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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Gordon William Olafsen

In memory of:

Warrant Officer Class II Gordon William Olafsen

December 18, 1944
Couvin, Belgium

Military Service

Service Number:

R/192540

Age:

22

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

434 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence medal, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp.

Additional Information

Born:

August 14, 1922
Steveston, British Columbia

Enlistment:

September 16, 1942
Vancouver, British Columbia

Son of Guttorm and Barbara Olafsen, of Steveston, Richmond, British Columbia. Brother of Robert, John, Ernest and Norman. Warrant Officer 2nd Class Olafsen is also commemorated on the Cenotaph located in the plaza in front of City Hall, in Richmond, British Columbia.

Commemorated on Page 407 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY
Belgium

Grave Reference:

VIII. B. 16.

Location:

LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY is located 58 Km north east of Leuven. From Leopoldsburg railway station turn right along the Nicolaylaan to the 'T' junction and turn left onto the Koninklijkstraat. Continue 300 M and turn right at the Koning Albert I Plein. 100 M after this turn left at the 'T' Junction and right at the next 'T' junction. Go a further 300 M to the end of the road and turn left into the Militair Domein. The cemetery is sited 200 M along on the right.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of GORDON WILLIAM OLAFSEN– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of GORDON WILLIAM OLAFSEN
    Photo of GORDON WILLIAM OLAFSEN – 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
  • Correspondence– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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

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    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.January 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.January 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Gordon Olafsen

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    Photo of Gordon Olafsen
    Photo of Gordon Olafsen
  • Group Photo– Olafsen boys in wartime: Gordon, Ernest and John at the (Vancouver?) CPR station in 1943.

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    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Olafsen boys in wartime: Gordon, Ernest and John at the (Vancouver?) CPR station in 1943.
  • Group Photo– Group photo of the 104 crew flying Halifax NR-118 “WL-U” in 434 Squadron

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Group photo of the 104 crew flying Halifax NR-118 “WL-U” in 434 Squadron
  • Letter– RCAF letter to parent re recollection of P/O (WAG) Herbert Brown of Alberta, the only crew member who was able to bail out of the aircraft. Final investigation showed that a collision of Halifaxes resulted in this loss. Additional information and photos about crashes are available on the following website: http://www.rcaf434squadron.com/crash-sites-memorials/crash-sites-failed-to-return/12642860

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – RCAF letter to parent re recollection of P/O (WAG) Herbert Brown of Alberta, the only crew member who was able to bail out of the aircraft. Final investigation showed that a collision of Halifaxes resulted in this loss. Additional information and photos about crashes are available on the following website: http://www.rcaf434squadron.com/crash-sites-memorials/crash-sites-failed-to-return/12642860
  • Essay– The Circumstances of the Crew's Last Flight [researcher G. E. Chase]

    Details

    Essay
    Essay – The Circumstances of the Crew's Last Flight [researcher G. E. Chase]
  • Memorial– Warrant Officer Class II Gordon William Olafsen is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Warrant Officer Class II Gordon William Olafsen 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

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    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– Warrant Officer Class II Gordon William Olafsen is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Warrant Officer Class II Gordon William Olafsen is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Grave marker– Photo of grave marker is courtesy of Des Philippet (find-a-grave)

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Photo of grave marker is courtesy of Des Philippet (find-a-grave)

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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