Date of birth:

1921 (Teulon/Manitob, Canada)

Date of death:

September 2nd, 2019

Buried on:

The National Military Cemetery - Beechwood Cemetery

Service number:

J18944

Nationality:

Canadian

Peter Yarema was married to Margaret Mary Sootheran from Yorkshire, England. She was stationed at Blechley Hall during the Second World War.

"When the war broke out, Peter enlisted in the Royal Air Force; at the time, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was tiny, although it grew exponentially over the next seven years. Peter joined the RCAF for his third tour in Europe. During the Second World War, Peter Yarema flew a wide variety of aircraft: from the tiny, open-cockpit Tiger Moth to the Lancaster, a four-engine
behemoth. His assignments also varied considerably: from ferrying empty planes, equipment and troops, to bombing runs and reconnaissance missions. Although he often came under enemy fire, the most harrowing moment was when a flare went off in the cockpit – somehow the navigator was able to throw it out before it caused a crash.

During 1944 alone, Peter completed more than 50 bombing missions over Germany. On these missions, he served as a pathfinder: piloting a fast, twin-engine Mosquito, he and a navigator/bomb-aimer would drop flares to mark targets for formations of bombers. Like most pilots, he was daring and brave. Peter flew with the same co-pilot dozens of combat missions; after their last flight together, the copilot stormed off without saying goodbye because he felt Peter had put their lives in danger too often. Approximately 10,000 Canadian airmen died during these bombing missions.

Peter Yarema’s service earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross, although he wasn’t aware of the honour until years later. When medal and citation arrived at the family home in Manitoba, Peter’s mother – who spoke little English – stashed them away in a drawer, perhaps unaware of their importance."

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 571 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 19th, 1944

Recommendation dated 21 June 1944 when he had flown 50 sorties (174 hours 40 minutes), 6 January to 13 June 1944:

"This officer has now completed 50 sorties in this Group on Mosquitos, including ten to Berlin, ten to the Ruhr, six to Cologne and five to Ludwigshaven. The remainder have all been on heavily defended German targets. He has shown great keenness, skill and courage at all times and is the type of pilot who will fly any aircraft to any target at any time. He has been subject to most intense operational flying during the period of the squadron's formation.
I think most highly of his airmanship and his courage and of the good example he has set to his fellow pilots."

Award sent by registered mail 3 May 1951.

• Photo 1: Family
• - The London Gazette Publication date:15 September 1944 Issue:36706Page:4331
  - Royal Canadian Air Force Association - "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
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