World War II (1939-1945)

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Doak, James Basil

Flight Lieutenant, No. 412 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Lt. James Basil DoakService no. J/5491
Born in 1914
Died January 1, 1945

Son of James H. and Grace B. Doak, of Cowansville, Quebec, Canada.

Received his B.A. in 1935 (The Quad, 1935, p.18).

From The Mitre (October 1932, p.23):

J. Basil Doak first opened his eyes at Danville on Feb. 27th, 1913. He studied at the Cowansville High, and at Shaw’s College, Toronto. He is another candidate for the Teacher’s Diploma. His chief interests are Basketball, Golf, and The Mitre.

Secretary-Treasurer of the Literary and Debating Society in 1934 (The Quad, 1934, p.48).

Circulation Manager for The Mitre in 1935 (The Quad, 1935, p.47).

Lieutenant in the C.O.T.C. (The Quad, 1935, p.52, 55).

Now it came to pass that on the twenty-seventh day of the second month of the fourth year of King George, a son was born unto Mr. and Mrs. Doak at Danville, Que., whom they called Basil. But being sore displeased with the vanities and delights of Danville, Bas soon betook himself unto Cowansville.

Here he did his diligence to master the wisdom of the ancients and the traditions of the elders at Cowansville High School. But waxing learned, he journeyed to Toronto, where he applied himself to the arts and crafts of the money-changers, becoming a disciple of the Rabbi Shaw. But in those days there arose an uproar against the money-changers, so Bas took himself to learn the ways of the warriors at Kingston. Becoming proficient in the art of war, he sought a land flowing with milk and honey and came to Bishop’s in 1932.

He did not lay aside his sword, however, and is often seem exhorting the C.O.T.C. to deeds of valour against the Philistines. An important member of the Debating Society he took charge of the money-bags for one year. He was also a mighty warrior in all of the inter-tribal conflicts. This year he is studying the writings and deeds of the scribes and historians when he sits at the feet of the learned men, Boothroyd, Raymond and Owen. The rest of the acts of Basil, surnamed Doak, are they not written in the chronicles of the scribes of ‘The Mitre’?

Lo and behold! He seeks pastures new in the field of Hippocrates at McGill. We wish him good luck in the name of the Lord.

The Quad, 1935, p.18

James Basil Doak – Son of James Henry and Grace Beatrice Doak. With the outbreak of WW 2, Basil joined the RCAF in 1940 and served in Canada and the Aleutian campaign before going overseas in 1943.  He was born in 1913 so he would have been about 26 at the time. He was a fighter pilot and flew the Spitfire fighter aircraft. He was known as “Joe” Doak by his comrades and was a Flight Lieutenant in the 412 Squadron, 126th Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.

Basil was killed on January 1, 1945 in air action over Northern Germany. Grant Doak has actually spoken with and met with the German Luftwaffe pilot that shot down Basil Doak’s plane […]

From the Doak Family website

Below is a Zerox copy of a photograph of Basil, with his Squadron, posing on a Spitfire Mark IX Fighter. Basil is 5th from the left, sitting on the wing. Photo courtesy of the Doak Family.

James Basil Doak with his Squadron

Burial Information:

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Grave reference 19. D. 18.

Resources:

The Mitre Archives

Veterans Affairs Canada

Bishop's University

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