Pilot Officer Lionel Louis Victor Toupin

Lionel Louis Victor Toupin was born at Folkestone, England, on 15 October 1919, the son of Victor Adelard Toupin and May Ashdown. He spent part of his childhood in England before the family lived at Fabre, Quebec. He attended Fabre Academy and Ottawa University and worked as a clerk and manager in his father's store. After compulsory training under the National Resources Mobilization Act, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 19 May 1941 as R104818. He trained as a pilot in Ontario, became a Leading Aircraftman and then Temporary Sergeant, and proceeded overseas in 1942. Following further RAF flying and operational training, he was commissioned Pilot Officer J17295 effective 1 February 1943 and joined No. 7 Squadron on 7 February. Toupin was reported missing during air operations overseas on 9 March 1943 and was subsequently presumed dead. His awards included the 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. He was 23 years old.

1919-10-15 — Born.
1941-05-14 — NRMA Army attachment/training ended immediately before RCAF enlistment.
1941-05-19 — Enlisted in the RCAF Special Reserve as Aircraftman 2nd Class R104818, Pilot standard; taken on strength at No. 1 Manning Depot.
1941-05-28 — Taken on strength at RCAF Station Trenton.
1941-07-15 — Posted from RCAF Station Trenton to No. 1 Initial Training School.
1941-08-20 — Promoted Leading Aircraftman Pilot; posted from No. 1 Initial Training School to No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School.
1941-10-10 — Posted from No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School to No. 16 Service Flying Training School.
1941-12-04 — Injured in an aircraft collision while making a single-engine landing; admitted to station hospital with a deep scalp laceration and minor abrasions.
1941-12-14 — Discharged from station hospital.
1942-02-27 — Promoted Temporary Sergeant.
1942-02-28 — Posted from No. 16 Service Flying Training School to No. 1 Y Depot.
1942-02-28 to 1942-03-14 — Embarkation leave.
1942-03-14 to 1942-03-16 — Absent without leave / late reporting for 1 day, 22 hours and 1 minute.
1942-03-19 — Movement record shows departure from No. 1 Y Depot into overseas transit administration.
1942-03-20 — Embarkation-centre entry recorded.
1942-03-29 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom; taken on strength in the No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre sequence.
1942-06-15 — Posted from No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre to No. 14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit.
1942-07-28 — Posted to No. 25 Operational Training Unit.
1942-09-29 — Posted from No. 25 Operational Training Unit to No. 26 Operational Training Unit.
1942-12-18 — RAF Form 1580 records posting from No. 26 OTU to No. 1651 Conversion Unit.
1943-01-01 — RCAF R44C records posting from No. 26 OTU to No. 1651 Conversion Unit.
1943-02-01 — Commissioned Pilot Officer J17295, Pilot.
1943-02-07 — Posted from No. 1651 Conversion Unit to No. 7 Squadron.
1943-03-09 — Reported missing after air operations overseas while serving as a Pilot Officer/Pilot with No. 7 Squadron.
1944-02-16 — Certificate of Presumption of Death issued; presumed to have died on or since 9 March 1943.
1945-09-20 — War service gratuity statement recorded 660 qualifying service days, including 356 qualifying overseas days.