Tragic Tale of When Canada and the US Fought a WW2 Battle Against One Another - Battle of Kiska 

Canadians fought at Hong Kong as someone mentioned. In the Aleutian campaign, Canada sent 5 warships and 3 RCAF squadrons, 2 fighter ( P-40s) and 1 bomber. The RCAF participated in attacks on Japanese shipping at Kiska, with Squadron leader Ken Boomer (from Ottawa) shooting down a Rufe (Zero with floats). Canadian pilots also participated in the defense of Singapore flying Hurricanes. Canada maintained significant naval and airforce assets on the west coast for most of the war in case of a Japanese invasion. Edit - also RCAF mounted long range patrols in the Indian ocean. Leonard Birchall flying a Canso (Canadian version of a PBY) spotted the Japanese Nagumo naval task force on its way to destroy the British Fleet at Ceylon. He and crew managed to radio in the fleet's location before being shot down, saving the British fleet. Churchill dubbed him the Hero of Ceylon.

Thanks John for another informative video. I am 68 and I just now learned about this unfortunate bit of WW2 history.🇨🇦

Hi John, thank you for your videos. I always enjoy watching them. This particular one hit a little too close to home. I was a member of the Rocky Mountain Rangers (a Canadian Forces infantry unit in Kamloops, BC) for five years from 2007 to 2012. The Rocky Mountain Rangers was part of the Canadian forces which took part of the Kiska landing. The unit was given battle honours for their involvement in this battle. We commemorate it every year. During the video mention was made of a Japanese gun which was captured during the battle at Kiska. The Rocky Mountain Rangers took position of this gun, and it is still on display at the camp in Vernon, BC. This camp used to be a training camp during World War II. Three side notes for you: 1. one of your videos was on the Avro Arrow. One of the engineers on this program was James Chamberlin, who was born and raised in Kamloops. When the program was scrapped, Mr. Chamberlin went to work for NASA on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He also played a role in the space shuttle program. 2. Kamloops was home to CFS (Canadian Forces Station) Kamloops, which was located on Mt. Lolo. CFS Kamloops was a United States Air Force (USAF) radar station, which made up part of the Pinetree Line of Ground-Control Intercept radar sites. Several USAF personnel were stationed here until control was relinquished to the Royal Canadian Air Force on April 1, 1962. The site was closed on April 1, 1988. 3. John "Moose" Fulton was also from Kamloops. The airport here is named in his honour. He was the first commanding officer of the 419 RCAF bomber squadron which was formed in December 1941. He died during a bombing raid mission to Hamburg in July 1942. The 419 Squadron is still in operation today, and is stationed at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. Part of its emblem is a depiction of a charging moose. Kamloops has adopted the 419 Squadron as its own. Each year on Remembrance Day, jets from the squadron fly down to Kamloops and do a fly past during the ceremonies.

Thank you sir. I’m a six year Canadian veteran and an avid fan of your videos as they’re always informative, even when as usually happens I’m already aware of the incidents you post about. This incident however, took me by complete surprise. I do remember being previously apprised of Kiska, but my 71 year old memory remembers that the information was that when the combined forces arrived they found the island had already been abandoned, and no casualties resulted, so this was eye opening to say the least. What a tragedy. Please keep up the good work as these situations need to be reported correctly, if only to give meaning to those that perished there.

Hi. John. My uncle flew for the RCAF in the Pacific during WW2. And returned home safely.

Hi John. Nancy from Canada again! Thank you so very much for your videos. I think I’ve mentioned this before but my brother joined the US Marines and fought in Vietnam. He got medals and all that stuff, but he was never the same again. PTSD was unheard of then. Anyways he always felt it was the greatest thing he had ever done and he was very proud of being of being a Marine. I miss him so much.

Battle of Hong Kong was the only one I had heard of in the Pacific theatre

I remember reading about this in a book about the Devil's Brigade. What a horrible accident.

John thankyou for enlightening me again as a Canadian

I always had a fascination growing up with WWII, and did a lot of reading and research, I remember learning about how the Japanese had already evacuated the island. But somehow, the casualties, and the sheer scale of this perfect storm of things gone wrong was not made clear at all. How tragic for all concerned. Hopefully, this became a great example in training textbooks of What Not to Do. Always more to learn. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

John. I continue to enjoy and appreciate your channel in general, and particularly your interest in Canadian contributions to the allied effort in WW2. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the North Atlantic Convoy System, and establishment of Camp X might be of interest to you as future subject matter - not entirely Canadian, but not possible without Canada’s active support.

The birds were lovely.

An American fighter jet accidentally bombed Canadians doing drill exercises at night in Afghanistan, I forget how many were killed and wounded

Would be cool to see a reaction to some of the ceremony on Juno beach for the 80th of D-Day.

Canadian involvment in the pacific was fairly limited,you might want to look into the story of the HMCS Uganda...which is a unique one to say the least

Henry rollins hot history dad 😅 We all need it.

R U OK?

My grandfather was in WW1 & My Dad was in WW2. My dad came home with an honorable dischard & in one piece but never the same. They never spoke about the war & back then men didn't cry and PTSD was never heard of. I also had an uncle in WW2 he did make it home but died at 29 years old. Canada 🇨🇦

Felton does a good one on Canadian paratroopers,sent to Wismar,Germany in 45 to keep the Russians out of Denmark called operation Eclipse.

Though in 1940s Canada was still technically part of the British armed forces. Thus it made more sense that the Canadian assets were more useful in European theatre. The Australian and New Zealand forces ,they too were part of the British armed forces, were better situated for the pacific theatre. So Canada did very little in the Pacific but the ANZAC forces were of major importance. That all said there were a few Canada units used in the Pacific most of which were in concert with the Americans.

Im 58 year old Canadian whom just heard about this story a few weeks ago ... struck me as the craziest thing Id never heard

HEY JOHN SOME CANADA DAY VIDEOS TO REACT TO IS GOD BLESS YOU CANADA, Oh Canada official music video by Classified, Canada 150 years song.

My grandfather from Agassiz BC fought on June 6, and I think of him on this anniversary. Thanks for your videos on Canada's participation in WW1 and WW2. If you're ever in Vancouver, my family and I would love to show you the sights.

I love watching Mark Felton too. I feel the more people in current generations (ie my teenagers) know about war…the less they will repeat the mistakes of the past.My great grandfather died in 1916 fighting in France before my grandmother was born,my grandfather WW2 veteran ,my other grandfather aka Nonno fought in Italy for Canada (and he was Italian) ,my great x I don’t know many grandfather was one of the fathers of confederation and my great uncle was the premier of Quebec. Our family has a deep military history and service to Canada 🇨🇦.Although neither of my parents were in the military..My Canadian uncle enlisted in the marines and fought in Vietnam ! ( we still think he was crazy for that but respected his choice.On memorial and Remembrance Day and esp every day I remember those who fought keep us free ❤❤ 🇨🇦 🇺🇸

I had no idea that the Japanese had invaded these areas in WW2. This whole thing is just tragic, but war is horrible, no matter what.

Canadians fought the Japanese before the Americans. The Battle of Hong Kong from 08 Dec. to 25 Dec. 1941, and the story of a Newfoundland dog named Sgt Gander ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d6q6Hhm-LyU.html (I think this is the only other Canadian Army engagement in the Pacific WW2) John here is a story of how the Canadian Paratroopers stopped the Red Army from capturing Denmark ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OWcRl7Q7pGs.html at the end of WW2

Less seppos. Good for everyone. Shame about the Crown subjects, though. Shame.

Please remove the old pre 1965 flag of Canada that is no longer relevant or representative of what Canada is. Sadly that flag is a throwback to Canada’s colonial past & doesn’t reflect the multi cultural ethnic make of Canada. We as a nation have moved forward proudly with the Maple Leaf flag. Please use it sir.

Hi John wow that’s really was an unfortunate mistake. Very sad but educational for sure. Take care🫶

Please remove the old pre 1965 flag of Canada that is no longer relevant or representative of what Canada is. Sadly that flag is a throwback to Canada’s colonial past & doesn’t reflect the multi cultural ethnic make of Canada. We as a nation have moved forward proudly with the Maple Leaf flag. Please use it sir.