Observer School in London - Ontario. He had an average of 86% for Ground Work and 70% for Air Work. He was here from July 11-September 3. Pilot Officer Lindenfield had completed his Canadian training and on was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot in Halifax in preparation for going overseas.

Overseas

He embarked from Halifax on September 13 and disembarked in the United Kingdom on      September 19. The following day he reported to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre. His training continued and his first posting sent him to No. 6 Advanced Flying Unit from November16 into 1944.                                                                              As 1944 began at No. 6 AFU he had an average of 70% and was posted here until January 11. His second UK posting was to No.16 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Upper Heyford - Oxfordshire and he was there from January 11-April 19. While posted here he rweceived the ranks of Flying Officer and Air Bombardier. From April 19-April 30 he attended Aircrew School. On April 30 he was attached to No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit which would turn out to be the last posting for Flying Officer Lindenfield. This unit was based at RAF Wigsley - Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire.

On the morning of June 7, 1944,Flying Officer was the Bombardier on a a training flight in a Stirling MkIII aircraft with the identification being LK594. This aircraft took off at 6 am on the morning of June 7, 1944 from RAF Wigsley and was to conduct a training flight. This aircraft crashed and burned approximately 2 1/2 hours later and burned. All crew members were killed. It is believed the Pilot became disorientated during his descent through clouds. On June 10 those investigating this accident said the events are totally inexplicable and the investigation would continue. The crash took place near RAF Saltby in Leicestershire and it was the fire crews from here who fought the fire at the crash site.

During the month of May 1945 the wife of Flying Officer received the Memorial Cross and and at a later time Flying Officer Lindenfield was awarded the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.

Flying Officer Lindenfield is honoured and remembered on the Exeter Cenotaph, in the Books of Remembrance at the Centre Block of Parliament Hill, on the RCAF Bomber Command Memorial and on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.