NORTH, Muriel Almyra
Age at Death: 21
Rank Leading Aircraftwoman
Unit Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division
Service Number W310206
Place of Burial Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal PQ
Date of Birth 1923.01.11
Place of Birth Montreal PQ
Enlistment January 14, 1943, Montreal PQ
Date of Death 1944.09.08
Daughter of Earl R. North and Jennie North, of Montreal
Muriel had worked as a photographic printer before enlisting, and was interested in photography as a trade. She was posted to North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
On September 8, 1944, First Sergeant William Hashim flew her to a relief field, to photograph Bomb and Gunnery exercises. The airplane crashed, killing both of them on impact. In an inquiry into the crash, Group Captain F.S. Wilkins concluded: “The fact that the rear control stick was put into its socket after the aircraft left the ground and that the aircraft crashed well off its course is almost conclusive proof the pilot was giving unauthorized dual instruction to his LAW passenger,” adding: “Just another case of biological urge.”
Muriel had left her estate to her mother, but hadn’t updated her will since her mother died the previous year. Her father wrote to DND, stating that he was partially dependent on her financially, being in poor health and unable to work for several years. An internal DND letter stated that her father didn’t qualify as a dependent; he eventually received a share of $80.76, with the remainder divided between her five siblings and a nephew’s guardian.
