Born 19/03/1922 at Wallaceburg, ON. the son of John and Maria (Celotto) Simonato, 1277 Wallace St., Wallaceburg, Ontario, he had one sister. Rico, attended Our Lady of Help Roman Catholic School as well as Merlin High School. He had completed his apprenticeship as a tool maker employed at the Wallaceburg Brass Ltd. prior to enlisting.

Rico enlisted with the RCAF at London, ON. in Sept. 1942. He began his training at Brandon, MN. then to Tauten, Mass. USA (Camp Myles Standish), Fingal, ON. and Calgary, AB.  He graduated as a air-gunner at Fingal, ON.  He left for overseas in January 1944 arriving in Bournmouth, England, there he joined 427 (Lion) Bomber Sqd.

A letter from Enrico appeared in the Wallaceburg News 11/12/42 in the “From Boys Overseas” column as follows:

 

                                                                                    Brandon, MB.

                                                                                    9 Dec. 1942

 

   Wallaceburg News:

   Sirs.

      

   I’m very grateful to be on your mailing list of the Wallaceburg News. It certainly means a lot to be able to sit down and read your own paper.

   I used to pass your paper to Wally Burfield up to the time his posting from the Manning Pool here.

   I like the Force (RCAF) very much and it seems to be agreeing with me as I’ve put on weight.

   Thanks again and I hope that I’ll continue to be on your mailing list.

    Respectfully yours.

    AC2, Simonato E. R183691

 

AC1 Simonato of RCAF-Fingal was on a week end leave to visit his parents. WN 5/08/43

He left for overseas in January 1944 arriving in Bournmouth, England, there he joined 427 (Lion) Bomber Sqd. P/O. Simonato received his commission as Pilot Officer the day before his final air operation.

Age: 22, KIA –  Date of Death: 13/06/1944. Flying in Halifax bomber # LW 165 while on night Air Ops., returning from a raid over Arras, France. It is presumed they were shot down, perhaps by enemy ground fire. All of the crew were lost. There were two other 427 Sqdn. Aircraft lost on that night. 

P/O. Simonato’s parents would have to wait in suspense after hearing he was missing for over a year before official information would be sent to them. The official word came that “the graves of the pilot and bombaimer from Halifax bomber LW 165 had been located not far from Paris, France. It is presumed that all of the crew mostly Canadians from Western Canada, lost their lives in the crash”.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	“No Return Ticket” by Alan Mann. Index of Overseas Deaths. They Shall Grow Not Old, VIS-IODE, CVWM, W-RH., Index of Overseas Deaths, They Shall Grow Not Old, VIS-IODE, CVWM, W-RH, WN
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. E. 6. Cemetery: CALAIS CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, LEUBRINGHEN.

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