Date: 25/26th June 1942 (Thursday/Fiday)
Unit: 22 O.T.U (Operational Training Unit)
Type: Wellington IC
Serial: X9980
Coded: ?-K
Location: Unknown
Pilot: W/O. II. Donald Leroy Torkelson R/80180 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed (1)
Co/pilot: Fl/Sgt. William Hawksworth Gardner R/67982 R.C.A.F. Age 23. Killed
Obs: Fl/Sgt. Anthony Yankoski R/80041 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed (2)
W/Op: Fl/Sgt. Donald Albert Millard R/90451 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
W/Op: Fl/Sgt. James Caldwell Hadley R/97845 R.C.A.F. Age 26. Killed
(1) Torkelson Lake in Saskatchewan is named after W/O. Torkelson
(2) Yankoski Lake in Manitoba is named after Fl/Sgt. Yankoski
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from at 22.29 hrs Wellesbourne, Mountford. Armed with 1 x 500 lb. general purpose bomb and 48 x 30 lb.'s. incendiary bombs. Lost without trace. All the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Above left: W/O 2 Donald Leroy Torkelson, (A.R.S. archives) right: Fl/Sgt. Anthony Yankoski (Courtesy Colin Bamford)
Runnymede Memorial (A.R.S. archives)
Burial details:
W/O 2 Donald Leroy Torkelson Runnymede Memorial, Panel: 102
From Bengough, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Fl/Sgt. William Hawksworth Gardner Runnymede Memorial, Panel: 104
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Gardner of Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Fl/Sgt. Anthony Yankoski Runnymede Memorial, Panel: 107
From Russell, Manitoba, Canada.
Fl/Sgt. Donald Albert Millard Runnymede Memorial, Panel: 105
Son of William A. and Alice Millard, of Aylmer West, Ontario, Canada.
Fl/Sgt. James Caldwell Hadley Runnymede Memorial, Panel: 104
Son of William and Ann Hadley, husband of J.C. Hadley of Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Researched by David King (A.R. Society) with further information supplied by Colin Bamford, A.R.S. volunteer.
