John Ernest Spry fonds. — 1941-1946. — 2.5 cm of textual records.

Biographical Sketch

John ‘Jack’ Ernest Spry was born in Sexsmith, Alberta, the son of Walter & Rose Spry.

Jack served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for five years during World War II. He was ceritifed as a wireless operator in 1941, became a certified Wireless air-gunner in 1942, and later that same year a S.E. Coastal Operator.

In 1943 Jack was stationed near India. One day out on anti-sub patrol with pilot Sgt. Gallagher’ they sighted lifeboats and fourteen survivors of the S.S. Montanan. In attempting a landing their hull was damaged in a heavy swell. This had them scrambling into a rubber dinghy and in need of rescue. The lifeboats they had been sent to rescue came to their aid. On June 9th, after 2 days and 7 hours adrift, they were rescued by Catalinas Y & G and later made landfall at Marsira.

After the war Jack returned to the Sexsmith area, where he farmed until his death at the age of 57 on Aug. 14, 1980. He was buried at the Emerson Trail Cemetery.

Custodial History

Jack Spry’s Royal Canadian Air Force flying log book was donated to South Peace Regional Archives by Sherida Rossol, the daughter of Jack’s sister Olive.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of a log book from the Royal Canadian Air Force for 1941-1945. The log records a brief description of each mission flown, the pilot’s name and the date.

Notes

Accession No. 2013.31
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Biographical Sketch notes taken from the contents of the fonds.

Related Records: Walter Spry fonds 559.