Everett Misener was born on December 30, 1921, the youngest son of Captain Robert Scott Misener (born in Brucefield, Huron, Ontario) and Olive Elizabeth L. (nee Glass, born in Sarnia) Misener, of 286 North Vidal Street, Sarnia. Father Captain Robert Misener was employed with Sarnia Steamships Limited, Port Colborne, Ontario. Everett had five siblings: William Austin Miles (born 1903, but died at 6 months old); Ralph Scott (born 1908) who would serve in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reserve in Winnipeg; John Erwin, who enlisted with the navy in the fall of 1940, and would become a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, and would serve at an Eastern Canadian port, in the North Atlantic, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea; Inez Mildred Elizabeth (born 1905); and Dorothy Olive (born 1916). Years later, both sisters would marry, their names changed to Mrs. J.B. Pierson, of Montreal, and Mrs. J.A. France, of Sarnia.

Everett attended Sarnia Collegiate and was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church where he was actively associated with the Young Men’s Ushers Club of the church. After high school, Everett continued his education at Ridley College for two years. He interrupted his studies to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force in July of 1941. He went to a manning pool in Toronto and, after attending the initial Training School at the Eglinton Hunt Club, did elementary flying in Windsor; attended Bombing and Gunnery School at Jarvis; and was engaged in service flying at Uplands Air School at Ottawa. Just prior to his graduation, Everett was able to take a few days away from Uplands to be the best man at the wedding of his brother John. John Erwin Misener of the RCNVR, married Catherine Patricia Marie Taylor of Sarnia on August 15th, 1942. The wedding took place in the chapel of HMCS King’s College in Halifax, where John had graduated as a sub-lieutenant that morning. Three years later, in mid-August of 1945 only days after VJ-Day, Lieutenant John Misener was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the sinking of a German submarine in early March of 1945.

Everett Misener graduated from Uplands a little over a week later, receiving his wings on August 26, 1942. He then began an instructor’s course at RCAF #3 Flying Instructor School, Arnprior, Ontario. Just over one month after receiving his wings, on October 11, 1942, Sergeant-Pilot Everett Misener was on a solo cross-country training flight aboard his Cornell aircraft #10505, from Arnprior to Kingston, Ontario. Everett Misener would lose his life when his Cornell aircraft crashed seven miles north-west of Watertown, New York, while endeavouring to make a forced landing on a three-lane highway. The circumstances of casualty were officially listed as, Low Flying. Possibly of vision being obscured temporarily by the sun in his eyes. Aircraft struck high tension wires and crashed into tree.

A few days later, Everett’s funeral was held in Sarnia with military honors. Following a service at the Misener home for family and friends, a public service was held in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church that was largely attended. The Rev. J.M. Macgillivray of St. Andrew’s, assisted by Flight-Lieutenant O. Nimmo, were in charge of the church service. In part of Rev. Macgillvray’s eulogy he said, This sad bereavement has brought the horrors of war closer to us. Today we mourn the loss of another one of our fine young men who has given his life for the cause. Paul represented the finest type of Canadian manhood. He was clean, strong, vigorous and every inch a man. He had the stuff that makes good airmen and he was beloved by all who knew him. It is hard to think that a young life has been snuffed out. He gave all he had – his years of success to come – for the things most precious to him. His sacrifice is nonetheless real because he did not fight the foe overseas. He gave his life for his country, his family, for you and for me. As the funeral party made its way to the cemetery, it was accompanied by a R.C.A.F. band and escort from the air base at St. Thomas. At the cemetery, a firing party fired a volley and the “Last Post” was sounded. Twenty year-old Everett Misener was buried in Sarnia (Lakeview) Cemetery, Sarnia, Ontario, Section E. Lot 121.

In mid-November of 1942, still mourning the recent loss of their son, the Misener family had to deal with a painful error made by the Department of National War Services. On November 18, 1942, a letter was received at the Misener home from the National War Services with a notification that Everett Paul Misener was to report for medical examination prior to his call to service in the military. There had been reports that there were similar cases of this kind of tragic error not only in the Sarnia-Lambton district but across the country. Captain Robert Scott Misener took the matter up with the authorities so that steps would be taken to prevent further hurt to members of such families. Following is the letter that Captain Robert S. Misener, the father of Everett Paul Misener, wrote and sent to the Department of National War Services, in London, Ontario and to the Minister of the Department of National War Services in Ottawa:

Dear Sir,

Your notice of call No. A-73816 for my son Everett Paul Misener was received at my home on November 18, 1942.

On October 11 of this year, my family and I experienced one of the greatest sorrows a family could suffer. We lost our youngest son on active service with the R.C.A.F. This boy had voluntarily offered his services to his country in 

July, 1941, in order that he too might share in the struggle of all free men against oppressive tyranny. He worked hard so that his family, his country and all free peoples might the sooner see peace and happiness emerge out of today’s chaos. His ambition was realized on August 26, 1942, when he received his wings. Now he, too, could join those thousands of other brave young Canadians who hammered at the foe in every corner of the globe. Such was what he wanted, but destiny intervened and his young life was cruelly cut off before the realization of his fondest hopes for us all.

The late Sgt. Pilot Everett Paul Misener, whose military call was received last week, needed no call to arms. He knew his duty; he gave his life for his country.

Such was the man whose memory you have insulted, though perhaps unintentionally, with a call to service. As his father, my wrath transcends my sorrow. I denounce with all my strength the gross carelessness and utter incompetency of the clerks in the department you represent. I blame no less the superior officers and executive chiefs of the department for their negligence and inefficiency in permitting such errors to be made by members of their staff. Worse, if they know that such conditions exist, I condemn them for their unforgivable lack of consideration for their fellow men by not ensuring against a repetition of such occurences.

So that their feelings may be spared at least this additional wound, I feel that I speak on behalf of all parents, and others concerned, in the same position as I am, in saying that such careless and inefficient methods should be dealt with immediately.

Yours truly, R.S. Misener

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D