The Airmen's Stories - P/O C A B Wallace

Clarence Alfred Blake Wallace of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada was born on 28th May 1917, the son of Colonel the Hon. Clarence Wallace CBE and Charlotte Hazel Wallace.

Clarence Wallace fought in World War I and was wounded at Ypres. After the war he became the president of Burrard Dry Dock which during World War II built ships for the war effort.

He had four sons who all served in the RCAF.

CAB Wallace joined the RCAF on 6th November 1939. He was sent to England, arriving at 112 Squadron RCAF (then in an Army Co-Op role) on 8th September 1940.

With other Canadian pilots he was sent on the 21st to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes and took up a posting to 3 Squadron at Turnhouse on 5th October.

By late 1941 he was serving with 401 (RCAF) Squadron and was killed on 27th October flying Spitfire Vb AB991.

Twelve aircraft from 401 were making a sweep over the French coast near Dunkirk when they were bounced by a large force of Me109’s from JG26. Five aircraft were lost.

Wallace's body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 59.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner