Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Sergeant Ronald Everett Cunnings is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Sergeant Ronald Everett Cunnings is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Photo of RONALD EVERETT CUNNINGS – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of RONALD EVERETT CUNNINGS – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of RONALD EVERETT CUNNINGS – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of Ronald Everett Cunnings

Group Photo

Document

Artifact

Sketch

Crash Site

Document – This type Halifax III Bomber is the type Sgt. Ron Cunnings and the crew flew in. This aircraft was built 19 after their aircraft which was LW366 killing 5 crew members and 2 manage to escape. Sgt. Cunnings and F/O John Hedrich were thrown though the front and were 2 of the members killed. The piece of artifact was taken by Terry Hill it was found by him and included in here.

Halifax III Bomber – This Bomber was the type of Halifax III built 19th after LW366 in which 5 of the crew lost their lives to on Feb. 29 1944 near Cross Inn. The Bombardier Ron Cunnings and Navigator John Hedrich went out through the Perplex nose without parachutes on, Mid Upper Gunner John Nixon Jumped but, his chute snagged the tail section of the plane to be hauled to his death. The Pilot Harry Hardy and Rear Gunner Lloyd Johnston were in the plane as well when it crashed. It crashed at the Hadfod Farm destroying the barn and came to a halt in the field on fire as, the plane was loaded with high octane fuel. It was believed the bomber was being shot at by a JU88 aircraft and Pilot Hardy put the bomber into a maneuver corkscrew to avoid being shot at and the elevator rods broke or (Shot Out ???) . At this point the Pilot Hardy shut down the engines a common procedure as he would not have control and the plane went into a full spin dive to the ground. None of this was ever proved, they filed it as a accident with faulty elevator rods.

Newspaper clipping – From the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me