Late local WWII bomber honoured

Timmins’ own Wilfred Demarco was a hero to many.

The 24-year old bomber pilot was the last one shot down during World War 2, 70 years ago Friday.

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus said in an interview in March that it’s about time this man had a place in the history books.

He, along with MPP Gilles Bisson joined a room full of people at the Timmins Museum to hold a ceremony in Demarco’s honour.

Angus says the life expectancy was short for bombers in those days.  He says while most survived to three or four missions, Demarco and his crew lasted 29 missions.

Demarco, the pilot of the plane, kept the plane level so the crew could escape.

Demarco’s nephew Donald was in Timmins.  He says it’s the efforts of the past that made this country what it is today: free and democratic.

A ceremony was also held in Austria, where the plane went down.