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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Donald Arthur Pastorius

In memory of:

Pilot Officer Donald Arthur Pastorius

April 28, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

J/86255

Age:

20

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

434 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

Pilot's Flying Badge earned 6 August 1943. Operational Wings awarded posthumously on 7 November 1946. 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, General Service Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Additional Information

Born:

April 29, 1923
Essex County, Ontario

Enlistment:

November 3, 1942
Windsor, Ontario

He was the son of Gore Charles and Lottie May (née Tofflemire) Pastorius. Donald was one of thirteen children, and one of five sons who served in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War. Donald's brothers who also served were - Francis Gore, Elihue Ira, Gordon Curry and Ralph Charles. Donald died one day short of his 21st birthday. His personal belongings were sent home to the farm on the 7th Concession outside of Essex, Ontario on the same day that his brother Ralph Charles returned home. Donald played guitar and took it with him overseas. The Halifax aircraft in which he flew, was shot down by Heinz Schnaufer, one of Germany's top night fighter pilots.

Commemorated on Page 412 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY
Belgium

Grave Reference:

6. A. 11.

Location:

HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY is located 30 km from Brussels and 3 km south of Leuven. Turn left out of Leuven railway station onto the Tiensevest(ring road R 23). Follow the Tiensevest through the junctions Tiensepoort and Parkpoort and along the Naamsepoort. Turn left at the Naamsepoort onto the Naamsesteenweg (N251) signposted Namen, Waver & Heverlee. Continue until you cross the railway line at Heverlee and take the first left turn into the Hertogstraat. Follow Hertogstraat to the end and turn right at the Sport Hall onto the Kerpelstraat. Continue down the Kerpelstraat until you come to a crossroads at which the HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY is located.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of DONALD ARTHUR PASTORIUS– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of DONALD ARTHUR PASTORIUS
    Photo of DONALD ARTHUR PASTORIUS – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of DONALD ARTHUR PASTORIUS– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Photo of DONALD ARTHUR PASTORIUS
    Photo of DONALD ARTHUR PASTORIUS – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Identification– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Identification
    Identification – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Service Book– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Service Book
    Service Book – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Document
    Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Correspondence– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Correspondence
    Correspondence – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Correspondence– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Correspondence
    Correspondence – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Donald Arthur Pastorius– Donald Arthur Pastorius 1923 - 1944

    Details

    Photo of Donald Arthur Pastorius
    Photo of Donald Arthur Pastorius – Donald Arthur Pastorius 1923 - 1944
  • Photo of Donald Pastorius and family– Gore Charles Pastorius with four of his sons who served in the Canadian Armed Forces. This picture was taken in Essex, Ontario in 1942 before the boys went overseas. From left, Ralph Pastorius, Gordon Pastorius, Hugh Pastorius, Gore Charles Pastorius and on the far right Donald Pastorius.

    Details

    Photo of Donald Pastorius and family
    Photo of Donald Pastorius and family – Gore Charles Pastorius with four of his sons who served in the Canadian Armed Forces. This picture was taken in Essex, Ontario in 1942 before the boys went overseas. From left, Ralph Pastorius, Gordon Pastorius, Hugh Pastorius, Gore Charles Pastorius and on the far right Donald Pastorius.
  • Photo of Pastorius Family– Donald Arthur Pastorius was born April 29, 1923 to parents Lottie May and Gore Charles Pastorius. In this photo Donald is the baby in his mother's arms. By 1935, Donald was one of thirteen children.

    Details

    Photo of Pastorius Family
    Photo of Pastorius Family – Donald Arthur Pastorius was born April 29, 1923 to parents Lottie May and Gore Charles Pastorius. In this photo Donald is the baby in his mother's arms. By 1935, Donald was one of thirteen children.
  • Photo of Donald Arthur Pastorius

    Details

    Photo of Donald Arthur Pastorius
    Photo of Donald Arthur Pastorius
  • Citation– This is to certify that Pilot Officer D. A. Pastorius has been posthumously awarded the Operational Wings of the Royal Canadian Air Force in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy. Dated this Fifth day of November, 1946.

    Details

    Citation
    Citation – This is to certify that Pilot Officer D. A. Pastorius has been posthumously awarded the Operational Wings of the Royal Canadian Air Force in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy. Dated this Fifth day of November, 1946.
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Donald Arthur Pastorius is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer Donald Arthur Pastorius is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Donald Arthur Pastorius is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer Donald Arthur Pastorius is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial Cross– Erected in grateful recognition of valour and courage of these men of Cottam and Gosfield North who served in the First and Second World War. Cottam Women's Institute. This photo was taken November 11, 2000 at Cottam Cemetery, Cottam, Ontario.

    Details

    Memorial Cross
    Memorial Cross – Erected in grateful recognition of valour and courage of these men of Cottam and Gosfield North who served in the First and Second World War. Cottam Women's Institute. This photo was taken November 11, 2000 at Cottam Cemetery, Cottam, Ontario.
  • Heverlee War Cemetery– Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Belgium, in August 2001.

    Details

    Heverlee War Cemetery
    Heverlee War Cemetery – Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Belgium, in August 2001.
  • Headstone of D. A. Pastorius– Pilot Officer D. A. Pastorius Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, 28th April 1944. Buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.

    Details

    Headstone of D. A. Pastorius
    Headstone of D. A. Pastorius – Pilot Officer D. A. Pastorius Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, 28th April 1944. Buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.

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