Jack Thain was born September 20, 1918 the eldest son of John Thain (born in Wales, England) and Isabel (nee Miller, born in Ireland) Thain, of 200 Bright Street, Sarnia. Jack had two brothers: Clare (see above) and Donald B., and all three brothers had been newspaper carriers for the Canadian Observer in Sarnia for a time. All three brothers were to serve during the war, and all three were members of the RCAF. At the time of Jack’s death, middle brother Clare Thain, a Flying Officer- Wireless Operator/Air Gunner was serving in Europe. Clare was later to lose his life, on an operation dropping paratroopers behind enemy lines in India. Jack’s youngest brother was Flight Sergeant Donald Thain who had enlisted in the R.C.A.F. on August 2, 1943 and trained at Toronto, Winnipeg and Paulson, Manitoba where he received his wings in June of 1944. Donald’s graduation was a bittersweet moment for parents John and Isabel Thain; they were proud of the success of their son Donald, yet their other two sons, also R.C.A.F. flying officers, were already casualties of war at the time. Donald would be stationed at Patricia, Vancouver Island for a time and would return to Sarnia in September 1946, after serving in the RCAF in Newfoundland. Like Jack, he was also involved in anti-submarine warfare.

Jack Thain enlisted in Sarnia in 1940. Jack married Miss Rhoda Leona Westlake, the eldest daughter of Mrs. W.J. Westlake and the late Mr. Westlake of Wyoming, Ontario on May 17, 1941. The wedding was held at the home of the bride’s mother in Wyoming. The bride was given in marriage by her uncle, Mr. A. Parsons. Serving as bridesmaid was Miss Wilma Westlake, the sister of the bride, and serving as best man was brother Clare Thain. Following the ceremony, a wedding dinner was held at the Wyoming Hotel for twenty-five guests. After the reception, the newlywed couple left for points east on a wedding trip. On their return, the couple resided at 136 North Front Street, Sarnia. When Jack went overseas as a member of the RCAF, his wife Rhoda Leona Thain would reside with her mother, Mrs. W.J. Westlake in Wyoming.

Prior to enlisting, Jack was employed at the United Cigar Stores at Lochiel and Christina Streets in Sarnia. Jack enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, going overseas in December of 1941 with the rank of Pilot Officer. In June of 1942, while overseas, Jack unexpectedly met his brother Clare. Jack was standing on an unnamed station terminal in Scotland waiting for a train. While waiting on the station platform, Jack was hailed from a troop train window by his brother Clare. Clare had just arrived at the Scotland station en route to the south of England with a detachment of R.C.A.F. men. The two brothers were able to meet up for a happy reunion during a 10-minute stop. Later that month, Jack was in the Sarnia Observer news for his part in a Nazi raid. As part of the “Demon” squadron of the R.C.A.F., Pilot Officer Jack Thain and his fellow crew members on coastal command bombed a medium-sized enemy vessel in the face of “heavy opposition”, bringing their Hudson bomber home unscathed.

In the latter part of 1942, Jack’s family in Sarnia was informed that Jack, a graduate of Jarvis training school, had been promoted to Flying Officer while overseas. Jack would become a member of RCAF #58 Squadron “Alis Nocturnis” (On the wings of the night), attaining the rank of Flying Officer-Navigator/Bomb Aimer. On June 1, 1943, Jack Thain was part of a crew aboard Halifax aircraft BB257 that failed to return from operations. The plane was reported missing over the Bay of Biscay, while on an anti-submarine operation at the time. A few days later, Jack’s parents in Sarnia and wife Leona in Wyoming would receive the news that, Flying Officer Jack Thain has been officially reported missing since June 2 during air operations overseas. Perishing with Flying Officer Jack Thain were Pilot Officer J.R. Bickerton and Warrant Officer L.E. Daw. Four of the crew, not Canadians, were reported missing and believed killed. Jack Thain would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas. For parents John and Isabel Thain in Sarnia, they would lose another son, R.C.A.F. Flying Officer Clare Thain, less than one year later. Twenty-four year old Jack Thain has no known grave. Jack Thain’s name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 175.

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