Researching an RCAF Sergeant

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by BakerCo563rd, May 22, 2021.

  1. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    For many years, I've had a small lot of items that belonged to Sgt. Percy Norman Hackett, RCAF. It contains a bunch of photos, his ribbon bars (including the France & Germany Star), Sergeant chevrons, and some non-military papers including a death certificate, a 51st wedding anniversary certificate from the PM, a veteran's benefits card, among others. Unfortunately, none of these items has his service number.

    I haven't been able to find anything about him online, but I did just send a request for his service record. Is there any website or database I could try to find him on? Or are there any complete RCAF rosters I could search?

    This is the only time I've tried to research a Canadian service member from WWII, so I'm in the dark as to the best way to research him. If anyone needs to see what I have of his, I'll be happy to post scans/photos later on.

    Thank you in advance!
     
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  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Your best bet is his Service Records, which you have ordered. The only thing I could find is a border crossing (Canada to the US) in 1936……and I found a death certificate of a baby. His name is on it as the father, his Occupation is listed as RCAF Disciplinarian. Listed as 24, which put his birth date of 1916 or 17. His location at that time was Niagara Falls, Ontario. I will send you the records by PM
     
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  3. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    Thank you!
     
  4. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Born Toronto 3 July 1916.

    It appears your man tried to stay in the US illegally but was "under investigation by the Syracuse office and granted voluntary deportation. Our file shows he left the United States 19 July 1937"

    Regards,

    Dave
     
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  5. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    Wow, that's completely unexpected. How did you manage to find that?
     
  6. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Every once in a while......

    It comes from the attached. Have a google of "Uncle Tom's Cabins, Stamford, Ontario". Owned by the Wilson's. His adopted sister was a Wilson. You'll have to flip the second side 180 degrees to read about the voluntary deportation.

    The address given, 131 Sackville, in 1936, was either owned or rented by a William Hackett. A "Percival Hackett", residence 15 Rivercourt Blvd. employed as a "clerk".

    1937 Percival is still a clerk and still at Rivercourt. William has vanished from 131 Sackville.

    Regards,
    Dave
     

    Attached Files:

  7. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    Thank you! I'll check it out tonight when I get home. Again, I really appreciate your help :)
     
  8. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Some further info.

    In 1942 Percival, still at the Rivercourt Blvd address, is employed as a "clerk at DeHavilland Aircraft".

    Now also at the Rivercourt address is a Betty M Hackett, a stenographer for the law firm of Mulock, Milliken, Clark and Redman.

    From 1943 to 1945, Betty is no longer listed at the law firm or anywhere in Toronto. Percival is still at DeHavilland at war's end.

    Do you happen to have his RCAF number? It would begin with an "R".
     
  9. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    Unfortunately, I don't have his service number. It figures that one of the most vital pieces of information I need to research him is absent from everything of his that I have.

    I should note that everything I have has his name as "Percy" rather than "Percival". I'm not sure how much of a difference that might make, but I thought I should mention it :)

    Edit: If I don't get in too terribly late tonight, I'll post photos of what I have. It completely slipped my mind when I was on my lunch break at work earlier.
     
  10. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    If you have him as Percy, when you send off for his service records, write him in as that.

    What's needed, and I don't have it, is a ProQuest account to look through the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail over the years. Turns out that the accounts are through the Toronto Public Library system....which don't issue accounts unless you live in the GTA.
     
  11. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    I totally forgot about ProQuest. It's too bad I'm in the U.S., I probably wouldn't be able to use it to look up Canadian newspapers. Plus, my free time to do any real research is very limited due to my work schedule and spending time with my daughter. I actually did write his name in as Percy when I sent the request in. At first, I wasn't sure if I should go with Percy or Percival. But, after going through the documents I have and seeing they all had his name as Percy, I decided to go with that.

    As promised, I have attached the photos and documents :)
     
  12. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

  13. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

  14. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

  15. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    First aircraft photo is an Avro Anson. Serial 6134. Depending when this photo was taken you can determine where he was.

    RCAF Ansons 6100 to 6149

    6134

    first date: 12 October 1940 - Taken on strength at No. 6 Repair Depot, RCAF Station Trenton

    Ex RAF R9834. To No. 1 Training Command on 11 November 1940. With No. 5 Service Flying Training School at Brantford, Ontario. Category B damage at Brantford at 00:05 on 31 August 1941. To Fleet Aircraft for overhaul and conversion to Mk. III, 21 January to 11 June 1942. Had 1073:40 logged time when it arrived. To No. 1 Training Command when completed, and back to No. 5 SFTS. To Central Aircraft at Crumlin, Ontario for crash repairs, 23 March to 18 August 1943. To No. 1 Training Command when completed. Allocated to Central Aircraft on 17 February 1944, but this was cancelled. In storage at Central Aircraft awaiting conversion to Mk. IV on 10 April 1944, when these conversions where cancelled. Pending disposal from 25 April 1944. To No. 1 Air Command on 15 January 1945, still pending disposal. By then stored at No. 6 Repair Depot, where it was noted with 2073:00 total time, 301:15 since overhaul.

    last date: 9 February 1945 - Struck off, to War Assets Corporation
     
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  16. BakerCo563rd

    BakerCo563rd World's Okayest Poster

    Wow! Well-spotted! In all the years I've had these photos, I never noticed the serial number. Although, if I had, I wouldn't have thought to try googling the number. Thank you so much!
     

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