Biographies – John Zorzi

Born is Sault Ste. Marie, June 1940, he attended elementary and secondary schools in the Sault.

He worked at Algoma Steel after graduation and then applied for military service in 1959.

He married Lucille in 1964 at RCAF Station Uplands and has three daughters, one son and six grandchildren.

After leaving the RCAF he worked for Ontario Correctional Services in the Sault until his return to Algoma Steel where he worked as a heavy mobile equipment operator, then truck dispatcher and ended his career as the mobile equipment trainer and manual writer for the Transportation Truck Department.

He obtained his private pilot Licence in 1961 with the Ottawa Flying Club and built and flew four homemade aircraft on wheels, skies, and floats over the past 35 years, since returning to the Sault.

John was a volunteer firefighter with the Aweres Volunteer Fire Department from 2002 to 2017 (15 years). He was truck operator of a pumper truck, tanker-pumper truck, rescue truck and a portable pump operator.

In retirement he resided at Trout Lake in Heyden Ontario.

Military History

LAC John Zorzi

Royal Canadian Air Cadets, 155 Squadron fro Approx 1954 to 1958

  • Summer camp at RCAF Station Clinton
  • Won drill team honours 1957

Joined RCAF 12 January 1960

  • Reported to RCAF Station St Jean P.S.U. Feb 1960 to Mar 1960
  • Assigned to RCAF Station Borden, ON AF Tech course 6009 Mar 1960 to Dec 1960
  • Graduated top of his class 6009 AF Tech Group 1, Dec 1960
  • Offered his choice of assignments, he chose duties with Central Experimental and Proving establishment at RCAF Station Uplands, Dec 1960.
  • Assigned to CEPE Jet Flight duties Feb 1961 to carry out T- 33 and CF – 100 aircraft maintenance, inspection and servicing, Group 3
  • Assigned to Canadair Ltd., Cartierville, PQ, (TDY) Nov 1963 to mar 1964 for the CT -114 Tutor RCAF acceptance and maintenance course.
  • Voluntarily requested and assigned to CEPE Climatic Division, Nov 1963
  • Assigned to RCAF Stn Fort Churchill, Manitoba, (TDY), Dec 1963 to mar. 1964 for testing of CT – 114 Tutor on cold weather trials.
  • Assigned USMC Air Station Yuma, AZ (TDY), for testing of CT-114 Tutor on hot weather trials, Aug 1964
  • Assigned to RCAF Stn Fort Churchill, Manitoba, CEPE (TDY), as part of the RCAF support team assisting Royal Air Force personnel in their testing of the Westland Wessex III attack helicopter on cold weather trials Dec 1964 to April 1965 and also assisted in the permanent closing of RCAF Stn Fort Churchill, Man at this time.
  • Requested release from RCAF service and granted an Honourable Discharge, Aug 10 1966, due to pending unification of the Canadian Armed Forces personnel.

John Zorzi, RCAF 66079

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