[In 1968, RCAF Colonel Owen Bartley ('O. B.') PHILP CM, DFC, CD, "The Father of the Snowbirds", founded one of Canada's most successful and admired aerobatic demonstration teams. O. B. was ably assisted by his civilian administrator, Lois BOYLE, known as "The Mother of the Snowbirds", in forming the flying team.]
Military Service:-
Rank: Captain
Age: 32
Force: Air Force
Unit: 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (CT-114 Tudor aircraft team: the 'Snowbirds')
Honours/Citations: Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
He enlisted on 13 October 1963 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Son of Johannes and Eelkje (née de Groot) de Jong of Edmonton, Alberta; husband of Virgina Sue (née Philips) de Jong; father of Jeffrey N. and Clifford Patrick de Jong of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Captain de Jong was a member of the Snowbirds aerobatic team, flying as the Lead Solo. He was killed during an air show in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Captain Cornelius 'Gordon' De Jong is commemorated on Page 168 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
A poem to honour the fallen 'Snowbirds':-
Composed by Peter Walt
Hush - The silence lingers still
White clouds brush the distant hill
The Snowbirds flown on silent wings
Far from earth bound, tugging strings.
Hush - There lies but one man sleeping
A date with his Maker he is keeping
Though once he raced across the sky, in flight
Radiant, as a star at night.
Hush - He was an airman bold
Who saw the sunset turning gold
Who soared with grace across this land
A brave man, in a brave man's band.
No more in danger shall he tread
No more the sunsets turning red
Though high above our prairie fleece
We know his soul will find its peace.
Hush - The Snowbird's taken flight
Into the great beyond of night
To join his comrades, in the wing
Which flies just for our Heavenly King.
[In 1968, RCAF Colonel Owen Bartley ('O. B.') PHILP CM, DFC, CD, "The Father of the Snowbirds", founded one of Canada's most successful and admired aerobatic demonstration teams. O. B. was ably assisted by his civilian administrator, Lois BOYLE, known as "The Mother of the Snowbirds", in forming the flying team.]
Military Service:-
Rank: Captain
Age: 32
Force: Air Force
Unit: 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (CT-114 Tudor aircraft team: the 'Snowbirds')
Honours/Citations: Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
He enlisted on 13 October 1963 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Son of Johannes and Eelkje (née de Groot) de Jong of Edmonton, Alberta; husband of Virgina Sue (née Philips) de Jong; father of Jeffrey N. and Clifford Patrick de Jong of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Captain de Jong was a member of the Snowbirds aerobatic team, flying as the Lead Solo. He was killed during an air show in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Captain Cornelius 'Gordon' De Jong is commemorated on Page 168 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
A poem to honour the fallen 'Snowbirds':-
Composed by Peter Walt
Hush - The silence lingers still
White clouds brush the distant hill
The Snowbirds flown on silent wings
Far from earth bound, tugging strings.
Hush - There lies but one man sleeping
A date with his Maker he is keeping
Though once he raced across the sky, in flight
Radiant, as a star at night.
Hush - He was an airman bold
Who saw the sunset turning gold
Who soared with grace across this land
A brave man, in a brave man's band.
No more in danger shall he tread
No more the sunsets turning red
Though high above our prairie fleece
We know his soul will find its peace.
Hush - The Snowbird's taken flight
Into the great beyond of night
To join his comrades, in the wing
Which flies just for our Heavenly King.
Inscription
612-234-005 CAPT.
C. GORDON DE JONG CD
CANADIAN FORCES
431 SQN . (AD) SNOWBIRDS
3 MAY . 1978 . AGE 32
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement