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City Park Collegiate |
| Jay attended school at City Park Collegiate which was in the area the family lived. It is recorded that he was a good student, popular and well liked by all. He developed an aptitude for painting and handcrafts and was well known as an accomplished amateur painter. |
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City Park Collegiate |
| Sometime around 1936 he moved to Hamilton, possibly to live with his sister or other relatives. Meanwhile his parents and brothers had moved to Sheho in Saskatoon. While in Hamilton Jay worked for the Norman Slater Company who manufactured electrical and transmission hardware and other machined parts and tools. After war broke out he returned to Saskatoon and in December 1940 he enlisted in The R.C.A.F. |
| His Postings and Ranks Card gives his birthdate as 12th May 1913, although it is alternatively listed as 1910 and that he enlisted in Hamilton rather than Saskatoon. Possibly he went to 'Sign up' in Saskatoon where he had grown up but was referred back to Hamilton where he resided at the time. His citizenship was entered as the United States of America and his religion as Roman Catholic. |
Transcription of Jay's Record Card
| DATE | POSTING | RANK |
| 02-Jan-41 | 1 MD - [Manning Depot] | AC2 - [Aircraftsman 2nd Class] |
| 21-Jan-41 | 1 AMD - [Advanced Manning Depot] | |
| 18-Mar-41 | 1 MD | |
| 10-Apr-41 | 1 ED - [?] | |
| 05-Jul-41 | 4 WS - [Wireless School] | |
| 07-Aug-41 | LAC - [Leading Aircraftsman] | |
| 22-Nov-41 | 1 BGS - [Bombing & Gunnery School, Jarvis] | |
| 22-Dec-41 | Sgt TP - [Temporary Posting, Wartime rank] | |
| 23-Dec-41 | 1Y - [Embakation Port, Halifax N.S.] | |
| 23-Jan-42 | R.A.F. - [101 Squdron] | |
| 16-Nov-42 | MISSING PD - [Presumed Dead] |
Jay's 'Trade' was W.O./A.G. - [Wireless Operator/Air Gunner]
| The dangers of war became clear even during training when a serious accident could so easily have claimed Jay's life. During training two planes collided in mid air, on 9th December 1941 near Fisherville, Ontario. Aircraft 1814 crashed to the ground killing the pilot and two WO/AG trainees, 1604 containing Jay landed safely with no injuries. |
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| 101 SQUADRON CREST |
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| Scenes like this would soon be familiar to Jay, although Ops with 101 Squadron would have been at night in Wellington Bombers. |