Ross, Arthur Dwight
- Date of birth:
- March 18th, 1907 (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada)
- Date of death:
- September 27th, 1981 (Kingston/Ontario, Canada)
- Service number:
- C111
- Nationality:
- Canadian
Biography
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Mentioned in Dispatches
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Group Captain
- Unit:
- RCAF Middleton St. George, Royal Canadian Air Force
- Awarded on:
- January 14th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Group Captain
- Unit:
- RCAF Middleton St. George, Royal Canadian Air Force
- Awarded on:
- January 8th, 1944
"Group Captain Ross has served in the Royal Canadian Air Force continuously for 15 ½ years and has held several important commands during the present war. Prior to commanding his present unit he commanded a squadron on ant-submarine and convoy escort duty on the east coast of Canada. Since December 1942 he has commanded the Royal Canadian Air Force Station at Middleton St.George, showing outstanding ability as a leader and an administrator. By his participation in sorties against Lorient, Hamburg and St.Nazaire, he has set a splendid example to all ranks."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Air Commodore
- Unit:
- No. 62 Base "Beaver", Royal Canadian Air Force
- Awarded on:
- October 27th, 1944
St. James's Palace, S.W.1, 27th October, 1944.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards of the GEORGE CROSS, the George Medal and the British Empire Medal (Military Division) to the undermentioned:
Awarded The GEORGE CROSS.
Air Commodore Arthur Dwight Ross, O.B.E., Royal Canadian Air Force.
Awarded the George Medal.
Can/R.96959 Flight Sergeant Joseph Rene Marcel St. Germain, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Can/R.87217 Corporal Maurice Marquet, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division).
Can /R.273581 Leading Aircraftman Melvin Muir McKenzie, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Can/R.188008 Leading Aircraftman Robert Rubin Wolfe, Royal Canadian Air Force.
One night in June, 1944, an aircraft, while attempting to land, crashed into another which was parked in the dispersal area and fully loaded with bombs. The former aircraft had broken into 3 parts and was burning furiously. Air Commodore Ross was at the airfield to attend the return of aircraft from operations and the interrogation of aircrews. Flight Sergeant St. Germain a bomb aimer, had just returned from an operational sortie and Corporal Marquet was in charge of the night ground crew, whilst leading Aircraftmen McKenzie and Wolfe were members of the crew of the crash tender. Air Commodore Ross with the assistance of Corporal Marquet, extricated the pilot who had sustained severe injuries. At that moment ten 500 Ib. bombs in the second aircraft, about 80 yards away, exploded, and this officer and airman were hurled to the ground. When the hail of debris had subsided, cries were heard from the rear turret of the crashed aircraft. Despite further explosions from bombs and petrol tanks which might have occurred, Air Commodore Ross and Corporal Marquet returned to the blazing wreckage and endeavoured in vain to swing the turret to release the rear gunner. Although the port tail plane was blazing furiously, Air Commodore Ross hacked at the perspex with an axe and then handed the axe through the turret to the rear gunner who enlarged the aperture. Taking the axe again the air commodore, assisted now by Flight Sergeant St. Germain as well as by Corporal Marquet, finally broke the perspex steel frame supports and extricated the rear gunner. Another 500 lb. bomb exploded which threw the 3 rescuers to the ground. Flight Sergeant St. Germain quickly rose and threw himself upon a victim in order to shield him from flying debris.
Air Commodore Ross's arm was practically severed between the wrist and elbow by the second explosion. He calmly walked to the ambulance and an emergency amputation was performed on arrival at station sick quarters. Meanwhile, Corporal Marquet had inspected the surroundings, and seeing petrol running down towards two nearby aircraft, directed their removal from the vicinity by tractor. Leading Aircraftmen McKenzie and Wolfe rendered valuable assistance in trying to bring the fire under control and they also helped to extricate the trapped rear gunner both being seriously injured by flying debris. Air Commodore Ross showed fine leadership and great heroism in an action which resulted in the saving of the lives of the pilot and rear gunner. He was ably assisted by Flight Sergeant St. Germain and Corporal Marquet who both displayed courage of a high order. Valuable service was also rendered by Leading Aircraftmen McKenzie and Wolfe in circumstances of great danger.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards of the GEORGE CROSS, the George Medal and the British Empire Medal (Military Division) to the undermentioned:
Awarded The GEORGE CROSS.
Air Commodore Arthur Dwight Ross, O.B.E., Royal Canadian Air Force.
Awarded the George Medal.
Can/R.96959 Flight Sergeant Joseph Rene Marcel St. Germain, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Can/R.87217 Corporal Maurice Marquet, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division).
Can /R.273581 Leading Aircraftman Melvin Muir McKenzie, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Can/R.188008 Leading Aircraftman Robert Rubin Wolfe, Royal Canadian Air Force.
One night in June, 1944, an aircraft, while attempting to land, crashed into another which was parked in the dispersal area and fully loaded with bombs. The former aircraft had broken into 3 parts and was burning furiously. Air Commodore Ross was at the airfield to attend the return of aircraft from operations and the interrogation of aircrews. Flight Sergeant St. Germain a bomb aimer, had just returned from an operational sortie and Corporal Marquet was in charge of the night ground crew, whilst leading Aircraftmen McKenzie and Wolfe were members of the crew of the crash tender. Air Commodore Ross with the assistance of Corporal Marquet, extricated the pilot who had sustained severe injuries. At that moment ten 500 Ib. bombs in the second aircraft, about 80 yards away, exploded, and this officer and airman were hurled to the ground. When the hail of debris had subsided, cries were heard from the rear turret of the crashed aircraft. Despite further explosions from bombs and petrol tanks which might have occurred, Air Commodore Ross and Corporal Marquet returned to the blazing wreckage and endeavoured in vain to swing the turret to release the rear gunner. Although the port tail plane was blazing furiously, Air Commodore Ross hacked at the perspex with an axe and then handed the axe through the turret to the rear gunner who enlarged the aperture. Taking the axe again the air commodore, assisted now by Flight Sergeant St. Germain as well as by Corporal Marquet, finally broke the perspex steel frame supports and extricated the rear gunner. Another 500 lb. bomb exploded which threw the 3 rescuers to the ground. Flight Sergeant St. Germain quickly rose and threw himself upon a victim in order to shield him from flying debris.
Air Commodore Ross's arm was practically severed between the wrist and elbow by the second explosion. He calmly walked to the ambulance and an emergency amputation was performed on arrival at station sick quarters. Meanwhile, Corporal Marquet had inspected the surroundings, and seeing petrol running down towards two nearby aircraft, directed their removal from the vicinity by tractor. Leading Aircraftmen McKenzie and Wolfe rendered valuable assistance in trying to bring the fire under control and they also helped to extricate the trapped rear gunner both being seriously injured by flying debris. Air Commodore Ross showed fine leadership and great heroism in an action which resulted in the saving of the lives of the pilot and rear gunner. He was ably assisted by Flight Sergeant St. Germain and Corporal Marquet who both displayed courage of a high order. Valuable service was also rendered by Leading Aircraftmen McKenzie and Wolfe in circumstances of great danger.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Air Commodore
- Unit:
- RCAF Staff College, Royal Canadian Air Force
- Awarded on:
- June 13th, 1946
Citation:
"Air Commodore Ross has given many years of loyal service to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He has been entrusted with a number of important commands during the war, including an operational squadron, Service Flying Training School, Operational Station and, finally, an Operational Base in the United Kingdom. He has always been devoted to the service and has displayed those qualities of leadership and courage which have been an inspiration to his colleagues and those serving under his command. His integrity, sound judgement and energy have made a splendid contribution to the war effort. In 1945 he was selected as Commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Force Staff College in which capacity he wields a valuable influence on the careers of those officers under training upon whom the future of the service will largely depend."
"Air Commodore Ross has given many years of loyal service to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He has been entrusted with a number of important commands during the war, including an operational squadron, Service Flying Training School, Operational Station and, finally, an Operational Base in the United Kingdom. He has always been devoted to the service and has displayed those qualities of leadership and courage which have been an inspiration to his colleagues and those serving under his command. His integrity, sound judgement and energy have made a splendid contribution to the war effort. In 1945 he was selected as Commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Force Staff College in which capacity he wields a valuable influence on the careers of those officers under training upon whom the future of the service will largely depend."
Sources
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