Isaac “Bucky” Zierler was born in Sarnia on March 20, 1922, the son of Abraham Zierler and Leah (nee Rathman) Zierler, of 233 Davis Street, Sarnia. His parents, Abraham and Leah, were both born in Poland. Isaac attended public elementary school and Sarnia Collegiate in Sarnia. He went on to the University of Toronto and was awarded his Bachelor of Commerce degree in June of 1943. At university, he was athletic director at the University College and rex of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity. He won the Reverend Cody Award for his athletic achievements, and the Jewish Gold Key Award of the Jewish Inter-Fraternity Council for his “scholarship, leadership, character and games” and for being an outstanding scholar and athlete among the fraternity men on campus. Before enlisting the service, he was a member of the Canadian Officers Training Corps at the University of Toronto in the department of military studies.
Upon graduating, Isaac, single at the time, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on March 1, 1943. He attended the Toronto manning pool and trained at Victoriaville, receiving his navigator’s wings and commission as a Pilot Officer at Crumlin on January 28, 1944. Isaac Zierler proceeded overseas in April 1944, and received further training in England. In mid-May of 1944, Isaac would send his mother Leah a Mother’s Day greeting from overseas. Isaac Zierler would become a member of RCAF #433 Porcupine squadron “Qui S’y Frotte S’y Pique” (Who opposes it gets hurt), attaining the rank of Flying Officer-Navigator.
In early March of 1945, while serving in England, Isaac Zierler would send his mother Leah a bouquet of flowers. One month later, on April 10, 1945, Isaac was a member of a crew aboard Lancaster aircraft PB903 that was on a bombing mission over Germany. On that night, their Lancaster was hit by predicted flak approaching their target over Leipzig, Germany. The starboard engine caught fire but was immediately feathered and the fire put out. The aircraft was seen to lose height to starboard when an explosion occurred which flipped the aircraft over. It then spiralled into the ground and the bomb load exploded.
In mid-April of 1945, parents Abraham and Leah Zierler in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Flying Officer I.B. Zierler, is reported missing in action on April 10. Isaac Zierler was reported missing in action less than one month before the end of the war in Europe. Perishing with Isaac Zierler were P/O.s F.G. Seeley, J.M. Hirak, and D.W. Roberts; F/O.s W.G. McLeod and R.J. Grisdale; and Sgt. W.A. Thurston (RAF). Isaac Zierler would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). Twenty-three year old Isaac Buck Zierler is buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany, Grave 8.F.9.
Isaac Buck Zierler and thirteen other local men had their names engraved on a plaque honouring fourteen Jewish members of the armed services from Sarnia. The plaque was unveiled in the Ahavas Isaac Synagogue, Davis Street, Sarnia on March 30, 1945. The men, all from Sarnia, honoured on the plaque were M. Berger, S. Bernard, R. Heller, I. Haber, M. Kirk, Dr. I. Mann, A. Rosen, G. Shabsove, M. Skosov, Mitchell Smith, Murray Smith, L. Swartz, I.B. Zierler, Isaac Zierler. Three of the men–Isaac Buck Zierler, Max Berger and Mitchell Smith–made the supreme sacrifice. Isaac Buck Zierler is also honoured in the memorial book “Canadian Jews in World War II”.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D