The courageous, historic story of a great fighting ship of the Second World War.
White Ensign Flying tells the story of HMCS Trentonian, a Canadian corvette that fought U-Boats in the Second World War. Trentonian escorted convoys on the North Atlantic and through the deadly waters near England and France. The ship was attacked by the Americans in a friendly-fire incident during Operation Neptune and later earned the dubious distinction of being the last corvette sunk by the enemy.
Litwiller has interviewed many of the men who served in Trentonian and collected their stories. Their unique personal perspectives are combined with the official record of the ship, giving an intimate insight into the life of a sailor — from the tedium of daily life in a ship at sea to the terror of fighting for your life in a sinking ship.
Over one hundred photos from the private collections of the crew and military archives bring the story of Trentonian to life, illustrating this testament to the ship and the men who served in it.

Roger’s interest in Canada’s Navy began as a Sea Cadet in his hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. He later became an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and the Navy League of Canada. Educated in Emergency Medical Services, Roger has served the Quinte Region of Ontario since 1982 as a decorated Paramedic. His other interests include public speaking and photographic artistry. Roger resides near Trenton with his wife Rhonda and their six children.

Roger Litwiller's profile page

It takes unedited quotations from participants and those outsiders associated with these ships, recorded thoughts and comments at the time by crew, to bring the story alive with people.

Starshell Magazine

Along with using the official records of the ship, the author has interviewed many of the men who served in Trentonian who each have a unique personal perspective. Photographs from the private collections of the crew and military archives bring the book to life, illustrating this testament to the ship and the men who served in it.

SeaBreezes Magazine

Roger Litwiller’s White Ensign Flying, a scholarly but highly readable account of a Royal Canadian Navy corvette with a short and eventful career, is ship biography at its best

Litwiller’s skill as a story-teller makes the reader feel like a member of the Trentonian crew from the time of its launch at Kingston harbor on Sept. 1, 1943 until its torpedoing by the German submarine, U-1004.

Maritime Engineering Journal