Herman Jonasson
Date and Place of Birth: | 1914 Baldur, Manitoba, Canada |
Date and Place of Death: | February 20, 1944 Germany |
Baseball Experience: | Amateur |
Position: | Pitcher |
Rank: | Pilot Officer |
Military Unit: | 427 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force |
Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
David H. "Herman" Jonasson was born at Baldur, Manitoba in 1914. He
was a well-known player in the local area, pitching for teams in Baldur,
Boissevain and Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Jonasson also pitched for Copper
Cliff and Sudbury in Ontario before enlisting in August 1941. Oldtimers
in Baldur still remember him as "a darn good pitcher."
Serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Jonasson trained at Brandon,
Winnipeg, Dafoe, Prince Albert and Paulson, attaining the rank of Pilot
Officer. Jonasson left Canada for Britain in October 1942 and served
with 427 Squadron flying Handley Page Halifax bombers. On February 20,
1944, after a night-time bombing raid on Germany he was listed as
missing in action. His death was confirmed the following February.
Pilot Officer Jonasson is buried at the military cemetery in Berlin. He
was survived by his parents and two sisters.
Thanks to Anne Gudnason, Baldur Economic Development Officer, for help with this biography.
Date Added: February 7, 2013
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