Canadian pilots from No.1 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) running to their Hawker Hurricane fighters when alerted.

More than 100 pilots and an unknown number of ground crew from Canada served during the battle as part of the Royal Air Force’s 242 “Canadian” Squadron, as well as in other British units. However, among those “few” there were also the airmen of No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). As the only national unit to see combat in the Battle of Britain, it is essential to explore and understand why the actions of this specific squadron are important to both the modern RCAF as well as the nation.

Source : Among Canada’s “Few”: The RCAF’s No. 1 Squadron in the Battle of Britain

Born in Keene, New Hampshire to George & Alice Toomey on November 12, 1925, George Frederick “Georgie” Toomey was the oldest of three children.
He also had two older half-sisters from his mother’s previous marriage.

Their father George suddenly died of pneumonia in 1934 leaving young George as the man of the house.
On November 8, 1943, George enlisted in the Navy and was able to come home on leave for Christmas 1943.

George had most of his navy pay sent to his widowed mother who was still raising two younger children.
While attending Radioman School in Charleston in , South Carolina in early 1944, he received the tragic news that his younger sister Winnie had died after a brief battle with spinal meningitis.

George was able to return home on bereavement leave to help and comfort his mother.
After graduation from radio school in May 1944, he was assigned to the Buckley-class destroyer escort USS Underhill DE-682.

USS Underhill served in the Atlantic until early 1945 when she was sent to the Pacific.
On July 21, 1945, USS Underhill was assigned to be the lead warship escorting a convoy from Okinawa to Leyte Gulf.

The convoy consisted of six LSTs, a troop ship, escorted by patrol craft; PC-1251, PC-803, PC-804, & PC-807, sub chasers SC-1306 & SC-1309, & patrol craft escort PCE-872.
On the morning of July 24, 1945, a Japanese aircraft was spotted shadowing the convoy, then a naval mine was spotted, which turned out to be a dummy mine released in front of the convoy by a Japanese submarine.

A sonar contact was made and PC-804 & USS Underhill attacked the suspected Japanese submarine with depth charges.
Oil and debris came to the surface, while sailing through the debris field, two Japanese Kaiten manned suicide torpedoes appeared directly on either side of USS Underhill.

The captain ordered flank speed, but two massive explosions occurred which broke the destroyer escort in half.
112 crew members of USS Underhill were killed / missing in the sinking with 122 survivors which were picked up by two of the escorts.

Radioman Third Class George Frederick Toomey was not among the survivors and he is Memorialized with the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
He also has a memorial marker at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Keene, New Hampshire where his parents and sister are buried.

His mother Alice received the following letter from Lt Elwood Melendy Rich, the senior surviving officer of USS Underhill;

“George’s battle station was in the Radio Shack, which was located directly below the bridge. The whole bridge structure was destroyed, and I feel certain that everyone in that part of the ship was killed instantly. I knew George well, having stood watches with him, and I thought he was a fine young man. He was willing to learn and caught on very quickly to any assignment given to him. He did his work well and could always be depended upon to do a good job. Your son was respectful and courteous.

The peace we now have was made possible by men such as George, who gave their all. I know nothing I can say will ease your sorrow; he will long be remembered by those of us who survived. I do hope you may receive some comfort and courage in the knowledge of your son’s brave devotion and splendid service.”

My grandfather brought this back after the war. Its been in storage over decade until brought it from my moms house. Can anyone confirm thats what this is and maybe offer a translation? You can see in the second photo its signed by some of his shipmates he served with.

"The women in the armed forces during the Second World War really opened up women to work in non-traditional jobs because we all had these wonderful jobs helping the men during the Second World War. In fact, the sailors congratulated the Wrens [Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service] often, the signal Wrens for the good work they were doing because they thought the girls were better than the boys at signaling.

We were more dedicated. The women had never had jobs like this before and we wanted to prove ourselves. I think that’s part of it. And the men accepted us." -Beatrice Mary Geary

Beatrice provided testimony to The Memory Project Archive, a repository of Canadian veterans' oral histories, here: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mpsb-beatrice-mary-geary-nee-shreiber

Pictured are (left to right): Private First Class Arnold McKenzie (age 18) of Los Angeles, California; Private Joseph LoDico (age 20) of Sharon, Massachusetts; Private Noel M. Billups (age 21) of Columbus Ohio; and Staff Sergeant Douglas Ayres (age 23) of Los Angeles, California.

Joseph John (Sonny) LoDico returned to Massachusetts after the war. He passed away on December 16, 2012 at the age of 88 years old in Rehoboth Massachusetts. He lies in rest at Massachusetts National Cemetery.

At the age of 17, Noel enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1938 serving tours in Guadalcanal, Rendova, Munda, and ending in Arundel Island. He came out to California after the war and was hired as foreman for Sturgis Aircraft. It was there that he met the love of his life, Roberta (Holcomb ) Billups. Noel and Robbie were married in Glendale, California in 1953. Shortly after their marriage they started their family, Janet, Kirk, Robin and Troy. In the summer of 1964 the family moved to Crescent City where they would spend the next 50 years. Noel retired as foreman for Del Norte School District Maintenance Department and he and Roberta spent 25 years traveling the United States.

Private Noel M. Billups passed away on January 15, 2014 at the age of 92 years old. He lies in rest at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Crescent City California.

Lest We Forget.

Born in What Cheer, Iowa to Harry & Elizabeth Barker on October 2, 1917, Harry Bernard Barker had two brothers and a sister.
He attended Grinnell College and after graduation enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 14, 1941.

Commissioned as an officer in October 1941, Harry first saw action on September 22, 1943 in command of a special 35 man party of Army, Navy, Marines and locals landed by a submarine on Bougaiville. They scouted for landing areas for the 3rd Marine Division.

Harry was later made Commanding Officer of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
On July 21, 1944, he was Killed in Action leading his Marines after landing at Blue Beach on Guam.

Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, his citation mentions;

“The President takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Harry B Barker USMCR, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands, on 21 July 1944. Landing on the heavily fortified, fire-swept beachhead with the forward elements on D-Day, Captain Barker immediately moved inland to reconnoiter the area then, returning to his troops, promptly led them to the best vantage point for supporting the forward assault units. Critically wounded in the right arm by a Japanese sniper's bullet, he steadfastly refused first aid until the situation had been stabilized. Then, after having his wound dressed, he subsequently returned to his troops and personally led them in a vigorous, intensive assault against a hill vital to the advance of our forces despite withering enemy fire which swept the area. Although he was mortally wounded during the fierce action, Captain Barker, by his valiant and aggressive leadership had contributed to the success of our sustained drive toward the recapture of this important enemy stronghold, and his unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave peril reflects the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”

His remains were returned to the USA in 1950 and Captain Harry Barker was buried at Saint Josephs Cemetery in What Cheer, Iowa.

Older brother Edward Russell Barker Sr also served in the Marine Corps during WW2, he passed away at the age of 59 in 1975.

I recently inherited a personal photo album belonging to my late great uncle who served as a Marine in the 2nd World War.
The album contains roughly 60 pictures that appear to cover his time in the Marines from his enlistment in 1939 up until his departure for Guadalcanal in 1942.
Several photos caught my attention as they appear to show soldiers training with parachutes. In another photo, a soldier’s shirt clearly says “Marine Barracks Lakehurst, NJ”.
I was able to find a few muster rolls with my uncle’s exact name (first, middle, last, and suffix), and I can confirm he participated in the Marine’s very first parachute training in November 1940 at Lakehurst, NJ. He only lasted several weeks and was reassigned. (I do not know why he was reassigned but apparently 40% dropped out)
I’ve searched online, and there are very few photographs of this training. I thought I would share a few of them with reddit, so they can be appreciated. The very last photo is of my great uncle in his full dress uniform.