The Airmen's Stories - P/O J A J Chevrier

Joseph Armand Jacques Chevrier was born in St. Lambert, Quebec, Canada on 7th October 1917, the son of Dr. Aurele Chevrier (1884-1962) and Florina Chevrier (nee Cadieux 1884-1932).

He joined the RCAF on 4th July 1938, travelled to to England in 1940 and was posted to No. 1 Squadron at Wittering on 3rd October, moving to No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron at Prestwick on the 21st.

Chevrier was repatriated to Canada on 9th January 1941.

He was appointed ADC to His Excellency the Governor-General, the Earl of Athlone on 8th August and served in that capacity until 31st March 1942.

Chevrier was then posted to be the first CO of 130 Squadron, taking command at Mont-Joli, Quebec on 1st May 1942. On 6th July 1942 the squadron was scrambled to search for U-boats after a freighter was torpedoed 10 miles off Ste. Anne-des-Monts. Four Kittyhawks were launched. Several survivors of the sunk ship were located, but no U-boat.

Chevrier ran out of fuel on the return to Mont-Joli, and died when his Kittyhawk AK915 ditched in the St. Lawrence just off Ste. Anne-des-Monts. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial.

(Above images courtesy of Fred Carpenter RCAF (Retired)).