John Frederick "Mac" McElroy

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R.C.A.F. Aces Have Big Scores

Ottawa, Nov. 14. - (CP) - R.C.A.F. headquarters said last night that Flight,-Lieut. Henry W. McLeod of Regina, a flying mate of PO. George Beurling, has shot down 12 enemy planes over Malta to October 26 and was unofficially credited with 15 "probables." McLeod, headquarters said, is believed to have destroyed another enemy plane since October 26, while F.O. J. F. McElroy, of Kamloops, B.C., is unofficially credited with shooting down five planes to October 19. McElroy was born at Port Arthur, Ont. He and McLeod are members of the R.C.A.F., and Beurling is serving with the R.A.F.

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McELROY, P/O John Frederick (J7230) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.249 Sq.
Award effective 19 October 1942 as per London Gazette dated 3 November 1942 and
AFRO 1830/42 dated 13 November 1942

During recent fighting over Malta this officer displayed great courage and outstanding determination to destroy the enemy. On October 12th, 1942, during an interception, he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 and then pursued a Junkers 88. Six enemy fighters were in close proximity and Flying Officer McElroy turned towards them and destroyed one before they broke off the fight. Three days later his section attacked a formation of Junkers 88s and Flying Officer McElroy probably destroyed one of them. On another occasion when one of his comrades was shot down in the sea, Flying Officer McElroy guided a rescue launch to the spot, in spite of the presence of enemy fighters. This officer who has completed many reconnaissances and destroyed five enemy aircraft has displayed inspiring leadership.

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McELROY, F/L John Frederick, DFC (J7230) - Bar to DFC - No.421 Squadron
Award effective 4 August 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2052/44 dated 22 September 1944.

This officer continues to display the finest qualities of courage and determination in air operations. In June 1944 he flew the leading aircraft of a formation which engaged a force of more than thirty enemy fighters, nine of which were shot down. Although his aircraft sustained severe damage, Flight Lieutenant McElroy made a safe landing at an airfield. In this engagement he displayed leadership of a high order.

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RCAF Shoots Down 26 Enemy Planes
in Normandy Between Dawn and Dusk

By P.O. H. R. McDONALD, A Canadian Airfield in France,
June 29 (CP). — Canadian fighter planes, in one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the R.C.A.F., shot down 26 out of a total of 34 enemy aircraft destroyed over the Normandy front between dawn and dusk yesterday.
In addition, R.C.A.F. pilots chalked up a number of enemy planes probab1y shot down and a number of others which were damaged.
Four pilots scored double kills. They were Wing Cmdr. J.E. (Johnny) Johnson, English – born commander of a Canadian fighter wing operating from an R.C.A.F. base in Normandy, and Flt, Lts. H.C. Trainor, Charlottetown; W. T. Klersy, 14 Harcroft Rd., Toronto, and R. K. Hayward. St. John's, Nfld.
Destroys Two, Damages Third.
Hayward destroyed two FW-190's and damaged a third, which gave him the highest R.C.A.F. individual score of the day. Earlier reports indicated the Canadian airmen had downed 18 enemy planes in yesterday's daylight operations.
The complete figures were reached by intelligence officers today after a period of aerial operations which exceeded in intensity anything since the Allied Normandy beachhead was opened June 6.
Besides the toll of enemy planes; which included all fighter types, R.C.A.F. pilots also strafed transport on the roads. Final claims on two aircraft are being sifted.
Among the R.C.A.F. Spitfire pilots contributing to the total with one Hun each were: Flt. Lts. Irving Kennedy, Cumberland, Ont.; G.R. Patterson, Kelowna, B.C.; John McElroy, Kamloops, B.C.; Henry Zary, New York; R.M. Stayner, Saskatoon; A.F. Halcrow, Penticton, B.C.; G.W. Johnson, 102 Beechwood Ave., Hamilton, Ont.; D.E. Noonan, 146 Willingdon Ave., Kingston, Ont.; J.P. Rainville, Montreal; and Flying Officers W.J. Banks, Leaside, Ont. and G.H. Farquharson, Corbyville, Ont.
Wing Cmdr. Johnson's score of two brought his total of enemy planes downed to 32, equaling the mark set by Group Capt. A. G. (Sailor) Malan, a South African, now on ground duty.
Among the R.C.A.F. fliers scoring probables were FO. A.C. Brandon, Timmins, Ont.; FO. J.B. O'Sullivan, Vancouver; and PO. J.M. Flood, Hearst, Ont.
Nine Others Damaged.
At least nine others were damaged by fliers of the R.C.A.F.
Of the wings comprising Group Capt, W. (Bill) MacBrien's R.C.A.F. sector, the one led by 22-year-old Wing Cmdr, George Keefer, D.F.C. and Bar, Charlottetown, was high scorer of the day with 13 confirmed victories. Johnson's wing was second with seven, in a close race with a unit led by Wing Cmdr. R.A. Buckham, Vancouver.

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Laurie Nyveen (101squadron.com) was kind enough to send me this info taken from
his copies (acquired while on vacation in Israel) of actual 101 squadron mission debriefs.

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Canadian Aces