Since September 24, 1989, I have been researching many of the local family lines from Pennfield Parish, namely Barry, Bates, Best, Crickard, Cross, Dunbar, Eldridge, Gillespie, Hawkins, Hunter, Jack, Justason, McDowell, McKay, Mealey, Nodding, Paul, Spear, Tatton, Thompson, Trynor, Wadlin, Wright & Young.
Through this genealogical research I became very intimate with A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre, CA (Camp Utopia) and Pennfield Ridge Air Station. Additionally, for many years, up to 1996, I served as track director for the Pennfield International Dragway operated by the St. George Rotary Club. It was here that races were held on the former No.3 Runway (09/27) with the taxi-strip serving as the staging & pit area. Also, in 1995/6 I served a track director for the Scoudouc Dragway as well – located where once stood the No.4 Repair Depot from World War II.
So, on January 26, 2007 I began my monumental journey, which continues to this day, by posting information online on a monthly basis – daily since April 16, 2011 – that mostly comes from my on-going research and, in the early days of my research, from a handful of Veterans still with us – RAF/RAFVR, RCAF, RAAF & RNZAF – who one by one have “…slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings”.
Then in November 2007 I started seeing newspaper reports about how we were approaching a “watershed moment for Canada” when the last known World War I Canadian Veteran would eventually pass away. These reports fueled my desire to know even more and steeled my resolve to bring an audible voice to all who served/trained here, especially the Forgotten Heroes.
OTTAWA (the Twist)
Before visiting the St. George Rural Cemetery or any other cemeteries in New Brunswick where airmen from Pennfield Ridge lay in peaceful slumber, my first stop was to our capital city, Ottawa.
15/16-March-2008 I interviewed WOII John David (Dave) STUART (22066A) (Ret.) at his residence in Ottawa.
Mr. Stuart had been posted to No.2 Air Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge to oversee the Orderly Room (office), Administration Section. He had a staff of 30 airmen, ranging from Aircraftman Class II to Sergeant, with complete authority over all who reported to him. One aspect of his job was “Writing of instructions to graduating Navigators proceeding overseas concerning acquiring Officer’s uniforms, if commissioned, while on Embarkation Leave”.
Among the many items Mr. Stuart provided me during our visit was a complete course listing for Air Observers Course No.39 – 109 graduates of which 29 RCAF airmen were granted a commission rank.
In the twilight of his days, Mr. Stuart sought recognition for the former Pennfield Ridge Air Station and was the initiator of the “Charlotte County War Memorial Committee 2005”. This committee erected a memorial stone in the Pennfield Ridge Memorial Park in 2006.
22/25-August- 2008 again traveled to Ottawa to conduct an additional interview with Mr. Stuart. Sadly, he was too ill during my second visit and passed away 27-August-2008 (age 91). However, prior to his death, Mr. Stuart made me his replacement on the “Charlotte County War Memorial Committee 2005”.
GRAND FALLS
27-September-2008 visited the gravesite of LAC Reid Edmond LEVESQUE (R/84634) at the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Grand Falls.
RCAF Station, Pennfield Ridge: At approximately 0100 hours on the morning of March 21, 1945, R.C.A.F. M.T. vehicle No.32-518, in which Levesque was a passenger, failed to make a turn at Pennfield Corner. The truck left the highway, jumped a ditch and stopped in an apple orchard. When the truck came to a stop, Levesque was found lying under it and injuries were probably sustained in his fall from the truck before it came to a stand-still. A tourniquet was applied to his injured right leg by an airmen shortly after the accident occurred and the airmen was rushed to the Station Hospital, Pennfield Ridge where complete medical care was given to him. At 0845 hrs. on the 21st, the airmen died, cause of death in Station Medical Officer’s opinion being traumatic shock due to extensive injuries of the right leg.
MIRAMICHI
The following day stopped in Miramichi to visit with Cpl. Colin Francis Patrick FLEIGER (Ret.) and his beloved wife Alice. Mr. Fleiger received his advance training at Camp Utopia, and he & Alice were regular attendees of our annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services.
MONCTON
13-October-2008 visited the gravesites of Sgt. Hubert John (Curly) BURNHAM (AUS420135), Sgt. Phillip Llewellyn (Phil) EDMOND (AUS413841) & Sgt. John Edward (Johnny) HOGAN (NZ416424).
08-February-1943: At about 0600 hours Ventura AJ211 took off from Yarmouth, NS to carry out a cross-country exercise. The last message received from the aircraft was at 0627 hours and further efforts to contact the aircraft failed. At approximately 0915 hours Operations at RCAF Station Yarmouth were informed that the aircraft was overdue, and at 1130 hours the Station requested a parallel search be made along the route taken by the aircraft.
Before this happened, information was received that an aircraft had crashed at Richibucto (today the crash site is located within Kouchibouguac National Park) and that two bodies were in the wreck. At 1150 hours a message was received from Moncton, which reported a fire on the northern shore of the Richibucto River and that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were proceeding to investigate. A later message from Moncton reported that it was the aircraft which took off from Yarmouth at 0600 hours, and that it was apparent that the aircraft had exploded on impact and was completely wrecked. Two bodies had been found and a third was recovered later.
11-February-1943: Burnham & Edmond were buried with full military honours at Elmwood Cemetery whereas Hogan was buried with full military honours at St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Cemetery.
SAINT JOHN
10-May-2009 visited the gravesites of Sgt. Sydney STREET (GB1058228); F/O Phillip Frederick (Fred) CONNELL, DFM (J/19001) (Ret.); Capt. J. Lewis HICKEY and Pte. John Arthur RYAN (G/463031).
No.2 Air Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge: STREET was killed in the crash of Anson 2388 25-August-1941 near Liverpool, NS – see “Would-be Rescuers” July 19, 2025 for additional details. A funeral service was held 28-August-1941 @ 1020 hours at Pennfeld Ridge Air Station and his body was later interned in the Field of Honour, Fernhill Cemetery.
RCAF Station, Pennfield Ridge: CONNELL was laid to rest at St. Joseph’s Cemetery 19-February-2007. During World War II, he had been posted here from 18-July-1944 until 14-September-1945 and was one of Pennfield Ridge Air Station’s Veteran’s to attend the first “Lest We Forget” service in 2006.
Camp Utopia: HICKEY & RYAN were killed in a jeep accident 05-July-1952 at Lepreaux while enroute to Camp Utopia. Since this time Hickey has been re-joined with his wife Marjorie (2013) & son Jim (2015).
Christian Larsen currently serves as President of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society. He has been actively involved in researching the genealogical & military history of Pennfield Parish for nearly four decades. From 2009 until 2017 he hosted the annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services. Recognized at the provincial & federal levels for his work with Veterans having been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023); Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation (2024) & King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). He can be reached at: ppmhsociety@gmail.com
