SNETSINGER AJ
Snetsinger, Arnold Joseph
Personal Information
| Rank | F/L |
| Forename(s) | Arnold Joseph |
| Surname | Snetsinger |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 23 |
| Date of Death | 10-02-1945 |
| Next of Kin | Son of John M. Snetsinger and Edith Ellen Snetsinger (née Forsythe, known as Ella), of Dickinson's Landing, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
| Serial Number | ME750 |
| Markings | QY-T |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Brookwood Military Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | 56. H. 2. |
| Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 245 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | J/44733 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 7 |
| Squadron | 1666 HCU |
| Trade | Wireless Operator |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
| Location | St. Gregory Minster, Kirkdale, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | RoH |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to the Canadian Airmen who flew from RAF Wombleton during WW2, including 1666 HCU |
| Location | Roadside location, Wombleton, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed stone pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to the Canadian Airmen who flew from RAF Wombleton during WW2, including 1666 HCU |
Miscellaneous Information
| Accident investigators concluded that icing was the most likely cause of the crash but could not understand why all four engines were feathered |
| Arnold was born at Dickinson’s Landing, Ontario on 23 October 1922. His father was born in Perth, Ontario and had worked as a Cheese maker. He died in 1941 and his mother was born in Moulinette. He had two brothers, Harold and John, and three sisters, Ethel, Mary and Rita. A baby, Alexander Joseph died at birth in 1937. Arnold went to Dickinson’s Public School, 1928-1936 followed by Wales High School, Ontario 1936-1939 ( grade 11). He was also doing a Canadian Legion Correspondence Course on the Principals of Radio, from November 1942 onwards and he had studied electric welding at General Welding Works, Toronto, August to November 1941. His hobby was Radio and the sports he joined in were hockey and baseball. Arnold worked at McColl Frontenac Oil Company in Toronto and his duty was as a Seaman on the Cyclo-Brave from July 1940-August 1941. He also worked at the Imperial Oil Company at Sarnia as a Seaman on the Windsolite, 1939 until the autumn. |
| Arnold transferred from the Army to join the RCAF. He had been in the 5th Field Company R.C.E. After enlisting on 21 April 1943, and early training, Arnold embarked from Halifax on 25 May 1944 and arrived at 3PRC on 3 June 1944. He then went to 2 (0)AFU 25 July 1944, 86 OTU, 61 Base 1 November 1944 and 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit on 15 December 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 10-02-1945 |
| End Date | 10-02-1945 |
| Takeoff Station | Wombleton |
| Day/Night Raid | Day |
| Operation | Training- navigation exercise |
| Reason for Loss | Emerged from cloud in a spin and on fire. Crashed SW of South Curney airfield. Gloucester |