| Rank | Pilot Officer (Nav.), Flight Sergeant |
| Service # | J/92724, R69968 |
| Unit # | R.C.A.F., 426 Sqdn. “Thunderbird Sqd. |
| Resident | Chatham |
Born 7/06/1922 on the East Branch of Chatham Gore Twsp., Kent Co., ON. Son of Harry and Capitolia (Richardson) Courtis of Lot 21, Concession 3. Chatham Gore Twsp.; husband of Jean Victoria. (nee Mowers) Courtis, of Blenheim, Ontario, Canada. Married to Jean Victoria they had a son Edward ‘Ted’ Michael and they lived on #78 Highway east of Wallaceburg. He had a brother Glen and a sister Mrs. William McCallum.
Ernest received his early education at S.S. No. 17 in Chatham Gore. He attended the Wallaceburg High School for two years. He then work on his fathers farm for three years and was then employed at McGregor’s Dairy prior to his enlistment in the RCAF in August of 1942.
He did much of his training in Quebec. The WN 24/04/43 reported that LAC. Courtis of Three Rivers PQ. had spent a weekend with his parents at East Branch. Romance was in the wind for LAC Ernest Edward Courtis as was reported in the WN 15/07/43 he wed Miss Jean Victoria Mowers were married at the Fourth Line United Church. Following the ceremony a reception was held at the bride’s home in Blenheim. After the reception the couple left for a short honeymoon on a trip to eastern points. After that the couple would reside in London, ON., at the time Edward was stationed at RCAF-Crumlin near London.
Ernest graduated as a Flt. Sgt. at Crumlin in November of 1943 and he was not overseas until January of 1944. Ernest had been on ‘operational flying’ WN 23/11/44 for two months. He was reported missing on active service in November 1944 at the same time he was promoted to Pilot Officer.
Date of Death: 01/11/1944, in Halifax Bomber # NP 771 on Air Ops., while returning from the target – Oberhausen, Germany. The air craft was hit by flak over Belgium and crashed one half mile south of Tienraij, Holland. This was the crews 9th Operational flight. Of the seven man crew only two survived and were taken as POW’s.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. F. 13. Cemetery: VENRAY WAR CEMETERY. Netherlands. Grave location: Section VI, Row: F No.13.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | W-RH, WHS-HR, VIS IODE, SUC-RH, CVWM, WN (23/11.14, 15/02/45(P)), “No Return Ticket” by Alan Mann., Index of Overseas Deaths, “They Shall Not Grow Old”, Salem Community Roll of Honour |
| Age | 23 |
| Birthplace | Chatham |
| Marital Status | Married |
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