McKernan, Francis Thomas (Scotty)

FF/S Francis Thomas (Scotty) McKernan, sixth son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh E. McKernan, 96 Arthur Street, was reported missing after air operations on December 2, 1943. He was flying as a bomb-aimer on a mission to Berlin in the 426th Goose Squadron of the R.C.A.F. on the night his plane failed to return to its base, Linton-on-Ouse, in Yorkshire, England. Just a year earlier he had received his wings on being graduated from the air school at Ancienne Lorette, near Quebec City. Enlisting in the R.C.A.F., in March, 1942, F/S McKernan trained at Belleville and Jarvis before going to Quebec. Born at Clydebank, Scotland, December 12, 1919, Francis came to Canada and Brantford with his parents when he was two years old. He attended St. Mary's School, graduated from the Brantford Collegiate Institute and then went to St. Francis Seminary, Scarborough Bluffs, Toronto. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Toronto in 1941. While at school in Brantford, he was an outstanding athlete, at one time captaining the B.C.I. Junior rugby team, heading a school gym team and also playing on the senior rugby team. He was a member of St. Mary's Church.

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