Honouring Canada’s Missing Aircrew: A Digital Memorial and Research Initiative
Acadia University and the Dean of Arts Office is delighted to support the Canadian Remembrance and Recovery Project by hosting the WWII Canadian Missing-in-Action (MIA) Aircrew Database — a national initiative dedicated to preserving the memory of over 3,700 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel who vanished during the Second World War and have no known grave.
This powerful digital resource invites educators, students, historians, and community members to engage in meaningful historical research and storytelling. Each entry in the database represents a life cut short, a story waiting to be told. By selecting a name, contributors can help reconstruct the personal histories of these aircrew missing in action, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered and honoured.
The database is part of a longer-term proposed Recovery Program, which combines archaeology, forensic science, and social innovation to recover and commemorate Canada’s lost service members. It includes research guides, educational materials, and links to archival resources such as the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and Library and Archives Canada.
Whether you're an educator seeking classroom resources or a citizen historian looking to contribute, this initiative offers a structured and respectful way to participate in collective remembrance. Together, we can ensure that these missing heroes are never forgotten.
Explore the Database here.