Hamilton native and former WWII Lancaster pilot Jack Finan dies at 105

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum announced Monday evening that Hamilton native and former WWII Lancaster pilot Jack Finan has passed at the age of 105.

Finan joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1939 after graduating from high school and learned to fly while stationed in Calgary on a Tiger Moth airplane.

The pilot went on to operate over 20 different aircraft and trained other pilots. His war service culminated in Lancaster operations over Nazi-occupied Europe.

The Avro Lancaster, commonly known as the Lancaster Bomber, was a British Second World War heavy bomber powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

After the Second World War he continued flying with the RCAF until the 1960s.

Finan met his wife Eileen while on duty in Scotland. They were married for 71 years and had six daughters.

READ MORE: Sheridan student’s documentary honours last Lancaster Bomber pilot

In March of last year France recognized Finan’s war service with the Insignia of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour.

The Museum posted on its Facebook page: “Our thoughts are with the Finan family – this year’s Remembrance Day service will not be the same without Jack in the front row. Lest we forget.”

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is located in Mount Hope, Ont.

READ MORE: Remembering Canada’s veterans at Hamilton’s warplane museum