Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Frederick Charles and Emma Louise (Holler) Ahrens.
Digital gallery of Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
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Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Walter Colin Ahrens joined the ranks of the RCAF in October 1940 at the age of 20. After flight training in Canada he was posted to England to fly fighter aircraft. He flew with No.197 squadron, a Spitfire Squadron, and was later promoted to Flight Lieutenant. In June of 1944 he was made Squadron Leader and given command of No. 257 to fly Typhoon airplanes.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Walter C. Ahrens was a farm boy from Rosetown, SK. He left his family of two brothers and four sisters to join the RCAF as a patriotic gesture. A fellow pilot referred to Walter as having "complete disregard for all danger". He flew Typhoons in low level strafing and bombing attacks on trains, transports and artillery positions. It was a dangerous and high risk job for the pilots of the powerful and well armed aircraft.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Squadron Leader Walter C. Ahrens flew both Spitfire and Typhoon aircraft. On July 16, 1944 he was flying a Typhoon over France and attacked an army motor transport at not more than 100 feet from the ground, dropping twin 1000 pound bombs. His aircraft was caught in the wake of the explosions and his fighter was crippled. He radioed that he would try to make it home but he had to ditch the plane. He bailed out just east of Caen but his parachute failed to open properly. He was listed as missing in action and it was 10 months before his family received word that he was confirmed dead at the age of 23.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Medals of Walter Ahrens
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Ahrens Lake in Saskatchewan
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Ahrens Lake in Saskatchewan-detailed information
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Information plaque
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Framed Memorabilia
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Sketch of Walter Ahrens done by friend
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
The Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, located just outside Dieppe, France. (J. Stephens)
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
The grave marker at the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery located approximately 5 km. from the beach of Dieppe, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Sign to Hautot-Sur-Mer Cemetery where Walter is buried.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Sign to Hautot-Sur-Mer Cemetery where Walter is buried.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Hautot-Sur-Mer Cemetery where Walter is buried. (taken by his niece, L. Pommen,in Sept 2011)
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Honouring Walter (left by his niece, L. Pommen, in Sept 2011)
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Walter's grave (L. Pommen,Sept 2011)
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Walter's grave (L. Pommen,Sept 2011)
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Obituary from Rosetown Eagle, Rosetown, SK.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Article from Rosetown Eagle,November 1994, in memory of Walter Ahrens
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Walter Ahrens is the 6th from the left.
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens
Letter from Wing Commander explaining the details of the crash. LAC Ottawa
Image gallery
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Walter Colin Ahrens joined the ranks of the RCAF in October 1940 at the age of 20. After flight training in Canada he was posted to England to fly fighter aircraft. He flew with No.197 squadron, a Spitfire Squadron, and was later promoted to Flight Lieutenant. In June of 1944 he was made Squadron Leader and given command of No. 257 to fly Typhoon airplanes.
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Walter C. Ahrens was a farm boy from Rosetown, SK. He left his family of two brothers and four sisters to join the RCAF as a patriotic gesture. A fellow pilot referred to Walter as having "complete disregard for all danger". He flew Typhoons in low level strafing and bombing attacks on trains, transports and artillery positions. It was a dangerous and high risk job for the pilots of the powerful and well armed aircraft.
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Squadron Leader Walter C. Ahrens flew both Spitfire and Typhoon aircraft. On July 16, 1944 he was flying a Typhoon over France and attacked an army motor transport at not more than 100 feet from the ground, dropping twin 1000 pound bombs. His aircraft was caught in the wake of the explosions and his fighter was crippled. He radioed that he would try to make it home but he had to ditch the plane. He bailed out just east of Caen but his parachute failed to open properly. He was listed as missing in action and it was 10 months before his family received word that he was confirmed dead at the age of 23.
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Medals of Walter Ahrens
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Ahrens Lake in Saskatchewan
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Ahrens Lake in Saskatchewan-detailed information
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Information plaque
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Framed Memorabilia
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Sketch of Walter Ahrens done by friend
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The Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, located just outside Dieppe, France. (J. Stephens)
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The grave marker at the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery located approximately 5 km. from the beach of Dieppe, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)
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Sign to Hautot-Sur-Mer Cemetery where Walter is buried.
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Sign to Hautot-Sur-Mer Cemetery where Walter is buried.
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Hautot-Sur-Mer Cemetery where Walter is buried. (taken by his niece, L. Pommen,in Sept 2011)
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Honouring Walter (left by his niece, L. Pommen, in Sept 2011)
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Walter's grave (L. Pommen,Sept 2011)
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Walter's grave (L. Pommen,Sept 2011)
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Obituary from Rosetown Eagle, Rosetown, SK.
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Article from Rosetown Eagle,November 1994, in memory of Walter Ahrens
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Walter Ahrens is the 6th from the left.
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Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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Letter from Wing Commander explaining the details of the crash. LAC Ottawa
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 235 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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DIEPPE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY (HAUTOT-SUR-MER) Seine-Maritime, France
From the centre of Dieppe take the Avenue Gambetta and Avenue des Canadiens. Head along the N27 out of Dieppe in the direction of Rouen until the first roundabout where there is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission sign. Go across the roundabout and continue until you reach a second roundabout. Take the first turning right where there is another CWGC sign. Continue until Chemin des Jonquilles, a road on the left. The Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery is on the right of this road and is clearly visible.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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