John Hugh MacEachern

John Hugh Mac Eachern left via Pier 21 as a young man from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and as a member of the Royal Canadian Airforce on his way to England during World War II. Flight Sergeant Mac Eachern was eventually stationed at Leeming, England with the 429 Bison Squadron where he assumed the position of Rear-Gunner on the Halifax bombers. He also returned home via Pier 21 after a horrific accident which occurred in Leeming when a plane his crew borrowed from the 427 squadron (it was a Halifax III Rg-347 coded ZL-P) blew a tire at take-off on February 27, 1945. The full complement of bombs and gasoline on board to be used for their mission resulted in a devastating explosion. John was the only crew member to survive and with all his injuries and burns it was considered a miracle that he himself survived. He returned home to Nova Scotia through Pier 21 in a full body cast due to a broken neck and tried his very best to deal with his physical injuries, burns and the emotional scars left from losing his dear friends. John eventually married Mary Christine Mac Donald, also from Glace Bay and they raised eight children together. John sadly passed away on April 14, 2001. He is dearly missed by family and friends. His crew members who died that February day and "second family" as he referred to them were:

F/O Richard M. Scott, Pilot, from Lacombe Alberta

F/O Fred Fisher, Flight Engineer, Welland, Ont.

F/O S. Carson, Navigator, Toronto, Ont.

F/O K.F. Whitehouse, Bomb Aimer, Toronto, Ont.

P/O A. Mackie, Wireless Operator, Toronto, Ont.

F/Sgt M.J. Brewer, Mid-Upper Gunner, Kingman, Alberta

We should never forget the extraordinary sacrifices that John and his crew made for us all.