Biography

Roy Inkster

For several years Roy has been the Director for Southern Ontario and is one of the major contributors to ROAR.

Born in 1920 in the small Northern Ontario Town of Dean Lake, Roy grew up like many of us never imagining that he would one day go overseas not only to participate in an air war, but also find a bride and bring her home to Canada.

He joined the RCAF in October, 1941 and after training was eventually posted to 427 Squadron in December, 1942 when they were first formed. Later he was posted to 433 Squadron.

As a Radar Technician he serviced and maintained GEE. Equipment which was introduced in March, 1942 and was used by Bomber Command during the war for navigation. GEE was the predecessor to Omega and LORAN-C, both replaced by GPS.

Roy served until October, 1945. After the war Roy worked at DeHavilland Guided Missiles which later became Spar Aerospace for fifteen years. He then joined Owl Instruments for 10 years and finished his working career at Geonics which manufactured geographic survey equipment. He retired in 1968.

He met his future wife, Joyce, in Skipton on Swale, while he with 433 Squadron and was married four months later. Joyce came to Canada in 1946 where they made their life together with their 3 children.

In 1977 Joyce and Roy became actively involved with the reunions that honoured different squadrons each year. These events were organized by George Sutherland, a former adjutant of 407 and 434 squadrons. It was 427's year to be honoured in 1980. Vern White, Al D’Eon and Roy were three of six 427 veterans that were invited to form a committee to ask each member of the existing list of two hundred ex-Lions to attend.

Joyce and Roy took charge and although the task was challenging. they were energized and persistent. The result was that they tracked down some 600 ex Lions of 427 squadron and over the years extended the list to over 12,000 of all the Canadian Six Group. The end result was that Joyce and Roy reunited many of the crews, men who never knew where and if their friends were still alive.

One day Norm Shannon when visiting the Editor of The Air Force Magazine and struck up a conversation on who “The Inksters" were and Norm decided to get a first hand scoop on what they were up to. After a 2 day interview of listening to many of their 'happy ending' reunions they were featured in 'Esprit de Corps' in an article called 'Tracer of Lost Aircrew'.

Roy is now one of the last members left of the original squadron. He is proud to know that the tradition is being carried on. The article “Tracer of Lost Aircrew” cannot be printed here but is available elsewhere on the web site.

One of Roy's stories is available here