Flight Sergeant Joseph Jacques Charles Mercier

Joseph Jacques Charles Mercier was born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, on 27 May 1917. He attended Jardin de l'Enfance in Montreal, Collège de Valleyfield, and Université de Montréal, where he completed a classical course and earned a B.A. before studying law. He also held summer jobs, including surveyor work and work with the Quebec Department of Health/Public Works. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 15 October 1941 and trained as a pilot in Canada and Britain. He later served as a Flight Sergeant pilot with 432 Squadron. On 25 June 1943 he was reported missing after air operations over Wuppertal, Germany, and was subsequently presumed dead. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

1917-05-27 — Born. Place / Unit: Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
1941-10-14 — Initial RCAF medical examination found him physically fit for aircrew duties; defective vision/glasses were recorded. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec
1941-10-14 — Initial medical selection: physically fit for aircrew duties; medical officer considered him keen, testing well, and likely to make a good pilot. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec
1941-10-15 — Enlisted in the RCAF; classified AC2 and entered pilot training. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec
1941-11-11 — Entered initial training sequence. Place / Unit: No. 3 Initial Training School, Canada
1942-01-20 — Medical review again found him fit; reviewing officer noted completion of a B.A. and one year of law. Place / Unit: RCAF medical review
1942-01-20 — Medical review recorded no intervening illness; reviewer noted his B.A., one year of law, good average intelligence and average emotional stability. Place / Unit: Canada
1942-03-16 — Posted for elementary flying training. Place / Unit: No. 11 EFTS, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
1942-03-16 to 1942-06-01 — Elementary flying training at No. 11 EFTS; flying-training report records Fleet Finch flying. Place / Unit: No. 11 EFTS, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
1942-03-16 to 1942-06-01 — Individual flying record documents weekly single-engine elementary flying training at No. 11 EFTS, with dual and pilot time recorded throughout the course. Place / Unit: No. 11 EFTS, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
1942-05-20 to 1942-05-27 — Granted leave during Canadian flying training. Place / Unit: Canada
1942-06-04 — Posted for service flying training. Place / Unit: No. 13 SFTS, St-Hubert, Quebec
1942-06-04 to 1942-10-09 — Service flying training at No. 13 SFTS; flying-training report records Harvard flying. Place / Unit: No. 13 SFTS, St-Hubert, Quebec
1942-09-25 — Qualified for the Pilot's Flying Badge at No. 13 SFTS. Final standing 65.2%, 32nd in class; assessed as an average pilot and ground-school pupil, quiet and likely dependable. Place / Unit: No. 13 SFTS, St-Hubert, Quebec
1942-09-28 — Reported late for the 0745 parade at No. 13 SFTS; awarded punishment recorded on the conduct sheet. Place / Unit: No. 13 SFTS, St-Hubert, Quebec
1942-09-28 — Minor conduct offence: reported late for 0745 parade; punishment recorded on conduct sheet. Place / Unit: No. 13 SFTS, St-Hubert, Quebec
1942-10-09 — Completed No. 13 SFTS and was struck off strength. Place / Unit: St-Hubert, Quebec
1942-10-10 — Posted to overseas embarkation sequence. Place / Unit: Halifax, Nova Scotia
1942-11-05 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom. Place / Unit: United Kingdom
1942-11-06 — Taken on strength of No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre. Place / Unit: United Kingdom
1942-11-19 — Posted to Advanced Flying Unit training. Place / Unit: United Kingdom
1943-02-26 — Completed No. 1512 Beam Approach Training Flight course. Scored 53.5%; report noted keenness but said further practice was needed before he could be considered a proficient beam pilot. Place / Unit: No. 1512 Beam Approach Training Flight, United Kingdom
1943-03-08 — Advanced Flying Unit report: improved to a steady average after a slow start. Place / Unit: United Kingdom
1943-03-08 — Advanced Flying Unit report stated that he improved to a steady average after a slow start. Place / Unit: United Kingdom
1943-03-09 — Posted to No. 23 Operational Training Unit. Place / Unit: No. 23 OTU, United Kingdom
1943-03-25 — Promoted Flight Sergeant (Pilot). Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-05-31 — Completed No. 23 OTU Course 55. Flying-test result 71%; character/leadership 60/100. Assessed as a steady pilot though somewhat slow. Wellington III training included day/night, instrument, formation and Link Trainer work; no accidents recorded; recommended for four-engine aircraft. Place / Unit: No. 23 OTU, United Kingdom
1943-06-10 — Taken on strength of 432 Squadron. Place / Unit: 432 Squadron, United Kingdom
1943-06-25 — Reported missing after air operations over Wuppertal, Germany. Place / Unit: 432 Squadron / Wuppertal, Germany
1943-07-20 — Ministerial casualty card sent to his mother in French following his loss. Place / Unit: Canada
1944-11-14 — Official RCAF casualty notification changed his status from missing to presumed dead for official purposes, effective 25 June 1943. Place / Unit: Ottawa, Ontario
1944-11-15 — Certificate of Presumption of Death issued after inquiries produced no information indicating that he might still be alive; presumed death remained effective from 25 June 1943. Place / Unit: Ottawa, Ontario
1945-03-23 — Memorial Cross delivered to his mother. Place / Unit: Canada
1952-07-02 — RCAF Casualties Officer advised his mother that Missing Research and Enquiry Service had been unable to locate his grave; officially recorded as having no known grave and to be commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Place / Unit: Ottawa, Ontario