In 1942, at the tender age of 17, Fred Bing enlisted in Calgary. He was drawn to the serve in the airforce as he had already been an Air Cadet while in high school in Lethbridge.

Fred took his basic training at Manning Depot near Edmonton and afterwards received the wonderful news that he had been selected to be trained as a pilot – a big endorsement of his skills. However, when Fred learned he would have to wait a full year to begin his training, the impatient young man — who was itching to get overseas — signed up for the next course available. The result was that by September 1943, Fred had his Wireless Air Gunner badge.

His brother, Alan Bing, also served with the Air Force.

After a few months of further training in New Brunswick, Fred and his crew mates sailed off to England to fly B-25 Mitchell bombers with the 98th Squadron 2nd Tactical Air Force.

According to Marjorie Wong, in her seminal book The Dragon and the Maple Leaf, November 25,1944 was a significant day for Fred. “On an operation on the rail centre at Reydt, Germany … Bing’s aircraft was hit by flak, knocking a hole in the perspex about the size of a baseball. The powdered sugar-like material hit the pilot but he regained control of the aircraft; they flew back to Belgium, however at a very low level. This was the last flight for the team. Fred Bing flew 40 missions and earned his operational wings.”

Fred lived a long life. Weeks before he died suddenly, at the age of 92, he was still living independently in a condo in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and was even driving his own car. Fred Bing left this world for his next mission on November, 12, 2016.

Fred Bing and his crew mates. From Left to right: Pilot Cy Poissant, Navigator/Bomb aimer Peter (Doc) Ryan, Wireless Air Gunner Fred Bing, and second air gunner George Olsen.

Cy, Paul, Pete and Fred at a tent