2011 Remembrance - Pierre le Canadien – Flight Sergeant Petro Dmytruk (1920-1941)

By Andre Sochaniwsky

In June of 2011, the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron 405 (Eagles) celebrated its 70^th anniversary.  As a former member of the squadron, I attended this reunion which took place in the squadron’s current home of Greenwood, Nova Scotia.  The squadron was founded in April 1941 as the first RCAF Bomber Squadron.  It was actively employed in Bomber Command’s heavy assaults on occupied Europe and Northern Italy, flying the mighty Lancaster Bomber.  The unit later became part of the elite Bomber Command B Group, as a Pathfinder Squadron, guiding other bombers to their targets.  In later years, it was involved in Cold War operations against Soviet nuclear submarines, NATO operations during the wars in the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, and most recently, operations in Libya, flying the venerable CP140 Aurora.  At this reunion event, I also came to learn more about one of its famous and heroic Ukrainian Canadian members – Flight Sergeant Peter (Petro) Dmytruk.

Peter Dmytruk was born in Radisson, Saskatchewan in 1920 to a Ukrainian immigrant family.  In 1941, he joined the RCAF and became a bomber tail gunner on 405 Squadron.  In 1943, while on a mission over France, his bomber was shot down.  At the Air Force Museum in Nova Scotia, I was able to read the entry in the Squadron log of the fateful day that he and his crew were shot down.  Flight Sergeant Dmytruk survived and was rescued by the French Underground.  Deeply moved by the brutal treatment of the French people by the Nazis, Peter Dmytruk declined to be smuggled out of France and received permission for a transfer to the French Resistance.  The French Resistance nicknamed him “Pierre le Canadien”.  After the sabotage of a heavily loaded German troop and munitions train, the Germans captured and then executed Peter.  However, feeling that Peter was the key member of the resistance movement in that area, the Germans did not pursue further reprisals against the local French town, which was the norm.  Peter’s death spared the execution of some 1,400 French civilians.  He was buried in France with honours.  In 1999, he was honoured posthumously by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Saskatchewan Provincial Council with the Nation Builders Award. (Compiled from sources)

F/S Peter Dmytruk is a shining example of a citizen contributing to Canada’s military forces and the defence and security of Canada.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Toronto Branch with support from the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada invites all members of the community to honour these contributions and sacrifices at the Remembrance Day Memorial Service and Wreath Laying at the monument on Sunday, November 6^th at 2:00pm, Ukrainian Canadian Memorial Park at Scarlett Road and Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto.

Captain Andre Sochaniwsky is a former member of 405 Eagle Squadron where he served from 1990-1996.  He accumulated over 2000 hours of flight time and participated in numerous NATO operations.  He is a member of the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada and serves on the Remembrance Day Committee of the UCC Toronto Branch.

PHOTOS

1 - Lancaster Bomber's tail gunner's position

2 - L. to R.: 405 Eagle Squadron former members Dennis Boychuk and Andre Sochaniwsky