Back

Back to "radar man"


L. Shvemar Picture

Leslie Otto Shvemar (May 13, 1924 - January 13, 2007)
Leslie Shvemar, born in Montreal, in 1941, only 17, convinced his high school teachers to let him matriculate early so he could join the RCAF. He did it, and was selected for training as "radar mechanic" and attached to the RAF.
He served with No 120 Squadron in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1943 and 1944 (as well as 524, 206 and 59 Squadrons) before he was badly injured in a crash that killed several crew members. He spent three days in a coma.
As a radar operator on a B-24, he took part in an action which led to damaging a german U-Boot (then captured by the R.N.) betweem Iceland and Greenland.

After the war. he fought a burocratic battle to have (together with the other canadian radar technicians - who called themselves "the Secret 5,000") recognised the rigth to the "Atlantic Star" medal. This was not recognised to them because reserved for air crews, while them - even if actually servicing on board of airplanes - were officially classified as "ground crew". He did not suceed in this battle but, at least, managed to receive an honour certificate.

Here below are some more biographical notes about him, contributed by his daughter:

  "My father was a member of a group called the Secret 5000 who were trained in secret locations under great security and then posted overseas wherever they were needed.  Although he was officially ground crew,  he flew many sorties as radar/ navigator including flying over the English Channel on D-Day.  Only the brightest people were streamed into this special service.  And my dad was brilliant!
After the war he trained as a pharmacist. He became fluent in Italian in order to better serve the community where his store was located in Toronto.  After losing his eyesight due to diabetes at the age of 48, he learned to cane chairs, he continued using his power tools to build furniture and he mastered using the computer and the Internet.  He read a book almost every 2 days in addition to communicating with people all over the world.  He read several newspapers and listened to CBC radio and CNN television to keep abreast of the news.  He lobbied for social justice and was an amazing, accomplished, well loved human being.

I want to honour my father's memory in any way I can.  I hope this story will be of interest to others."


Here is the list of his wartime assignments, found among his paper:

assignments list

My thanks to Ms Janet-Lee (Shvemar) Nadas for her contribution


Back to "radar man"

Back

Last updatedMar, 11, 07