News Release

February 28, 1997

Secretary of State (Veterans) Leads Funeral Delegation to Myanmar

The Secretary of State (Veterans), the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, will today lead a delegation to Myanmar (also known as Burma) to bury the crew of KN 563, a RCAF C-47 Dakota aircraft that went missing over Burma on June 21, 1945. The delegation will depart Ottawa at 10:00 p.m. this evening.

Accompanying Mr. MacAulay will be family representatives of the 6 crew members of KN 563, veterans from 435 / 436 squadrons, a Canadian Forces burial party which will include current members of 435 Squadron, representatives of veterans organizations, and members of the joint Veterans Affairs - National Defence - Foreign Affairs team that recovered the remains of the missing crew from a remote region of north-west Burma in December, 1996.

"Even though more than 50 years have passed since the crash of KN 563, the Government of Canada proudly undertook its historic obligation to recover the remains of these airmen," said Mr. MacAulay. "Now these men will be laid to rest with the honour, recognition and respect they deserve for making the supreme sacrifice for our country."

The delegation will arrive in Yangon (also known as Rangoon) on Monday evening, March 3. On Wednesday, March 5, an official military burial will take place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Taukkyan cemetery near Yangon. The delegation will depart Yangon on Thursday, March 6, and will return to Ottawa around 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7.

The crew of KN 563 consisted of Warrant Officer 2 William Rogers of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Flying Officer William Kyle of Perth, Ontario; Flying Officer David Cameron of Oshawa, Ontario; Flight Sergeant Charles McLaren of Campbellville, Ontario; Warrant Officer Stanley Cox of Beresford, Manitoba; and Leading Aircraftman Cornelius Kopp of Duchess, Alberta.

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For further information contact:

Alec Connelly
Senior Communications Officer
(613) 992-7468