McNamara, Howard

Howard McNamara was born January 9, 1920 in Montreal.  He grew up there during the Depression years, but with both parents working – father for the CNR and mother as a telephone operator – the family got by.  Howard went to school and graduated from Darcy McGee High School, after which he took a job as an office boy.  He and his brother were watching as the war got underway, and both of them decided to join the RCAF in the early going.  Howard went into the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, attending schools across Canada as he learned to be a pilot.  Howard did earn his wings, and he was sent to England, landing in Bournemouth.  Additional training followed, and when an officer asked for volunteers for the North African desert war, Howard and most of his class accepted the challenge.  They were sent to Africa via convoy, arriving in advance of the turning point of the Battle of El Alamein.  Howard flew in 33 and 238 Squadrons, and it was his mission to fly tactical missions in support of the ground forces as they crossed the north African desert in pursuit of Rommel’s Afrika Korps.  Sicily was next, though Howard was not engaged there; he was called upon during the Italian campaign, and the squadron was now based in Corsica.  He flew missions in support of the advancing ground forces, attacking German supply columns and other targets of opportunity on the ground.  During this time Howard hit the required hours mark to be sent on leave, and he returned to Canada.  While there the war very much wound down, and he was demobilized.  Tragically, Howard’s brother James was killed in action while flying his Spitfire on a mission over northern Europe.  Once back in Montreal, Howard returned to his old job and he found his way back into the rhythms of civilian life.  His soon-to-be wife Annie was overseas in her own military capacity at this time, keeping the troops entertained as a dancer in a travelling RCAF show.  When she returned, they married in 1948, and they remain so today – 77 years later.  Howard McNamara was interviewed by Scott Masters at his home in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec in October 2025.