T/Cpl Hans Basse Pedersen

Hans Basse Pedersen serves as fireman in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. He is naturalised in 1944.

Hans Basse Pedersen is born on 16 February 1905 in Denmark. [1]

He arrives in Canada in 1924 as he deserts the ship M/S JAVA which he had signed on 5 December 1923. [2]

In Service

Hans Basse Pedersen enlists in Vancouver, BC, on 27 May 1942. He is posted to No. 3 Manning Depot, Edmonton, as Fireman (Weapons & Bombs) with the rank of Aircraftman 2nd Class (R.166716). He is promoted to Acting Corporal with effect from the same day, and on 1 June 1942 he is promoted to Corporal.

On 27 September 1942 he is posted to No. 3 Recruits Depot and on 1 October he is posted to RCAF Station Boundary Bay, BC.

He is posted to No. 4 General Hospital on 6 June 1943. He is re-classified as “EMB.STAT.” on 1 October 1943, but I am not sure of the meaning of this abbreviation.

On 31 March 1944 he is posted to No. 4 Fil. Det.

He is posted to RCAF Station Coal Harbour, BC, on 28 April 1944. This base on Vancouver Island is base for seaplane patrols in the Northern Pacific. From here he is posted to RCAF Station Sea Island, Vancouver, BC, on 26 July 1944. Today this station is Vancouver International Airport.

He remains here for about a year until he is posted to RCAF Station Tofino on 31 May 1945. This station was established on Vancouver Island to fight the thread Japanese incendiary balloons coming from the sea brought by the air currents.

Discharge and naturalization

On 30 September 1945 he is posted to No. 8 Release Centre and on 26 October 1945 he is discharged. [3]

Hans Basse Pedersen is naturalized on 21 August 1944 (201069 A). [4]

Sources

1. Service card, Directorate of History, courtesy of Hugh Halliday
2. California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957
3. Service card, Directorate of History, courtesy of Hugh Halliday, rcaf.org
4. Canadian Naturalization, 1915-1951