Flying Officer Clifford Leonard Horncastle

Royal Canadian Air Force Edmonton, Alberta

Eston, Saskatchewan

Died: Nov 3, 1942

Commemorated at Brookwood Military Cemetery, England

Clifford Leonard Horncastle, born September 25, 1918 at Eston, Saskatchewan, moved to Edmonton, Alberta as a child where he completed his education at Strathcona High School. Working at T.C. Eaton’s in Edmonton as a clerk, Horn- castle enlisted June 3, 1940.

Horncastle served with the Royal Canadian Air Force attached to No. 414 Army Co-operation Squadron (Totis Viri- bus) as a Flying Officer (Pilot) during the Second World War. The squadron flew Curtis Tomahawk and North American Mustang aircraft on photo reconnaissance, gathering intelligence on enemy-occupied targets.

On November 3, 1942 Flying Officer (Pilot) Clifford Leonard Horncastle died after the rear engine of his Mustang exploded on take-off from RAF Tangemere, Sussex, England. Horncastle is commemorated at Beechwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey, England and on plaques at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church and at Government House, Edmonton.

Two chandeliers are dedicated to his honour at St. John the Evangelist Church. Only son of Leonard Henry and Jessica (nee van Hees) Horncastle of Edmonton; he was 24 years old.