The RCAF’s Secret Weapon in WWII: Canadian Jewish airmen

Hidden Heroes: Canadian Jewish Airmen in WWll

Join journalist Ellin Bessner via ZOOM on Thursday June 10, 2021 as she speaks to the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, Toronto Chapter’s June meeting. Bessner is the author of “Double Threat: Canadian Jews, the Military and WWII” about the 17,000 Canadians who fought Hitler and rescued the survivors of the Holocaust. Among the volunteers were nearly 6,000 men and women in the RCAF. One was among “The Few”: the brave RAF pilots who fended off those deadly German bombing raids during the Battle of Britain.

Her lively presentation will highlight these Jewish air crew and ground crew, and the women in the RCAF, who served at great personal risk, should they be captured and their faith be discovered by the Nazis. They fought for King and country, and also to save their own people from Hitler’s Final Solution.

You will learn about Canada’s top RAF Spitfire Ace, F/L William Henry Nelson, DFC, and about F/L Sydney Shulemson, a Beaufighter Ace who won the DFC and the DSO. The RAF wanted personnel who could speak German for the 101 Squadron as Special Duty Operators, including F/O Benny Yellin and Morley Ornstein, who both did not survive the war.

To attend, please email the organizers at least 3 hours in advance to register: cahstorsvp@gmail.com 

Please support your local authors during COVID. Buy “Double Threat”: it is available at all major retailers. If you would like a signed copy, Ellin would be glad to make arrangements to sell and deliver them to you in the GTA. Subscribe to her free monthly newsletter here.