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Fleming, Mervyn Matthew

Date of birth:
December 23rd, 1914 (Ottawa/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:
1990
Service number:
39975, Reserve of Air Force Officers
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Promotions:
?: Pilot Officer;
December 31st, 1939: Flying Officer;
December 31st, 1940: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.);
May 31st, 1941: Flight Lieutenant;
March 1st, 1942: temporary Squadron Leader;
December 8th, 1942: Squadron Leader (war subs.);
?: Acting Wing Commander.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flying Officer
Unit:
No. 58 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
January 17th, 1941
Recommendation:
"This officer completed 27 trips with over 200 operational hours to his credit. He set a fine example to his squadron as an unspectacular but most reliable captain. I have flown with Flight Lieutenant Fleming and was very impressed by the time and pains he spent in making sure that he identified his target. On one flight his second pilot lost control in cloud and in righting his aircraft the ailerons were completely stripped of all fabric. Flight Lieutenant Fleming returned and landed safely. On another occasion he took off a fully loaded aircraft at night when, through no fault of his own, the pilot [sic, 'pitot'] head cover had not been removed. Flight Lieutenant Fleming landed, removed the obstruction and resumed his sortie. In addition to this example of steady valuable flying this officer was in charge squadron navigation and in this capacity rendered valuable service to the other crews. I consider his activities well merit the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

To the above, the Commanding Officer of Station Linton-on-Ouse adds (25 November 1940):

Flight Lieutenant Fleming has just those qualities of dogged perseverance and imperturbability that go to make the ideal heavy bomber pilot. I consider his long spell of operational work is well worthy of recognition."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Wing Commander
Unit:
No. 419 (Moose) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:
November 30th, 1943
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Citation:
"Wing Commander Fleming has displayed outstanding skill, courage and devotion to duty. He has undertaken a large number of sorties during which he has attacked many important targets with success. Wing Commander Fleming is an ideal leader, whose example has contributed materially to the operational efficiency of the squadron he commands."

Sources

  • - The London Gazette of 9th January 1940, Issue 34769
    - The London Gazette of 17th January 1941, Issue 35045
    - The London Gazette of 14th March 1941, Issue 35106
    - The London Gazette of 27th March 1942, Issue 35503
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 18th May 1943, Issue 36022, dated 21st May 1943
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th November 1943, Issue 36267, dated 30th November 1943
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th April 1944, Issue 36462, dated 11th April 1944
    - Air Force Association of Canada

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