Philip Pochailo
Explore our virtual exhibit
By Date
- May 1940 - April 1945: Occupation & Resistance
- 1944: Anthony Law becomes Commander of 29th Flotilla
- May 19 - 20 1944: Philip Pochailo is shot down
- June 6, 1944: Earl Olmsted lands on Juno Beach
- August 4, 1944: Moe Hurwitz awarded Military Medal (MM)
- September 1944: Race to Antwerp
- September 12, 1944: Moe Hurwitz earned Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- October - November 1944: The Battle of the Scheldt
- January 1945: Charles Byce earns his Military Medal (MM)
- February - March 1945: The Rhineland Campaign
- March 2, 1945: Charles Byce earns his Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- April 1945: Philip Pochailo reconnects with Canadian troops
- April 14, 1945: Léo Major liberates Zwolle
- April 15, 1945: Don White assists in the Liberation of Leeuwarden
- April, 1945: Mona Parsons reconnects with Canadian troops
- April - May 1945: The Liberation of the Netherlands
- April 1945 - Present: Remembrance
- May 5, 1945 - May 31, 1946: The aftermath of liberation
Born in Rainy River, Ontario, Philip joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 at age 21.
He was assigned to the 166 Squadron of No.1 Bomber Command. In 1944, his aircraft was shot down over the Netherlands. Dutch families around the Oostvoorne area hid Philip in their homes as Nazis searched for prisoners. With the help of the Dutch Resistance movement, Philip was able to evade capture and make the daring journey to safety. He witnessed the celebrations of liberation in Rotterdam and, eventually, returned back home to Canada after the war.
To learn more about Philip Pochailo, visit his Story Map and Historical Context Page.
