Gordon was the son of Leslie Oakes Bastow and Annie McKay. He was born in Manitoba 3 Dec 1922 as his dad was working for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Gordon was raised in St. John’s. He was a first cousin of Gerald Hugh Bastow.

Answer Empire's Call, June, 1940

1st LIST OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AT ST. JOHNS RECRUITING OFFICE

Bastow, Gordon Owen, 240 LeMarchant Road, Service # 798583

http://www.webspawner.com/users/womurphy/answerempiresca.html

Men who joined in Newfoundland and served in the United Kingdom RAF, WW II

On December 17, 1939, two months after joining World War II, Canada signed on to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). Far from Europe and destructive German attacks, yet closer to Britain than Australia or New Zealand, Canada was the ideal training ground for Commonwealth air force recruits.

Dozens of training schools opened across Canada, including 18 in Alberta. In small prairie cities and towns such as Vulcan, Claresholm and Medicine Hat, budding young airmen from around the world arrived to train for the battle that raged in the skies over Europe.

Number 2 Wireless school was at the SAIT campus. Gordon graduated in Class #60 Wireless Operator Air Gunners RAF & RCAF No 2 Wireless School Calgary, Canada Feb 41.

1940 - 1946 campus taken over by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Main Building became home to No. 2 Wireless School. The school and tons of machinery and equipment were relocated to the grandstand at the Victoria Park Fair Grounds for the duration of the war.

After the war, when the school returned to the Main Building, the fledgling University of Alberta in Calgary occupied the west wing.