Leslie “Les” Sutherland was born in London, Ontario on November 26, 1918, the son of Donald Gordon Sutherland (of Wallaceburg) and Maud Louise Sutherland (nee: Lossing, born in Watford, Ontario), and the foster-son of Arthur S. Turnbull, of Corunna, Ontario. Leslie had one sister, Maura Jean, born in 1908. After Leslie’s father Donald, a steamfitter by trade, died, his mother Maud married Arthur Turnbull, and they resided in Corunna.
Educated at Corunna Public School and Sarnia Collegiate, Leslie enjoyed playing football, hockey, baseball, and golf. He was a very good swimmer and received a Certificate in Life Saving from the Humane Society. His hobbies also included hunting, stamp collecting and woodcraft. Les was a member of the Central Century Club. After graduating in June 1939, he worked as a deckhand with Sarnia Steam Ship Company for one full season. He was then unemployed for three months before becoming a pipefitter with Sarnia Imperial Oil Refinery. He joined the 2nd 11 Royal Canadian Engineers (Reserve), Sarnia and had military training, as a Sapper from August 15, 1940 until May 12, 1941.
Leslie, single at the time, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on May 15, 1941, in London Ontario. At his interview, the officer reporting on Leslie recorded that he was; “Clean, courteous, intelligent looking, rather shy, well mannered. Pleasing personality. Necessary qualifications for pilot. Well recommended. Splendid pilot material.” After enlisting, Leslie received training and was posted in various locations, such as Toronto, Trenton, Windsor, the Service Flying School at Aylmer and Halifax. He graduated as a Sergeant Pilot on February 27, 1942.
After arriving overseas, Leslie received his O.T.U. in England and became a bomber pilot. He became a member of RCAF #426 Thunderbird squadron “On Wings of Fire”, attaining the rank Warrant Officer Class II – Pilot, piloting a Wellington bomber. In May 1943, he had almost completed a tour of operations, but tragedy struck and prevented Leslie from becoming an instructor and receiving his commission. On May 24, 1943, Leslie Sutherland was part of a crew aboard Wellington aircraft HE281 that went missing after successfully bombing Dortmund, Germany. The crashed plane was located at Haaksbergen, Holland.
Not long after, his mother Mrs. A.S. Turnbull of Corunna would receive official notification that her son, Sergeant Leslie Gordon Sutherland was reported missing after air operations overseas. Five weeks after receiving that notification, she had heard no further news of her son. Later, she would learn that her son had been pronounced dead on May 25, 1943. Perishing with Leslie Sutherland were WO.s K.H. Masterson and L.A. Rivest; and Sgt.s W. Dunkerley (RAF) and S. Jepson (RAF). In October of 1943, Leslie Sutherland would officially be listed on the R.C.A.F. casualty list as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas. Twenty-four year old Leslie Sutherland is buried in Haaksbergen General Cemetery, Netherlands, Plot 4, Row 2, Grave 11. Leslie Sutherland’s name is also inscribed on two memorial plaques in Corunna; one in the entrance foyer of Branch 447 of the Royal Canadian Legion, and one on a brass alter in Christ Anglican Church in Corunna.
SOURCES: C, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, O, R, S, 2C, 2D