David Hornell was flying a Coastal Command mission in a Canadian Consolidated Canso, but lost his life in a dinghy in the middle of the ocean
David Ernest Hornell was born on Toronto Island, Canada on January 26, 1910 and during his school years he proved to be both academically gifted and an accomplished sportsman. Despite winning a scholarship he opted not to pursue a university education and joined the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to work in the research laboratories. He was carving a successful career by the time war broke out but he was unable to avoid the urge to enlist and on January 8, 1941 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Three weeks later he turned 31; the age at which he would have been exempt from uniformed service.
Hornell undertook his basic training at various locations in mainland Canada and received his ‘wings’ as a commissioned Pilot Officer on September 25, 1941.
