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Paul Goranson, Canadian Artist
1911-2002
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Paul Goranson's RCAF cap badge. - Colin Stevens' Collection.
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Paul Goranson, official RCAF War Artist
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Paul Goranson was an official Canadian War Artist. He served with the Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during World War II in Canada, the UK, North Africa,
Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium. Holland and Germany. He broke the rules and went right into combat
to get many of his images, including flying on bombing missions.
This is a page from a book which showed some his art work and I got him to
autograph two of his images for me - this one "Marshalling of the Hallies"
(i.e. gathering up the Halifax bombers) and "Posted to Newfie". Note
his autograph with this picture in my book "CANVAS OF WAR". He also
autographed his "Posted to Newfie" picture in the same book.
Paul Goranson and his wife lived two doors down from my mother in False
creek, in Vancouver, BC, Canada until his death at the age of 91. I was
fortunate to have met him one evening at his home some months ago. I only met
him the one time, for about half an hour. Unfortunately it was only the one
time, but fortunately I did get to meet him.
My mother and
I attended his memorial service on 2002 August 13.
My memories of Mr. Goranson:
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After September 11, 2002, he displayed the US and Canadian flags hung
vertically from an upstairs window.
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He continued to paint and his home was filled with art. Over his
fireplace hung a large painting he had done of Caen (or a similar town in
Normandy). It showed the devastation and Canadian or British soldiers on the
streets. [Update 2002 Aug 24 - His widow told me that it was his last
military painting, painted in 1999. It was called "The Twilight".
After that he only did a few family paintings as a large one such as this
could take him a whole year to do given his advanced age.]
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He was not impressed with Jack Shadbolt as a "war artist" as
Mr. Shadbolt had
worked mainly in Canada and rear areas, whereas Paul Goranson had sought out
the combat areas.
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He was already 90 or 91 when I met him. He was old and frail, but was
still full of spirit. He was kind enough to show me an album of his original
sketches he had done of various RCAF personnel etc.
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One image caught my eye
- it is my favorite. It was a well known drawing of a waist-gunner in a
Wellington bomber. I have seen it reproduced in "A NATION FORGED
IN FIRE" by Granatstein and Morton.
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One of his paintings in the hallway depicted a hotel and an elevated street railway,
the "EL" in Chicago I believe.
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I wanted to meet with Mr. Goranson again and to introduce him to an artist
co-worker, but unfortunately Mr. Goranson had just died a few days earlier. My
mother and I attended the memorial service on August 13, and I wore my Air Force
uniform in honour of Flight Lieutenant Goranson.
Flight Lieutenant Goranson was twice recommended for bravery awards, but
officials higher up refused. He was a true "combat war
artist".
"Marshalling of the Hallies"
Paul Goranson kindly autographed this image in my copy of CANVAS OF
WAR.
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Paul Goranson's Obituary in the Vancouver PROVINCE newspaper, 2002
August 11.
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Cover of "In Loving Memory - Paul Alexander Goranson April 27, 1911
- August 3, 2002" booklet from his memorial service.
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Poem "High Flight"
(I cropped the white border when scanning this)
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Brief story of Paul Goranson's life.
(I cropped the white border when scanning this)
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Montage of photos of Paul Goranson with family and friends.
(2-page centre spread)
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Paul Goranson as a young artist, and as a war artist in North Africa in
1943.
(I cropped the white border when scanning these)
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Paul Goranson's "backyard". He lived on False Creek in
Vancouver, BC and is shown here just a few feet from his home.
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Cover of his memorial service program.
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Memorial service program page 2.
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Memorial service program page 3
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Memorial program - rear cover.
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"We build not temples unto our martyrs as unto gods, but
memorials unto dead men whose spirits with GOD are still
living."
The church was built in the late 1940s as a memorial to the war dead,
and there is a beautiful huge arched war memorial stained glass
depicting male and female service members of the RCN, Merchant Navy,
Canadian Army, and RCAF and Nursing Sisters.
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A souvenir booklet about "PAUL ALEXANDER GORANSON by RCAF
historian Hugh A. Halliday was also given out. This summaries Mr.
Goranson's life and RCAF career.
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Page 1 of Hugh Halliday's booklet.
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For copyright reasons I won't reproduce it all here, but
here are some highlights:
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1929-1932 - Member B. C. Hussars. (British Columbia Hussars, a unit
in the Canadian Militia)
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1941 Dec. enlisted in RCAF as an NCO War Artist
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1942 Feb - to gander, Newfoundland
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1942 June-July RCAF Station Mountain View
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1943 Feb 26 - Promoted to Pilot Officer (Flying Officer?). later
promoted to Flight Lieutenant.
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1943 Mar 1 - Embarked on SS Tucurinca in Convoy HX 228 (Halifax
convoy # 228). His ship was sunk by German submarine U-221 on 10/11
March. The sea battle raged around them and they were picked up
later in lifeboat. Reached UK Mar 15.
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1943 Apr to Middleton St. George sketching Wellington and Halifax
bombers. He flew on some training missions and apparently on an
operation to Dutch Coast.
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1943 Aug to North Africa. 331 Wing. No. 424 and 425 Sqns
(Wellingtons)
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1944 Jan - North Africa No. 417 Sqn. Spitfires.
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1944 Summer - Normandy with 2 Tactical Air Force. On 1945 Jan
1, he was at Eindhoven when the Luftwaffe made its surprise
raid.
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Recommended for the MBE (Member of the British Empire). Not
approved. Recommended for an award a second time in 1946, but again
turned down - without explanation.
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1945 March - Back to London to work up his sketches into oils.
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1947 Sept. - Finally discharged and returned home.
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His memorial booklet says that from 1966 - 1986 he designed sets for
the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York. He retired in 1986 and
moved back to Vancouver.
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Since this page was created 2002 August 14: 
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"Marshalling of the Hallies"
Paul Goranson kindly autographed this image in my copy of CANVAS OF
WAR.
Paul Goranson's Obituary in the Vancouver PROVINCE newspaper, 2002
August 11.
Cover of "In Loving Memory - Paul Alexander Goranson April 27, 1911
- August 3, 2002" booklet from his memorial service.
Poem "High Flight"
(I cropped the white border when scanning this)
Brief story of Paul Goranson's life.
(I cropped the white border when scanning this)
Montage of photos of Paul Goranson with family and friends.
(2-page centre spread)
Paul Goranson's "backyard". He lived on False Creek in
Vancouver, BC and is shown here just a few feet from his home.
Cover of his memorial service program.
Memorial service program page 2.
Memorial service program page 3
Memorial program - rear cover.
Page 1 of Hugh Halliday's booklet.
