SorsoleilJV

John Victor Sorsoleil MC was born at Peterborough, Ontario, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Sorsoleil. From 1913 to 1916, he attended the University of Toronto. He received flying instruction at Camp Mohawk and Camp Borden in Canada and, was the youngest cadet to graduate as a pilot, in 1917.

He went overseas in August and on August 18, 1917 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as a 2^nd Lieutenant. Sorsoleil received further training from the RFC, at Central Flying School at Upavon, England. On October 13, 1917 his commission was confirmed with the rank of Flying Officer and he was posted to the Western Front in France.

On November 16, 1917 he was appointed as commanding "A Flight" of No. 84 Squadron RFC. By the end of December 1917, Flight Lieutenant Sorsoleil had shot down four enemy aircraft and was awarded the Military Cross (MC). His citation reads in part as follows:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on patrol with three other RFC scouts., he engaged a hostile formation of 10 scouts, driving one of them down. While climbing to rejoin his patrol, he was attacked by an enemy scout, upon which he opened fire at close range, bringing it down spinning, with the result that it crashed to earth. He has also driven one enemy machine down in flames and sent another crashing to earth where it was destroyed. His gallantry and skill have been most conspicuous."

By the end of March 1918, Sorsoleil had shot down a total of seven enemy aircraft. On April 1, 1918, all members of the RFC and all members of the Royal Naval Air Service, (RNAS) automatically became members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) which resulted from a merger of the RFC and RNAS.

On August 7, 1918 he was posted to No. 1 Fighting School at Turnberry, Scotland as an instructor on Fighting with SE5 aircraft. On February 27, 1919 he was repatriated to Canada and demobilized on March 12, 1919.

On Octber 17, 1923, he married Evelyn Irene Howard, in Toronto.

On 3 February, 1940, Sorsoleil joined the RCAF and was posted to the Montreal recruiting unit. On 15 January 1942 he was posted to No. 6 Service Flying training School at Dunnville, Ontario, as Chief Ground Instructor. On 9 May 1944 he was posted to Trenton airport for instructional duties. Then on 23 March, 1945, he was transferred to the RCAF Reserve.