The Ottawa Memorial/Le Monument commémoratif d'Ottawa

In the Second World War, air power became increasingly important in both offensive and defensive roles. At the start of the war, shortages of aircraft and trained pilots led to the establishment of training centres outside the vulnerable United Kingdom. Bases in North America trained more than 137,000 Commonwealth air crew, contributing vitally to Allied victory, while civilian and air force personnel ferried badly needed aircraft and supplies from the United States and Canada to the United Kingdom. In 1959, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the Ottawa Memorial, which bears the names of about 800 men and women who died 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 by year of death, force, and rank. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains graves and memorials in about 150 countries commemorating around 1,700,000 members of Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars, including people of several faiths and of none.

Ontario · Canada