Ken Leishman

Kenneth Leishman, known as the "Flying Bandit," was a Canadian criminal active from 1957 to 1966, recognized for orchestrating the largest gold theft in Canadian history. Born on June 20, 1931, in Holland, Manitoba, he had a troubled upbringing and dropped out of school early. Leishman's criminal career began with a bank robbery in Toronto, where he successfully stole $10,000 by posing as a friend of the bank manager. After a failed robbery attempt, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison but was paroled in 1961.

In 1966, he executed the Great Gold Heist, stealing nearly $385,000 in gold bullion from an Air Canada shipment. Leishman and his accomplices used fake uniforms and a stolen truck to carry out the theft. Following the heist, he was arrested but managed to escape from jail and stole an aircraft, further solidifying his reputation.

After serving time, he moved to Red Lake, Ontario, where he lived as a model citizen until his death. On December 14, 1979, while piloting a Mercy Flight, his plane crashed near Thunder Bay. The wreckage was found in 1980, but Leishman's remains were never conclusively identified. His life inspired various cultural works, including documentaries and plays, portraying him as a Robin Hood-like figure.