Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Warrant Officer

Unit:

No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1943

Citation:
"This Warrant Officer has successfully completed a large number of operational sorties. He has taken part in attacks against Tripoli, Naples, Catania, Benghazi and other targets in the Middle East and North Africa. He has also attacked some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. On four occasions his aircraft has been attacked by night fighters and each time he has successfully directed his captain's evasive action. During these combats he has destroyed at least two enemy aircraft. Over long period has set splendid example of courage, determination and devotion to duty."

Recommendation (undated) states he had flown 47 ½ sorties but could not give total hours as his logbook had been destroyed by enemy action on his first tour. He had flown 45 sorties with No.104 Squadron, commencing with a raid on Cologne (30 July 1941). In all he flew twelve trips in Bomber Command (on six of which the aircraft was damaged). He went to Egypt in mid-October 1941 and commenced operations in North Africa on 19 October 1941; his last recorded sortie in that theatre was 20 November 1942, although a certificate from the Commanding Officer of No.104 stated he had flown nine additional trips for which no record had survived. His second tour had begun on 12 May 1943 (Duisburg) and had to date consisted of three trips (a sea search on 14 June 1943 and Krefeld on 21 June 1943).