Warrant Officer Class II James Joseph Zunti

Royal Canadian Air Force

Luseland, Saskatchewan

Died: Nov 23, 1943

Commemorated at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery , Germany

James Joseph Zunti, born February 2, 1916 on the family farm near Luseland, Saskatchewan, completed his early education at Deer Lodge School near Luseland in 1930. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan School of Agriculture in 1939 before going into partnership with his father on the family farm.

Single and living on the family farm, Zunti enlisted at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan June 4, 1941. Zunti served with the Royal Ca- nadian Air Force attached to No. 50 (R.A.F.) Squadron (Sic Fidem Servamus) as a Warrant Officer Class II (Air Gunner) during the Sec- ond World War. Operating with No. 5 Group Bomber Command, the No. 50 Squadron flew Avro Manchester and Avro Lancaster aircraft on night bombing offensives over Germany from RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincoln, England.

On November 23, 1943, Warrant Officer Class II (Air Gunner) James Joseph Zunti died after his Lancaster crashed following a night raid on Berlin, Germany. Shot down outside of Berlin, Zunti is commemorated at the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.

Eldest son of Jacob and Maria ‘Nettie’ (nee Brün- dler) Zunti (died 1928) of Luseland; stepson of Paula Josephine Zunti of Luseland; brother of Anna, Gordon, Edward, Mary, Bertha, Ja- cob, Wilfred and Eliza Zunti; half-brother of Hedwig Paula and Fridolin Martin Zunti; he was 27 years old. Zunti Lake, Saskatchewan is named in his honour. Citation(s): 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, War Medal, Cana- dian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.