Ernest Archibald "Ernie" McNab

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FIRST SCORE FOR THE RCAF

(By SAM ROBERTSON)
London, August 15, 1940 - (CP Cable) - Canada's young aces of the air, a new generation of fliers to follow in the tradition of Bishop, Barker and Brown, are scoring their first successes of the second Great War.
Squadron Leader Ernest (Ernie) McNab of Regina, commander of a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter formation, went into action today and bagged a German Dornier bombing plane.
Other Canadians, members of the Royal Air Force, have already distinguished themselves and won coveted decorations, but Squadron Leader McNab is the first member of the R.C.A.F. to take to the skies against the Germans in this war.
Soon, possibly within two weeks, the Canadians will go into action as a unit, taking their place beside the gallant Royal Air Force in repelling the Nazi air armadas.
The young squadron leader put the guns of his Hurricane fighter into play when the R.A.F. formation with which he was getting "battle experience" sighted a wave of twin-engined Dorniers. The Hurricanes were patrolling the Thames Estuary, water gateway to London.
From a member of the sky patrol The Canadian Press learned McNab, son of Lieutenant-Governor A. P. McNab of Saskatchewan, bagged his bird this way:
He singled out one of the massive raiders and managed to stay on his tail despite the Nazi pilot's frantic efforts to roll and corkscrew to safety. When the raider steadied for a moment, the Canadian was able to get home with a short burst of machine-gun fire.
After another brief spot of hound-and-hare maneuvering, a second blast by the scrappy Regina flier gave the Dornier what airmen call a "pain in his belly." The raider spiraled away to earth, and crashed in a marshland.
While all members of the Canadian formation are experienced pilots, none of them except McNab has had his baptism in aerial warfare. They will be given the "feel" of combat flying by going out in twos and threes with battle-tested British squadrons.

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McNab Gets First Kill During First Fight

(By ANDREW W. HAMILTON, Staff Writer, The Globe and Mail)
Those who know Squadron Leader Ernest McNab will not be at all surprised to learn that to him has fallen the distinction of being the first member of the Royal Canadian Air Force to bag a Nazi bomber. Something like this was confidently expected by both his civilian and air force friends. McNab is just that kind of a fellow.
He did it yesterday afternoon when German raiders were swarming dangerously close to London. First of the Canadian force to go into action, first to down an enemy plane, his itching trigger finger proved its accuracy on his first combat flight.
Itching to be in the fight properly describes McNab's emotions since the day war was declared. It is not that he is a blood-thirsty sort of chap. Far from it, in fact, is this descendant of the Laird of Ottawa Valley fame, but the way he put it to this reporter at an East coast air station last December was that if anybody should be called upon to do any fighting for Canada his number should come up first.
Pee-Wee, as he is sometimes affectionately called by his friends, joined the air force as an undergraduate in engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Since that spring back in the late 20's the air force has been his life, and so he reasoned last fall that, now war had come, he should be given a chance to "do a small job."
Probably it was with these words that he reported his feat of yesterday. A modest individual at all times, he said he was up with a Royal Air Force formation to gain "battle experience" before leading his own Hurricane fighters into combat. McNab always did like to gain his experience the hard way.
But McNab really didn't have to worry about his number turning up. He was marked as a scrapper since the day he socked a playmate on the jaw for making fun of the kilt his parents required him to wear to Sunday School, his parents being Hon. and Mrs. Archibald P. McNab. Mr. McNab is the present Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan.
Short and chubby, McNab gained a reputation of being able to take care of himself in the boxing ring at university, having several times been selected for Saskatchewan's team in intercollegiate competition. His ability to take out his man on the football field must have served him well when the squadron he was with yesterday came upon a fleet of German Dorniers.
He was still a marked man when he entered the Air Force. They put him in a fighter and left him there. Year after year he would see his pals of the force being assigned to much more comfortable and safer types of machines, but McNab remained in the cockpit of a fighter and it almost seemed that they were forever trying to find a faster machine for him to fly.
People of Toronto, of all Canada for that matter, will remember the flying circus that crossed the Dominion some seven or eight sears ago. McNab was piloting one of the three Siskins in the flight and he and his two comrades won for themselves the title of the "Three Musketeers." Siskins were about the last word in aircraft in those days.
Flew in C.N.E. Show
Last year McNab was chosen to give a solo demonstration at the Canadian National exhibition of what Canada's latest fighting machine, the Hurricane, could do. That was just a few days before war was declared, and from Toronto he went almost directly to Dartmouth Station, across the Bay from Halifax, to take command of No. 1 Fighter Squadron, which he took overseas not so many weeks ago.
When McNab went into action yesterday he was not fighting in entirely unfamiliar territory. For two years he was attached to the Royal Air Force, and this reporter can testify to the reputation he established while there. It was during the week of the Coronation, in 1937, and McNab was stationed a short distance out of London.
Though he had hardly time to get settled after his arrival, he was selected one Saturday afternoon to put on a show for some visitors from the Empire and it happened to be our lot to be invited down to spend the weekend with him. The spectators were not disappointed with his performance. They called the fire engines out when he brought his machine so close to the ground that a crash seemed inevitable. McNab loved to give people thrills.
Funny part of it all is that whenever there was a show to be put on McNab was elected. He was sure to give the people what they wanted. But, he had anything but a reputation for being reckless in the air. From the very beginning he was known as a careful flier, and from results achieved it seems that he must have drawn a very careful bead on that Dornier and its crew of four yesterday.

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Group of Canadians Goes Into Action First Time as Unit
LOSE NO PLANES

(By HAROLD FAIR)
London, Aug. 25 (CP Cable) Roaring into action together as a unit for the first time the first Royal Canadian Air Force fighter squadron to reach England proved itself Saturday by downing two German bombers.
A brief Air Ministry news service bulletin said: "The first Royal Canadian fighter squadron to reach England went into action yesterday for the first time. Flying their Canadian-built Hurricanes, the pilots yesterday afternoon shot down two Dornier bombers."
No further details were given out for the moment.
It was understood that neither of the raiders was downed by Squadron Leader Ernest McNab, Commander of an R.C.A.F. fighter formation, who drew first blood for Canada in the air Aug. 15. He shot down a Dornier while he was with a British patrol guarding the Thames estuary.
Individual R.C.A.F. members like McNab have served with British squadrons, but today was the first time the Canadian squadron, operating as a unit, took to Britain's skies to engage the enemy.
The first R.C.A.F. fighter squadron to be detailed for active service overseas was inspected at Ottawa by Hon. C. G. Power early in June on the eve of embarkation. Power, Minister of National Defense for Air, assured the unit of the fullest support of the Canadian Government
Spokesmen of the unit at that time expressed themselves as "thoroughly satisfied" with the opportunity they were being given to emulate the exploits of the Canadian aces who distinguished themselves in the Royal Flying Corps in the First Great War.
Mascots of the unit, "Goebbels," a fighting cock which is "always crowing, like the German propaganda chief," and "Unity" were crated and sent along with the squadron. With the baggage was also a large quantity of assorted musical instruments, indicative of the varied talents of the fliers.

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Royal Canadian Air Force and Squadron of Czechs
Hit Back at Invading Foe

London, Aug. 27.— (CP Cable)—One and possibly two Nazi raiders were downed Monday by the squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force as it went into action as a unit for the second time since Saturday.
Four Germans Bail Out
The Royal Canadian Air Force fighters engaged a formation of Dornier bombers above the clouds. After the attack they saw a four-man German crew bail out of one, while another big plane dived out of control through the clouds.
The Canadians, led by Squadron-Ldr. Ernest McNab, of Regina, went into action when the second of three waves of German bombers and fighters was thrown against England. A new Czech squadron also was among the British forces hitting back at the Nazis.
The second fight in which the Canadians participated occurred in early afternoon and was fought partly above the Thames estuary and partly inland over Essex and Sussex, where the enemy sought to attack an aerodrome.
The battle came after the Germans had attacked a Kentish town and aerodrome at noon, and was followed later by a raid on the Portsmouth area. In these three battles the R.A.F. destroyed at least 37 enemy planes, while nine British pilots were missing.
Squadron-Ldr. McNab, son of Lieutenant-Governor A. P. McNab, of Saskatchewan, was the first member of the R.C.A.F. to get into action. Flying with a British formation, he shot down a Dornier bomber on his first combat flight August 15.
To Play Mighty Role
London, Eng., Aug. 27 — Canada is destined to play a bigger and bigger part in this war as it passes into the final phase of the greatest struggle ever known for the preservation of world-wide democracy against those who would overthrow it.
Her troops will not be retained indefinitely in Britain, but when Hitler's aerial blitzkrieg is defeated and his chance of sea invasion dwindles to nothing, they will be held ready for service in other theatres of war outside these islands, just as Australians and New Zealanders are held for the defence of the Middle East.
Not only so, but developments in the great air training scheme in the Dominion, combined with those of lesser extent already effective in South Africa, Australia and Rhodesia, will next year enable aerial bombardments of Germany to take place on a scale far beyond anything at present possible.
Politically, too, Canada's standing in the Empire as seen from the London angle has been enhanced by defence negotiations between Ottawa and Washington. It was Premier Churchill's own idea to offer the use of facilities for defensive bases on the western side of the Atlantic to the United States. He did it at the moment when most Americans, seeing defeat of France within three terrible weeks, could not understand how half-prepared Britain, suffering from losses at Dunkirk, could take on Germany single-handed.
To reassure Washington doubters, and as a gesture of good-will, Churchill offered leases of British territory as a free gift without expecting anything in return. It was one of the most remarkable actions in history between two English-speaking countries. There was no question of sale of much wanted American destroyers connected with the gift nor was mention ever made of the British war debt to the United States.
Whether the United States government, in gratitude for Britain's generosity, will reciprocate in any way is regarded here as purely a matter for itself alone. So far Britain has paid full price for every cargo of war supplies reaching her from across the Atlantic, and even for enlargement of United States aeroplane factories to which she has given contracts for war machines. Not until 1942 will the United States war production become really important in the war effort of the British Commonwealth

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Cobourg Pilot Killed in Air, First Battle Loss in R.C.A.F. Cobourg, August 29, 1940 (Special) — Pilot Officer Robert Edwards of Cobourg was killed in an aerial battle the third day after the Royal Canadian Air Force went into action as a unit in England, it was revealed here today in a telegram from Ottawa. Pilot Officer Edwards is believed to be the first casualty of the RCAF overseas force.
Last Saturday the R.C.A.F. squadron engaged German fighters for the first time, and bagged two big Dorniers. They were flying Canadian-built Hurricane fighters. The authorities at Ottawa informed Mrs.R.L. Edwards that her son had been killed in action on Monday.There have been several casualties among the Canadians who are serving in the Royal Air Force, but this was the first time a Canadian had met death while fighting in an R.C.A.F. unit. Pilot Officer Edwards was 28, a graduate of Cobourg Collegiate, Albert
College and Victoria University. He was born in Roseneath, Ont. Edwards joined the R.C.A.F. at Trenton two years ago and went overseas this spring. Besides his mother, he is survived by his widow, Ruth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Brownley of Toronto. They were married last November.

Dominion Airmen Increase Bag of German Planes
To At Least Twelve After Week of Action,

Forty-Two Was Official Count of Nazi Machines
Downed During Today's Fighting,

Thud of Bombs Is Heard in Center of London
As Dogfights Wage Overhead

London, August 30, 1940 — (CP) — The fourth of the day's air raid warnings was sounded tonight in London. The 1st Fighter Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force was reported tonight to have fought a bitter battle with a large force of raiders miles over a London suburb today, and to have increased its bag of German planes to at least 12 after a week in action.
The Canadian aviators, commanded by Sqdn.-Ldr. Ernest McNab, of Regina, are said to have sailed into action when the Nazis attempted to strike at a factory located only a few minutes as a hurricane flies from their air base.
Hot Dogfights
Bomber formations were quickly broken up in a hot series of dogfights which started so high in the sky that the planes looked like tiny moths as they rolled and dived in life-and-death struggle.
The number of casualties inflicted was not determined immediately, but it was understood three German bombers crashed within a few miles of the suburb.
Flying made-in-Canada planes, the Canadians made their maiden flight against the enemy August 24, when McNab, shot down two planes.
It is not known how many times their Hurricanes have been flown against the Germans since then, but it is learned reliably that five more raiders had been definitely added to their "kill" up to yesterday.
Bombs Heard in Capital
London's third air raid warning of the day sounded late this afternoon as waves of Nazi aircraft roared over southeast England—the United Kingdom's air front line—in a series of thrusts at the metropolitan area.
Fighters engaged hostile planes over the London area in the third raid. Dogfights developed and bombs were dropped. The sound of enemy machines and the faint thud of bombs were audible in the center of the capital.
The ministry of information announced tonight that in the day's operations over Britain 42 German aircraft were brought down. Ten British machines were lost.
A formation of 20 bombers flying at great height was broken up by a swarm of British fighters during the hour-long raid. One was sent spinning to earth with smoke pouring from its tail and two others were forced from the formation and flew from sight with fighters following close behind.
The Luftwaffe's bombers unloaded their bombs in earlier attacks aimed at aerodromes in the vicinity of the metropolis and the home counties. The sky battles were fought at tremendous heights both morning and afternoon over various parts of the southeastern front line.
The thud of bombs was heard in suburban sections during the first raid. The second, lasting less than 20 minutes, sounded when the raiders again approached the capital. Fighters intercepted and chased them off.

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McNAB, S/L Ernest Archibald (C134) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.1 (C) Sq
Award effective 22 October 1940 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 867/40 dated 15 November 1940.

Squadron Leader McNab has led his squadron with great success. At least twenty-three enemy aircraft have been destroyed by the squadron. This officer has destroyed four of these.

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McNAB, G/C Ernest Archibald, DFC (C134) - Officer, Order of the British Empire
Western Air Command Headquarters
Award effective 13 June 1946 as per Canada Gazette of that date and
AFRO 660/46 dated 5 July 1946. See DFC for biographical details.

This officer proceeded overseas as the Commanding Officer of Canada's first fighter squadron in 1940. He commanded and led his squadron in the air during the Battle of Britain and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his gallantry. His efforts during this period did much to enhance the prestige of Canadians in England. After returning to Canada for a short period he again proceeded overseas where he commanded the Station and fighter sector at Digby. The operations which he directed and controlled whilst sector commander were instrumental in advancing the Allied cause to a very marked degree. His fine personal example, cheerful disposition and calm judgement were at all times an inspiration to those under him. On his return to Canada he was posted as Senior Air Staff Officer to Western Air Command where he has continued to discharge his responsibilities with the same high purpose which characterized his efforts overseas.

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McNAB, G/C Ernest Archibald (C134) - War Cross, 1939 (Czechoslovakia)
Northwest Air Command Headquarters (Edmonton)
Canada Gazette dated 24 January 1948
AFRO 81/48 dated 6 February 1948.

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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