Commonwealth Air Force Memorial - Ottawa, Ontario - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

The text on the plaque is as follows:

"In the Second World War air power played an increasingly important role in offensive and defensive capacities.

At the start of the war there was a shortage of aircraft and trained pilots. The United Kingdom was considered too vulnerable to attack and so training centres were established elsewhere. Bases in North America trained over 137,000 Commonwealth air crew, making a vital contribution to the Allied victory, while much needed aircraft and supplies were ferried to the United Kingdom from the United States and Canada by both civilian and air force personnel.
This memorial, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959, commemorates by name almost 800 men and women who lost their lives while serving or training with the Air Forces of the Commonwealth in Canada, the West Indies and the United States and who have no known grave. Their names are arranged according to year of death, force and rank.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for the maintenance of graves and memorials in some 150 countries which commemorate around 1,700,000 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars. The war dead commemorated here and elsewhere include those of several different faiths and of none."

The monument is located at Rideau Falls Park, on Green Island in Ottawa, Ontario. It occupies a most beautiful spot being adjacent to the Rideau Falls and the Ottawa River.

The memorial is composed of a bronze globe on which stands an eagle. It is surrounded by a curved wall made of cement. The plaques with the inscription of the people who died during the war have been removed as they had deteriorated. They will be replaced when renovated. The Globe rests on a circular pedestal within a circle made of cement as well. There are paving stones of different shades around the circle.

Date of Dedication: 07/01/1959 Property Permission: Public Access instructions: There is parking nearby and bus service is available in close proximity to the waymark. Access times: From: 5:00 AM To: 11:00 PM Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: Across the street from 111 Sussex Drive Ottawa, Ontario Canada Commemoration: Almost 800 men and women who lost their lives while serving or training with the Air Forces of the Commonwealth in Canada, the West Indies and the United States and who have no known grave.

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