janusz zurakowski

2 articles

Sep3

2003What memorial commemorates civilian war casualties of the Mercantile Marine and the Merchant Navy?

The Tower Hill Memorial, situated near the Tower of London, stands as the only monument dedicated exclusively to merchant seamen from the Mercantile Marine and Merchant Navy who died in both World Wars with no known grave. This memorial honours over 36,000 individuals, including 480 Canadians, whose sacrifice was vital to wartime efforts yet largely unsung. A unique feature is panel 47, which specifically remembers the crew of the SS Empress of Canada, lost during the Second World War. The memorial not only preserves the names of the fallen but continues to evolve, with new names and corrections added as research uncovers more of its silent stories.

Sep12

1914Which Second World War fighter pilot successfully completed the flight testing of Canada's first supersonic aircraft in 1958?

Janusz Zurakowski, a legendary Polish-Canadian test pilot based in Malton, Ontario, was the first to successfully flight test Canada’s pioneering supersonic aircraft, the CF-105 Avro Arrow, in 1958. Renowned for his skill and courage, Zurakowski helped propel Canadian aviation onto the world stage at a crucial moment in Cold War history. On March 25, 1958, he piloted the Arrow RL 25201 prototype beyond 1,600 kilometers per hour, proving the viability of the country’s most advanced jet. Today, his legacy endures in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, where a statue and park honor his singular contributions to aeronautical innovation.