A member of the Ojibway First Nation, Williard John Bolduc of enlisted into the RCAF at North Bay, Ontario on June 9 1941. After training at 9 Bombing and Gunnery School in Mont-Joli Quebec, he was promoted to Sergeant and posted overseas, arriving in the UK during October 1942. During his service with 15 Squadron flying in Stirling bombers, P/O Bolduc was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The citation reads:

"Pilot Officer Bolduc has taken part in many operational sorties including attacks on such important and strongly defended targets as Berlin, Hamburg and Essen. In June 1943, while over Cologne, his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. This officer's accurate fire damaged the enemy aircraft which broke off the attack and was probably destroyed. Another time during a sortie against Nuremburg his aircraft was attacked by a Junkers 88. While making the bombing run Pilot Officer Bolduc opened fire and the enemy fighter fell to the ground in flames. At all times this air gunner has set an inspiring example by his keenness and devotion to duty."

An RCAF press release dated August 28th 1943 reads,

A Canadian gunner with an RAF Stirling squadron got credit for an enemy Ju88 fighter brought down as the Stirling approached the Nuremberg target. He was Sergeant Willard John Bolduc, 3171 Cote Street, Antoine Road, Westmount, Quebec, a rear-gunner who was on his 17th operational trip. "The pilot had successfully evaded three fighters," said Bolduc. "We were just approaching the target when a Ju88 roared out to meet us. The skipper warned me over the intercom, but the Ju88 went right past us. I thought maybe he would keep on going, but he didn't. He turned in a big sweep about 1,000 yards away and came right for us. "When he was about 500 yards away, I opened up. He never got a burst in but I kept giving it to him. I must have let him have about 500 rounds. He started to falter and then went straight down. We watched him go and he hit the deck with a terrific bang."

Born into a Metis family at Peace River, Alberta on 26 November 1915, John Bourassa was educated in Peace River. Before the war, he was a mail courier (1935-1938) and a river pilot and purser (1938-1941).

John joined the RCAF in 1941, receiving his initial training at 5 EFTS in High River and graduating as pilot in July 1942. He was posted overseas to England and completed his final training during 1942 and 1943. He then flew combat operations with 77 and 35 Squadrons on Halifaxes and Lancasters.

His crew was then chosen to join 635 Squadron of the Pathfinder Force. Johnny was awarded the DFC in May 1944 and a Bar to his DFC (equivalent to a second DFC) during February 1945.

The Bourassa crew completed 55 combat bomber trips -two tours of combat duty without injury or major damage. Its air-gunners shot down one Nazi night fighter.

Johnny Bourassa survived the war and became a bush pilot in Yellowknife in the late 1940's, at times flying author Farley Mowat. One day during May 1951, he took off from Yellowknife and was never seen again, although his Beaver bushplane was found undamaged on a lake, weeks later.

His DFC citation reads: "This Captain has carried out a large number of operations against some of the most heavily defended cities in Germany including Berlin. He has several times been viciously attacked by fighters and has displayed exceptional skill and coolness in extricating his aircraft and crew from perilous situations. He sets his mind on the task in hand, fearlessly and with a fine offensive spirit, setting a magnificent example to his crew."

In addition to the facilities at Lethbridge Alberta, 8 B&G entered into an agreement with the nearby Indigenous people to lease one hundred square miles on the Blood Indian Reserve to use for bombing and gunnery practice. A good relationship was established and the school's commanding officer, G/C W.A. Jones, was made an honourary chief with the name of Chief Heavy Shields. The School's Daily Diary entry of July 2 1042, records a visit by their Indigenous neighbours,