John A. Iverach, Vice-President of Saunders Aircraft Corporation

A Manitoba Government News Service press release on June 2, 1972 announced a new executive structure for Saunders Aircraft Corporation now based in Gimli Manitoba. Named to the new executive was a fifty-five year Manitoban, John. A. Iverach of Winnipeg, now named as  Vice-President of Saunders Aircraft Corporation in charge of finance and administration.

What is extremely interesting about John Alexander Iverach is his World War 2 service in the Royal Airforce as a navigator. Mr. Iverahc's wartime chronicles can be found in his book "Chronicles of A Nervous Navigator". This excellent book can be found by Googling the internet and there is a copy on Amazon at https://www.amazon.ca/Chronicles-Nervous-Navigator-Aiken-Iverach/dp/1550561782

John Alexander Iverach was born in 1917 at Rossburn Manitoba and moved to Winnipeg with his family and was enrolled in a charted accountant’s course at the University of Manitoba when WWII started. Mr. Iverach joined the Royal Canadian Airforce in May 1940 and after training in Canada was posted as a navigator to No. 240 squadron Royal Airforce at Stranraer Scotland.

John A. Iverach photo

I do not wish to give the book content away, however, here are a couple of missions Mr. Iverach was on and are thoroughly described in his book as are many more missions:-       In May of 1940 John Iverach flying in a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat was out on patrol during the search and later sinking of the massive German battleship the “Bismarck”
 -       In February 1942 John Iverach volunteers for secret missions on a captured German Heinkel 115 floatplane to insert and retrieve spies behind enemy lines.

captured German Heinkel 115 floatplane, John A. Iverach photo

captured German Heinkel 115 floatplane being towed in, John A. Iverach photo



John Iverach on the left in  the middle photo at a 1970 aircrew reunion gathering in Winnipeg.