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A plaque in the Yale Avenue West Park in Winnipeg commemorates local airman Pilot Officer Wilfred Lawrence Warner (1915-1937) who played in this area during his childhood. Work on the playground and park began around 1946 and it was officially opened on 26 June 1948 by Mayor Andrew Russell Paulley. At the event, a flagpole was unveiled by Warner’s parents and a plaque was affixed.
Warner was born at Winnipeg on 2 January 1915, son of Albert Paul Frederick Warner (1884-1960) and Vera Mae Johnston (1893-1968), and grew up in Transcona. His earliest years were spent at 72 Victoria Avenue (1916) before the family settled at 147 Yale Avenue West (1921). He attended Central School and was active in the community hockey scene. He was a member of the Winnipeg Flying Club and trained at Stevenson Field, obtaining his private pilot’s license in May 1934 followed with his commercial air pilot’s license a year later, in May 1935. He enlisted with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1935 and departed for England in September. He was a Pilot Officer and flew the Handley Page Harrow Mk.I with 214 Squadron of the RAF. He died during a demonstration exercise near Methwold, England on 29 April 1937 when the aircraft he was flying was struck by a second aircraft of their three-bomber formation. His aircraft crashed into the Wissey River and, although he reportedly survived the impact and was thrown clear of the wreckage, he died in hospital later that same day. His death was one of five casualties from the incident. Warner’s body was returned to Manitoba and buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.
Commemorative plaque (next to flagpole) at Yale Avenue West Park (July 2020)
Source: Nathan Kramer
Commemorative plaque at Yale Avenue West Park (August 2017)
Source: Nathan Kramer
Commemorative plaque at Yale Avenue West Park (November 2020)
Source: Jordan Makichuk
Wilfred Warner (second from left) with his 1935 graduation class (May 1935)
Source: “Take flying tests,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 1 June 1935, page 5.Site Location (lat/long): N49.89663, W97.01084
denoted by symbol on the map above
Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1916 & 1921 Canada censes, Library and Archives Canada.
“Six pilots get their ‘tickets’ at Flying Club,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 June 1934, page 6.
“Local pilots receive wings at solo party,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 June 1934, page 3.
“Take flying tests,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 1 June 1935, page 5.
“Flying Club graduates six pilots in month,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 1 June 1935, page 5.
“Killed in crash,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 May 1937, page 3.
Death notice, Winnipeg Tribune, 8 May 1937, page 30.
Death notice, Winnipeg Tribune, 16 May 1937, page 17.
“Killed in crash in England, Transcona flier buried today,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 17 May 1937, page 19.
“Playground,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 June 1948, page 13.
[Photo caption], Winnipeg Free Press, 28 June 1948, page 25.
“Population up at Transcona,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 June 1948, page 2.
Death notice [Albert Paul F. Warner], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 September 1960, page 30.
St. Boniface estate files (ATG 0064A), #7840 - Albert Paul Frederick Warner, GR5705, Archives of Manitoba.
Obituary [Mrs. Vera May Warner], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 May 1958, page 26.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), #1204/68 - Vera M. Warner, GR4904, Archives of Manitoba.
ASN Wikibase Occurrence #69274, Aviation Safety Network.
Crew and Losses & Personnel, No. 214 Squadron.
Accident Report, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives.
We thank Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 29 April 2023
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