W/O 2 Bernie Rink RCAF from Kendal,
Saskatchewan volunteered, (having lied about his age, being 17 at
the time), to become an air gunner for 576 Squadron. His brother
Wendelin was killed serving with the Davenport crew in 431
Squadron on 11.11.1945. Bernie and his crew were also on this
mission from their base at Fiskerton and saw the his brother's
Lancaster go down.
He was one of five
brothers, Anton, Joe, Daniel & Wendelin. Daniel served as an
instructor at the Bombing & Gunnery School at Dauphin, Manitoba
before being sent to England for the last months of the
war .Another brother, Joe served overseas with the Royal Hamilton
Light Infantry,4th Brigade,2nd Canadian Division through France, Belgium,Holland
and Germany. Joe was wounded at Woemsdrecht
and sent to hospital at Reading, Berkshire where he visited both
Wendelin and Bernie. Anton(Tony) served in the Seaforth Highlanders
2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian division in Italy and Holland.
Berne Rink made some 34 bombing trips
and survived the war.
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