World War II bomber pilot Oliver Korpela expanded family lumber operations in Chapleau area

Oliver Korpela, perhaps best known in Chapleau as a lumberman, actually wore many hats, including one as a bomber pilot in World War II, whose plane was shot down over Holland in 1944.

Born in Nemegos on the Canadian Pacific Railway line east of Chapleau on June 18, 1920, in his early years, Oliver spoke Finnish, French and Cree, according to Oiva W. Saarinen in his book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place".  There was nobody to teach him English.

His grandfather and father had arrived in Nemegos in the early 20th century and had become logging contractors, cutting and delivering logs to be sawed into mining timbers and railway ties.

As a youngster Oliver enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, canoeing, skiing and swimming.

However, by 1931 he had moved to Sudbury and attended school until the end of Grade 10. By 1939 and the outbreak of World War II, Oliver wanted to join the Royal Canadian Air Force but his first obstacle was that he had no birth certificate. Nobody had registered his birth. This was resolved.

This was sorted out but he could not train as a pilot without Grade 13, so he took a crash course, upgraded and was posted to pilot training.

courtesy Richard Korpela

Posted to England after graduation as a pilot officer, he later joined the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and conducted successful bombing missions over Germany flying Lancaster bombers.

In September 1944, his Lancaster was shot down, and he parachuted safely into Holland.

Oliver ended up aided by the Dutch underground. His experience is included in his memoir 'The Autobiography of a Bomber Pilot" a copy of which was kindly provided to me by his son Richard Korpela.

courtesy Richard Korpela

Disguised as a mute Dutch tailor he eluded capture by the Germans until Holland was liberated in 1945. A fascinating story in itself.

Upon arriving in Sudbury, Oliver went to the barber shop at the Coulson Hotel, and discovered that his parents were staying in the hotel -- apparently a great welcome home party was held.

After returning to Canada after the war, he worked for Kormak Lumber Company founded by his father and Oliver Maki.

As a part-time bush pilot  Oliver made Kormak one of the first lumber company's to do extensive timber cruising from the air. He continued flying into his late seventies.

After the major forest fire of 1948, the company opened mills at Flame Lake --- Oliver was in one of the first cars to travel over Highway 129 from Thessalon to Chapleau in 1949 when it opened.

Earle Sootheran, Tom Godfrey, Oliver

As an aside, Flame Lake was such a going concern that the Ontario Provincial Police stationed an officer there for a time.

Interestingly, at one point in the company's expansion they chartered aircraft to bring workers from Finland.

By the 1960s,  the lumber operations included Kormak, Island Lake and Wesmak, which were all amalgamated into Wesmak with Oliver as president. In 1966 he acquired Biglow Lumber Company with Fred Fielding. All merged in due course after taking over Chapleau Lumber in 1981 and became Chapleau Forest Products Limited.

Oliver wore many hats including bomber pilot, bush pilot, lumberman, horse rancher and philanthropist.

After the war he became active in the Royal Canadian Legion, and following his death on February 19, 2006, his son Richard made a presentation of $5,000 from his father's estate to Branch No 5 president Darryl Brunette for the branch.

Oliver will also be remembered for his generosity in donating 27 acres of land  for a Finnish Senior Citizens Complex in the Minnow Lake area at Sudbury, as well as a significant donation for a wetlands park which bears his name. 

I extend my most sincere thanks to Richard Korpela, Oliver's son, who provided me with a copy of 'The Autobiography of a Bomber Pilot' --- a fascinating read.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca