ARTHUR CHARLES "BILL" EMMETT

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ARTHUR CHARLES "BILL" EMMETT On October 26, 2002 Bill passed away at St. Boniface Hospital. He is survived by his beloved daughters, Judy (Scholl) of Crestline, CA, Joan (Wayne) Becker of Cobourg, ON and Nancy (Henry) Penner of Morden, MB; and his beloved grand-daughters, Jennith, Tara and Abby. Bill was predeceased by his dearly beloved wife Eleanor (nee McKay) on July 23, 1999; and both his parents, Arthur "ACE" and Lillie; his son-in-law Art Scholl; Eleanors parents; and two sisters, Muriel (Philp) of Rimbey, AB and Aileen (Gargett) of Victoria, BC. Bill was born in Winnipeg on December 8, 1921 and later moved with his parents to St. James. He received his education at Linwood School and St. James Collegiate. He was employed by the RCA Victor Company in Winnipeg and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940, leaving home on January 6, 1941. He received his flying training at No. 14 EFTS, Portage la Prairie and No. 11 SFTS at Yorkton, SK., where he was granted his Pilots Wings on September 11, 1941. Following a 30-day embarkation leave, he went overseas and was posted to No. 19 OTU (R.A.F.) at Kinloss, Scotland on Whitley bombers. Due to a shortage of aircraft and crews he was sent to No. 15 OTU (R.A.F.) at Harwell, England, for operational training. He and his crew then joined No. 1443 Ferry Training Flight and flew a new Wellington bomber to Egypt, via Gibraltar, West Africa, southern Chad and the Sudan to the outskirts of Cairo where the aircraft was delivered to the R.A.F. as part of the reinforcement buildup for the coming battle of Alamein against Rommels Afrika Korps in October 1942. The crew served with No. 40 Squadron (R.A.F.) until July, 1943 throughout the North American Campaign and the invasions of both Sicily and Italy. Bill was then sent to No. 76 OTU (R.A.F.) at Aqir, Palestine as an instructor, training Wellington crews in long-distance flying before their transition to the 4-engined Liberator bombers then being delivered to the R.A.F. in the Mediterranean theatre of war. After completing these duties, he was repatriated to Canada, via the United Kingdom and the U.S.A., arriving home in late 1944. On January 26, 1945, he married his highschool sweetheart, Eleanor McKay. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1995. Following his discharge from the R.C.A.F. in February, 1945, he joined the staff of the Manitoba Motor League (now CAA Manitoba) succeeding his father as General Manager in 1954. He was CEO of the League until 1984, when he retired. In 1959, he was elected President of the Lions Club of St. James-Assiniboia, and in 1968 he served as President of the Wartime Pilots and Observers Association. He was a member of and chaired several committees of the Canadian and American Automobile Associations, and in cooperation with the St. John Ambulance Society, re-established and chaired the Manitoba Highway First Aid Post Committee, for which service he was awarded a "Priory Vote of Thanks" by the Priory in Canada of the Order of St. John. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, it would be appreciated if donations were made to: The Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, 100 Olivia St., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9; or The Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent St., Winnipeg, MB R2L 1X3. LEATHERDALE GARDINER 1501 Waverley Street 949-4860

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 30, 2002