Flying Officer Clarke Kennedy Horsnell
Survivor of WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Clarke Kennedy (Buzz) Horsnell, born and raised in Montreal, served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. His surviving RCAF certificates record service from 6 January 1941 to 12 October 1945, commissioning on 4 April 1944, and the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross along with campaign medals and Operational Wings. He returned for further active RCAF service in 1946 and later served in the Regular Force as an Air Services Fighter Controller from 1952 until his honourable release in 1958. Horsnell died in Calgary, Alberta, on 21 February 1983, aged 63, and was interred at Montreal Memorial Park.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
J26675
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
RCAF
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Montreal, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
20 years 1 month
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
24 years 11 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
62 years 3 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Next of Kin:
Mr. and Mrs. Horsnell, Chateauguay, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Religion:
Unknown
Place of Enlistment:
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
6 ft 3.0 in / 191 cm
Weight:
Chest:
Expansion:
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1740 days in service
Buried at:
Montreal Memorial Park
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Flying Officer |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
RCAF |
|
|
|
|
| Commissioned 4 Apr 1944; Flying Officer is explicit at wartime release, but exact promotion date to Flying Officer is not established. |
| WW2 |
Flying Officer |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
RCAF |
Air Services Fighter Controller |
|
|
|
| Regular Force; certificate number 205388. |
| WW2 |
Warrant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
RCAF |
|
|
|
|
| 1946 active-service certificate explicitly prints rank WARRANT; do not silently convert it to Flying Officer. |
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
Distinguished Flying Cross |
Awarded |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
1939-1945 Star |
Entitled |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircrew Europe Star and Clasp |
Entitled |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Defence Medal |
Entitled |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Operational Wings |
Awarded |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-1945 |
Entitled |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
Entitled |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1941-01-06 — Entered active service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
1944-04-04 — Commissioned in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
1945-10-12 — Honourably released from the wartime RCAF service period and transferred to the Reserve. Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force / Reserve
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross; surviving 1946 certificate also lists the 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star and Clasp, Defence Medal, Operational Wings, War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
1946-06-03 — Began a further period of active RCAF service, recorded with rank Warrant. Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
1946-11-18 — Honourably released from active service and transferred to the Reserve, General Section, Class E. Place / Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force / Reserve General Section Class E
1952-05-05 — Entered RCAF Regular Force service as a Flying Officer, number 205388, serving as an Air Services Fighter Controller. Place / Unit: RCAF Regular Force / Air Services Fighter Controller
1958-12-07 — Honourably released from RCAF Regular Force service. Place / Unit: RCAF Regular Force / Air Services Fighter Controller
1983-02-21 — Died in Calgary, Alberta, aged 63. Place / Unit: Calgary, Alberta
Notes
Born at Chateauguay Basin, Nov 11, 1920
BIRTH 11 NOV 1920 • Montreal Quebec Canada DEATH 21 FEB 1983 • Calgary, Alberta, Canada
atip Request confirmation number EA2026_0171638
Additional Service Notes
WWII RCAF service is documented from 6 January 1941 to 12 October 1945. Horsnell was commissioned on 4 April 1944 and was a Flying Officer at wartime release. He later returned for active RCAF service from June to November 1946, and served in the Regular Force from May 1952 to December 1958 as an Air Services Fighter Controller. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star and Clasp, Defence Medal, Operational Wings, War Medal 1939-1945, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Wife Domenica Pavla (Mannie) Horsnell is named in the 1983 obituary. The obituary states that he was survived by several nieces and nephews.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-23 13:35:35
by: marc
