Elmer Adrian Oswald was born on November 8, 1921 at Rock Bay, BC. He was the son of Olaf Henry Oswald, fisherman, and Beda Larson, who were both born in Sweden and lived in Heriot Bay, BC. Elmer Oswald joined the Royal Canadian Air Force Special Reserve at No. 1 Recruiting Centre RCAF at Vancouver, BC on March 30, 1942 and was enrolled as an Aircraftman 2nd Class, selected trade Pilot or Observer. His address when he joined the Air Force was Campbell River, age 20, single, height 5’ 6 ”, weight 163 pounds. Elmer had attended primary school at Heriot Bay and attended High School in Campbell River from 1935, graduating in 1941. His employer was B.S. & W Logging Co., Menzies Bay, B.C.

After basic and flight training in Edmonton, Calgary and Regina he received his Pilot certification on October 24, 1942. Following further flying training in Regina and at Claresholm, Alberta he disembarked in the United Kingdom on June 4, 1943. Further training was completed at 12 (P) Advanced Flying Unit at Grenham, Lincolnshire and at 51 Operational Training Unit, Cranfield, Bedfordshire. He was posted to RCAF 406 Night Fighter Squadron at Winkleigh, Devon on April 12, 1944 in the same month that the squadron had moved to that location and was converted to De Havilland Mosquito MK XII aircraft. On June 15, 1944 Elmer Oswald was promoted from the rank of Flight Sergeant (T FS), Air Force Number R157951 to Pilot Officer, official number J87419. On December 15, 1944 he was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer (T FO).

The De Havilland Mosquito was a military aircraft that excelled in a number of roles during World War II. It was a twin-engine aircraft with the pilot and navigator sitting side by side. Unorthodox in design, it used a plywood structure of spruce and balsa in a time when wooden construction was considered outdated. It was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. Its various roles included tactical bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike or photo-reconnaissance aircraft.

During this period the squadron had the task of defending the invasion ports, including the task of shooting down the high-speed buzz bombs that had caused so much destruction and loss of life in England. In July 1944 Mosquito Mk XXX’s replaced the Mark XII’s and in September 406 Squadron moved to Colerne, Wiltshire to undertake training for intruder operations. The squadron moved to Manston, Kent in late November.

On March 7, 1945 Flying Officer Oswald’s Mosquito aircraft number NT 418 was shot down over the Zuiderzee, a shallow inlet of the North Sea in the northwest area of the Netherlands, while on a mission against the targets of Stade and Uterson, near Hamburg, Germany. An RAF report on F/O Oswald’s personnel file records that J 87419 F/O Oswald, E.A., Pilot is buried in Harderwijk General Cemetery, Plot A, Grave 49. His flight log book, which is held at the Campbell River Museum, records the many operational flights that he and his navigator, J93442 F/O Hicks, K.B. had flown together during their tour of duty. Honours and Awards: Pilot’s Flying Badge; 39 – 45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; General Service Medal; C.V.S.M. & Clasp.