John W. Roussel

John Roussel was born to Helen and Joseph Roussel in Brooklyn, NY on 10/22/1920. He had a younger brother, Thomas. The family later lived in Teaneck, NJ. John’s nickname growing up was Jack. He was described in his Teaneck High School Yearbook (Class of 1938) as being shy, quiet and interested in aviation. Jack was a member of the Rifle Club. Subsequent to graduating from Teaneck High School, he attended Bergen College.

This courageous young man enlisted in 1941 and served as a Flying Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. During his training he was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s elite Precision Drill Squadron. This squadron of 30 Americans and 60 Canadians was selected from 5000 candidates who were training as pilots, observers and gunners.

On 10/12/43 Flying Officer John Roussel was lost on duty out of Edinburgh, Scotland and believed drowned. He is memorialized at the Runnymeade Memorial Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom.

WWII Scrapbook

1. February 11, 1943
2. February 19, 1943
3. October 10, 1943

High School Yearbook

1. 1938 Yearbook, Page 49

Ancestry.com

1. 1940 United States Federal Census
2. Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974 for John Warren Roussel
3. Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974 for John Warren Roussel
4. Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947 for John Warren Roussel
5. UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 for John Warren Roussel
6. UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300-Current

Veterans Affairs Canada Website

1. In Memory of Flying Officer John Warren Roussel, October 12, 1943

Find A Grave Website

1. Flying Officer John Roussel
2. Photo of John W. Roussel