War hero

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: War hero

LONDON -- The tragic death Saturday of Canadian war hero Charley Fox -- who escaped death several times during a remarkable military career -- has left family and friends reeling and wondering who will take on the huge role Fox filled as educator of youth and spokesman for veterans.

Fox, 88, a World War II Spitfire pilot, was killed in a car crash in Oxford County, shortly after attending a Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association meeting near Tillsonburg.

He was credited with injuring German commander Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, during a July 1944 strafing run over France. He fought in the battle immortalized by Sir Richard Attenborough's film A Bridge Too Far, attacked enemy locomotives and enemy vehicles 153 times during the war, leading to the Distinguished Flying Cross honour, and the nickname of Train Buster. Fourteen of his planes were rendered no longer useable after being hit by enemy fire. Bailed out of his Harvard after colliding with a Hurricane fighter plane over Bagotville, Que.

Friend Robin Barker-James said Fox wanted to die, as he would put it, 'With his boots on.' In other words, doing things to promote the remembrance of what happened.

His wife Helen died in 1993.

Don't forget to wear your poppy on Nov.11
( Lest We Forget)

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

I already got my Poppy out, i saw a documentary on him a couple years back on a local news place.
Great man.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject:

wow....what a great hero...lest we NEVER forget those who serve their country during and after their miltary careers...he will surely be missed!
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