| Rank | F/O, AC2, Sergeant Chief Instructor Gunnery |
| Unit # | RCAF, 429 Sqd. |
| Resident | Dresden, London |
Born 5/07/1924, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. LaPointe of the 6th Concession, Camden-Gore Twsp., Kent Co., ON. He attended public school in the district and had three brothers and two sisters.
Flt. Sgt. LaPointe enlisted 19/09/42 at the age of 18 years in the RCAF as soon as became of age. He trained to be an air gunner and went overseas 1 September of 1943, not yet twenty years old with 429 Sqd. (bombers) and was wounded in action 9/10/43 shortly after his arrival in a plane crash, he suffered a head injury. The CDN 3/06/44, but returned to action in 24//05/1944. He returned to action in October was promoted to Flying Officer and had made ten operational flights before he was reported as a POW. CDN 26/06/44.
Flt. Sgt. LaPointe enlisted 19/09/42 at the age of 18 years in the RCAF as soon as became of age. He trained to be an air gunner and went overseas. 1 September of 1943, not yet twenty years old with 429 Sqd. (bombers) and was wounded in action shortly after his arrival in a plane crash
His plane was shot down over Germany 24/05/44 and he was captured 6/06/44 (D-Day) in Belgium and was sent to a POW camp in Poland. Along with other POW’s he made the “Winter Walk” of 1944/45 out of Poland to a POW camp south of Berlin, which they reached in February of 1945 to avoid being liberated by the Russian Army 21/04/1945
He remained there until being liberated, by a allied bomb that blew a section of the POW camp’s fence, sadly with some fatalities, Harold and other POW’s took off running and met up with some American soldiers that helped them get back to their lines.
Returned to Canada 11/06/45 and was transferred to the reserve section of the RCAF where he stayed until January of 1951when he transferred to the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Dragoons serving in Canada and Baden, Germany 1955-60.
He was then transferred to Camp Bordon, ON., at the Armoured Corps school there as a Gunnery Instructor. He was discharged for medical reasons as a Sgt. Chief Instructor – Gunnery 4/03/1969.
Harold was living in London, ON. in 1980 and passed away in 2001. R. Young.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Awards | Air Gunner Badge, 1939 to 1945 Star, Canadian Forces Decoration |
| Sources | IODE-CM, C. LaPointe (grandson), CDN (20/06/44) |
| Supplemental Information | Born 5/07/1926, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. LaPointe of the 6th Concession, Camden-Gore Twsp., Kent Co., ON. He attended public school in the district and had three brothers and two sisters. |
| Age | 18 |
| Birthplace | Born- July 5th, 1924 |
| When Enlisted | September 19th, 1942 |
| Next of Kin | Parents- Mr. & Mrs. Charles Lapointe |
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