Military Service: Royal Canadian Air Force Service Number: R/75718 119 Squadron Date of Birth: October 11, 1918 Date of Death: December 11, 1941 Age: 23 Cemetery: Dundas Grove Cemetery, Ontario, Canada Earl was the son of Peter and Myrtle May Bawtinheimer, of Hamilton, Ontario and the husband of Bette G. Bawtinheimer of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. 119 Squadron was stationed at Yarmouth from July 21, 1940 through to January 10, 1942 serving as anti-submarine reconnaissance. The Bolinbroke's three crew on December 11, 1941 were Sergeant (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) William Charles Whitman, aged 22, Sergeant (Pilot) John Frederick Riess, age 21, and Sergeant (Pilot) Earl Gordon Bawtinheimer. The history for Bolingbroke #9053 records that the crash occurred following engine failure on approach to Yarmouth at 4:12 PM and that it came down in the woods 1/4 of a mile from the end of the runway. It was the first fatal crash for 119 Squadron and all three crew died apparently from fractured skulls on impact. Commemorated on Page 23 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 23 Commemorated on Page 23 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 23 Sources and Information: See: http://wartimeheritage.com/storyarchive2/crash11dec41.htm Commonwealth War Graves Commission Veterans Affairs Canada