Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

Additional Information

Son of Alban and Edna Laflamme, of Ottawa, Ontario.

Camille Laflamme, who joined the RCAF in May 1941, was one of the crew of five – pilot, flight engineer, navigator/ bomb aimer, and front and rear gunners – in a two-motor Wellington bomber; he held the position of navigator/bomber. Returning from their fourth bombing mission over Germany, while completing their crossing of the English Channel, they were spotted and shot down by a German fighter plane; their plane lacked the evasion capacity and the power to defend itself against the enemy fighters. Camille’s plane made it to England and crashed near South End on Sea, killing all five. The Wellington bombers – nicknamed “flying coffins” – were replaced one or two months later by the four-engine Avro Lancaster bombers with a crew of seven: pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless operator, bomb aimer, and mid and upper gunners.

Camille’s father, after Camille’s death, went to see Air Marshall Bradley, to pull out his other son Jacques Laflamme – Service number R82941 (he had joined the RCAF on February 17 1941) – and transfered him in a passionate posting for twelve months, given that he had the right to do so when a member of the family is killed in action. Camille’s death may have saved Jacques and permitted Jacques to continue his legacy of children and grand-children.

Commemorated on Page 88 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.