Thomas Reginald's Story.
Thomas Reginald Armstrong was born in Parry Sound Ontario on 26th June 1921 to parents Frederick and Grace Armstrong. He took two years of high school before working as a laboratory technician at an explosive factory. He enlisted in the RCAF on 16th April 1942 and trained in Canada as an air bomber before embarking for the UK on 8th April 1943 arriving on 19th April 1943. He was posted 3 (O) AFU on 8th June 1943 for advanced observer training before being posted to 81 OTU at RAF Tilstock on 6th July 1943 for training in Whitley bombers. On 26th August 1943 Thomas was killed when the Whitley aircraft that he was flying in crashed on landing.Details of the Accident
In the early hours of August 26, 1943 Whitley (LA-937), having taken off at 20:50 the previous evening, was returning from a night navigation exercise when both engines faltered immediately prior to touch-down. The aircraft went out of control and struck the control tower. The pilot (F/O K.N. Laing RCAF from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and bomb aimer (Sgt. T.R. Armstrong RCAF of Parry Sound, Ontario) were killed and three others aboard the aircraft (Sgt. T.W. Fair RCAF, Sgt. R.G. Henderson, and Sgt.R. Guile) were seriously injured. Three on the ground were injured, including the station commanding officer, W/C D.S. Robertson. The others were AC1 Ferguson and LAW J.M. Viney of the WAAF. According to a report, "about 15 personnel miraculously escaped injury."
Whitley bomber