Ladimer Jacob Bernaski

This story and photo is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Pete Colley, Curator, Wickenby Museum. Additional information from the WWII Records and Service Files of War Dead, Libraries and Archives, Canada

Remembering Ladimer Jacob Bernaski, Flying Officer navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), aged 23, son of Tony Bernaski, born in Poland and worked as a Barber and Cafe Proprietor, and Mary Bernaski (née Tochor), born in Czechoslovakia, of Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. He had two brothers, Arthur and Stanley and one sister, Ester. He was killed on his first mission attacking Vierzon.

He was born on the 16th February 1921 in Saskatchewan. The schools he went to were Esterhazy Primary and Esterhazy High School between 1929 and 1941. Whilst at school, he worked for his father as a clerk from 1933 to 1940 and then found employment as a clerk for J S Clement, Store Proprietor, Esterhazy from 1940 to 1941. He then did a Teacher's Course at Normal School from 1941 to 1942. Ladimer enjoyed playing softball, hockey and Tennis

In his interview to join the RCAF it was recorded that "he would have enlisted 12 months ago but for father's advice to continue course". It then goes on to state that he was "Physically fit, Temperment: quiet, inexperienced. Reasonably confident in own ability. Reliable type, sincere in effort." He had previously served for two terms in the 110th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery (August 1940 - June 1941) and then the Regina Rifles (January - June 1942).  He then enlisted in the RCAF on 12 June 1942 and was soon embarking from Boston for the U.K. on 9th October 1943. He arrived at 3 RCAF PRC on 18th October 1943, 9 (O) AFU on the 9th November, Wymeswold on the 18th Janusry 1944, 11 Base on the 24 April 1944 and finally 626 Squadron on 15th June 1944. Ladimer was to lose his life just two weeks later, at the age of only eighteen years.