- GARLAND, Col. John W
Posted 27 Oct 2016 by Terry Young
GARLAND, Col. John W. Retired, Royal Canadian Air Force John Wilburn Garland, in his 84th year, of Winnetka (Chicago, Illinois), died March 29th, 2006 following a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy (Whitney). He is survived by his wife, Susan, his children Nancy Keith (Peter), Dr. William Garland (Jane) and Murray Garland, all of British Columbia, brothers Gordon (Myrtle), Bower (deceased), Bruce (Joan), and sisters Kathleen Burley (Harold) and Dorothy Cassidy (A. Lorne, deceased), six grandchildren and one great grandchild. Col. Garland was born June 15th, 1922 in Richmond, Ontario to Elmer and Beatrice (Trimble) Garland. He held a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen's University and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Institute of Technology at Dayton, Ohio. During the Second World War he served with No. 80 RAF Fighter Squadron, flying Hurricanes and Spitfires in Egypt, Palestine, North Africa, Italy, the Tempests in England and North West Europe. In January 1945, Col. Garland was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. A month later he was forced to parachute from his Tempest after it was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he was taken prisoner in Germany. In April during the night march he escaped and lived in the woods until two weeks later when the Allied lines passed through. He was in England before the end of the war. Col. Garland was awarded the RCAF Operational Wing and Bar and was credited with destroying several enemy aircraft transport systems. His post-war career included staff assignments at Canadian Forces Headquarters, Project Control Officer at Central Experimental and Proving Establishment, a USAF exchange tour in Colorado, Commander of the Cold Lake Detachment of Central Experimental and Proving Establishment, and Officer Commanding No. 102 Composite Unit. His Colorado assignment was as second commanding officer of NORAD. Col. Garland was one of the early pilots to crack Mach 2, flying an Fl04. His final appointment was as Commanding Officer of RCAF Test and Maintenance Operations. A memorial service will be held on April 22nd in Winnetka and a private family memorial service will be held at the Roselawn Crematorium at a later date. Memorial contributions in John's memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Published in The Ottawa Citizen on Apr. 8, 2006
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1922 - 2006 (83 years)
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