Fauquier, John Emilius

Date of birth:: March 19th, 1919 (Ottawa/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: April 3rd, 1981 (Toronto/Ontario, Canada)
Service number:: C.1399
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

John Fauquier was educated at Ashbury College. He considered a career in medicine, but on graduation he left home for Montreal. There he became a successful St. James Street bond salesman and moved in the fashionable social circles. But restless and full of energy as he was, he sought a more exciting life in the cars and motorcycles of the 1920's. He then joined the Montreal Light Aeroplane Club and discovered that he was a natural pilot. It so appealed to him that he decided on a dramatic career move and set up a small airline called Commercial Airways operating from a lake at Noranda, Quebec. He started his airline with a Waco and a Fairchild. By 1939 he had logged over 300,000 miles in the air.
On Nov. 1, 1939 he enlisted in the RCAF after the government had sent a notice to all commercial pilots informing them that they would receive an immediate commission. As a Flight Lieutenant his first assignment was to take the instructors course at Camp Borden and Trenton. The RCAF used it's experienced ex-commercial pilots in training other men to form the first wave of Canadians to fight in the air over Britain. In 1943, Fauquier was promoted to Group Captain of No. 405 Squadron, the Pathfinder Squadron. He took part in many bombing raids including the epic raid on Peenemunde, Germany, during which he made 17 passes. He would be eventually promoted to Air Commodore, but declined so that he could continue to fly missions. Following the war John Fauquier was reinstated to the rank of Air Commodore and was retired. He did some promotional work for the RCAF, but it wasn't long before he and his wife settled in Toronto. There he worked until his second retirement running a large concrete firm.
He was burried at Beechwood Cemetery Ottawa, Ontario.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Wing Commander
Unit:: No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:: August 4th, 1942

Citation:
"Throughout the many sorties in which he has participated this officer has displayed the highest quality of courage and leadership. His ability and grim determination to inflict the maximum damage on the enemy have won the admiration of the squadron he commands. Wing Commander Fauquier took part in the two raids on Essen when a thousand of our aircraft operated each time. He is an exceptional leader."

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Wing Commander
Unit:: No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:: September 17th, 1941

Citation:
"This officer is a first class leader whose skilful and courageous example has proved most inspiring. His sterling qualities were well illustrated during an operation against Peenemunde on the night of I7th August, 1943, and again a few nights later in an attack against Berlin. Wing Commander Fauquier has'displayed boundless energy and great drive and has contributed, in a large measure to the high standard of operational efficiency of the squadron he commands."

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Group Captain
Unit:: No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:: March 31st, 1944

Citation:
"This officer has commanded the squadron with notable success during the past nine months. He has frequently taken part in sorties against distant and well defended targets, including several attacks on the German capital. He is a forceful and gallant leader, whose outstanding ability and unswerving devotion to duty have been reflected in the fine operational work performed by the whole squadron. Group Captain Fauquier has set an example of the highest order."

Second DSO awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Air Commodore
Unit:: Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1945

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Group Captain
Unit:: No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: June 1st, 1945

Citation:
"Since assuming command of the squadron in December, 1944, this officer has taken part in almost all the sorties to which the formation has been committed. Early in February, 1945, Group Captain Fauquier led the Squadron in an attack on the U-boat pens at Poortershaven. Photographs obtained showed that the bombing was accurate and concentrated. Since then, this officer has participated in a number of sorties during which the railway viaduct at Bielefeld, a railway bridge over the river Weser at Bremen and a viaduct over a flooded meadow near to Ardbergen bridge were all rendered unusable by the enemy. By his brilliant leadership, undoubted skill and iron determination, this officer played a good part in the successes obtained. He has rendered much loyal and valuable service."

Third DSO awarded as second bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.

Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo 1: lessignets.com
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35654 published on the 31 July 1942
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36175 published on the 14 September 1943
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36448 published on the 28 March 1944
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36866 published on the 29 December 1944
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37105 published on the 29 May 1945
- AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947 and Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947
- AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947 and Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947
- The Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum
- The Art of Miles Constable
- RootsWeb