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15 From Toronto Graduate
Camp Borden, Sept. 14, 1941 (Special) — Under a
cloudless sky and with a large number of relatives and friends in attendance,
members of the latest class of student pilots to graduate from No. 1 Service
Flying Training School, R.C.A.F., Camp, Borden, received their wings at
an interesting ceremony in the hangar area Saturday evening and were promoted
from leading aircraftmen to sergeant pilots.
The class was headed by Donald Carl Nasmith, 79 Strathallan Boulevard,
Toronto. Two members of the R.C.A.F. baseball team were among those who
graduated — Henry Lawrence Davis of Ivy and Alvin James Matches,
R.R. 1, Shallow Lake.
The family of one member of the class Sgt. Pilot David Jerome Phelan,
son of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Phelan, 44 Castle Frank Road, Toronto, possesses
a unique record, with five sons and two sons-in-law in uniform. One brother,
Pilot Officer Donald Phelan, was killed in a flying accident at Uplands,
Ottawa, May 5, 1941. Another brother, Flying Officer Paul Phelan, is an
instructor at Camp Borden and was present when his brother received his
wings. Lieut. Darragh Phelan, Irish Regiment, and Corp. Tom Phelan, Royal
Canadian Army Service Corps, are two other brothers in the army, while
Lieut. Bud Deery, R.C.A.S.C., and Lieut. Charles Delahey, Irish Regiment,
are brothers-in-law.
Group Capt. R. S. Grandy, O.B.E., officer commanding the R.C.A.F. station,
who officiated at the presentation of wings, said: "It is again my
privilege to welcome to the air station the relatives and friends of our
personnel, and particularly those of our graduating class. The presence
of so many is not only a great pleasure to all of us, but it is an indication
of the real interest you have in these young men who are being presented
with wings, and the interest you take in the R.C.A.F.
"I wish you good luck."
Among the young aviators who received their wings at the ceremony were
Frederick Alan Aikman, 178 Albertus Avenue, Toronto.
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Born 5 March 1919 in Toronto;
Clerk and ledger keeper there (1936-1940);
served with Queen's Own Rifles (1939-1940, Sergeant);
enlisted in Toronto 6 November 1940.
Trained at No.3 ITS (graduated 22 April 1941),
No.12 EFTS (graduated 24 June 1941), and
No.1 SFTS (graduated 13 September 1941).
Posted overseas 27 September 1941,
arriving 14 October 1941.
Commissioned Oct. 22 1942
No.57 OTU, 11 November 1941.
No.154 Squadron, 6 January 1942
- (although probably not taken on strength until 20 Jan.'42)
Wingman to W/C Paddy Finucane when the latter was KIA.
Moved with that unit to North Africa, January 1943.
Hospitalized 27 July 1943 (malaria).
To Canada, 14 November 1943.
On strength of No.4 Training Command (Calgary), 12 Jan.'44
AFHQ, 21 March 1944;
No.6 OTU (Comox), 12 June '44 for conversion to Dakotas
Left No.6 OTU, 17 September 1944 and
posted overseas on 27 September 1944. With
No.436 Squadron, 14 November 1944 to 23 Sept. 1945
To Canada, 23 November 1945
released 14 December 1945.
Medal sent by registered mail.
A form dated 21 November 1943 credits him with :
50 hours on Finches,
20 on Yales,
80 on Harvards,
two on Master Is,
five on Magisters, and
700 on Spitfires (Mks.I, II, V, VIII and IX)
Time includes :
40 hours at No.57 OTU, and
estimated time on first tour as 400 hours.
Another form gives him :
388 hours 40 minutes on second tour.
An application to be a civilian pilot states that by
August 1945 he had flown 2,500 hours including :
1,000 on Dakotas,
1,100 on Spitfires,
400 on other types (might be exaggerated).
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Toronto Flyer Avenges RAF Ace Finucane Killed Off French
Coast
PO. F. A. Aikman Gets Nazi Machine Gunners After
Million-to-One Shot Fatal
London, July 17, 1942 (Advance)—Wing Cmdr. Brendan (Paddy) Finucane,
RAF ace, credited with destruction of 32 German planes, was killed last
Tuesday in a crash off the French coast after a German machine-gun bullet
disabled his Spitfire, the Air Ministry announced tonight.
It was a "million to one chance" shot which ended the career
of the 22-year-old ace as he was leading his wing during the largest mass
attack yet carried out on German targets in France. The bullet struck
the Spitfire's radiator.
The motor was turning too slowly for Finucane to gain height so he opened
the sliding hood over the cockpit, took off his helmet and attempted to
set his plane down on the sea. The Spitfire "sank like a stone,"
carrying Finucane to his death.
The No. 2 leader of the wing, PO. F. A. Aikman, 23, of Toronto, avenged
the death of the Irish ace in his own ground strafing attack on the German
machine-gun post, set up on a spit of land, Pointe du Touquet, facing
the English Channel from whence the RAF men came.
Aikman said the wing was flying at "naught feet" when it skimmed
across the French coast and that the airmen were almost on the machine-gunners
before Finucane realized it. The machine-gunners opened up with point-blank
fire.
"As I went in," Aikman related, "I took a crack at the
gun post. When the dust settled down a little there was nothing to be
seen on the sand and I guessed my fire blew that post to blazes."
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Four Bombers Downed By F/O Aikman, Toronto
By Ross MUNRO at an R.A.F. Fighter Base
on the Tunisian Front
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Jan. 15, 1943 - (CP) - Flying with
R.A.F. fighter squadrons, Canadian pilots in this forward airdrome
are in action virtually every day as Allied air forces step up their
offensive in Tunisia. .
The Canadians are operating with British, Australian and New Zealand
airmen, taking part in air battles over Northern Tunisia and sometimes
right over Bizerte and Tunis. They are making daylight sweeps along
the enemy lines and having fierce dustups with Axis bombers and
fighters they intercept.
Top Canadian pilot of this base is F/O. Alan F. Aikman of Toronto,
credited with destroying four bombers. Aikman and FO. Allan Turnbull
of Prince Albert, Sask., were in the first squadron landing at Maison
Blanche airdrome in Algiers Nov. 11. Turnbull is credited with the
destruction of one bomber. Both men were with a squadron when it
occupied a forward airdrome several hours ahead of British troops
advancing along the coastal road in the first phase of the Northwest
African campaign. |
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Take Over Airdrome
"We dropped down on the airdrome like a bunch of Commandos and took
the place over," Aikman said. "You should have seen the amazement
of the British colonel when he rushed up with his troops and found Spits
lined up on the field."
On the last lap of the long drive to the front I arrived at this airdrome
just as the Spits were coming in from a sweep over Bizerte and the Canadians
were among the first pilots I saw.
The Canadians here include PO George (Junior) Fenwick, D.F.C., of Toronto,
who has shot down three of the enemy, PO. Howard McMinniman of Fredericton,
N.B., and PO. Eldon McKinley of Calgary, who has been ferrying aircraft
to North Africa and has just been transferred to the Fighter Command.
There are even some Canadians in the ground crews, including LAC. Syd
Roberts of Brantford, Ont., and LAC. Les Liverman, of Westmount, Que.
I have seldom seen pilots as much on top of the world as those at this
base. They have good planes and, although the airdrome is sometimes a
mass of mud and the weather is frequently frightful, they get their kites
into the air and find they can put up a great effort on this front.
"A New Zealand pilot in our squadron shot dawn four Italian bombers
in one patrol," Turnbull said. "He popped them off like Sergeant
York (a United States sniper in the first Great War) and returned to base
with 40 rounds of cannon shells still unused."
Italians "Bloody Fools"
Without being boastful the Canadian and other pilots here feel they have
an edge on the Axis airmen, particularly the Italians who, one pilot said,
"Act like a lot of bloody fools.'"
"When seven or eight Eyties come over they are lucky if one gets
back," he added.
Apart from the mud and other discomforts the Canadians appear to be liking
the campaign. They are living in French and native villages several miles
from the airdrome and some are bunked at requisitioned cafes, police stations
and even a distillery. They all kept telling me they just wanted their
families at home to know they were all right.
Mother Is Pleased
"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed Mrs. F. H. Aikman, mother
of FO. Alan Aikman, when advised by telephone last night at her
home at 178 Albertus Avenue, Toronto, of the outstanding accomplishment
of her son. "It is just lovely to know where he is and what
he has done. This is the first word we have had of him since the
first of December, when we received a letter saying he was somewhere
at sea then. And the only word before then was a letter from England
in September. We will be so proud of Alan." |
Mrs. F.H. Aikman |
FO. Aikman is 23 years old and was educated in North
Toronto Collegiate Institute. He has two sisters, Joan, who is attending
school, and Mrs. M. P. Margesson, who lives at home. His father is on
the staff of the Provincial Savings Bank at Bay and Adelaide Streets.
Hastened to Colors
Mrs. Aikman said her son was employed by the Dominion Bank at the outbreak
of the war and immediately tried to enlist, but it was a year before he
succeeded in entering the R.C.A.F. in November, 1940, as a private. He
trained at Debert, N.S.; Victoriaville, Que.; Goderich, and Camp Borden,
where he received his commission.
FO. Aikman figured in the news before, in July, 1942, as a member of the
squadron of the famed Brendan (Paddy) Finucane, who shot down 33 German
planes before plunging to his death in the English Channel as the result
of a "million-to-one" chance shot from a German machine-gun
post during a mass air assault on Occupied France. Then a pilot officer
and No. 2 leader of the wing, Aikman avenged the Irish ace of the R.A.F.
by smashing the enemy machine-gun post.
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Local Flyer, Bill Olmsted, One of Canadians
Who Are Doing a Good job in Tunisia
Increasing Number From Canada Seeing Action on Desert Front
(By Ross Munro, Canadian Press War Correspondent)
With the RAF in North Africa, Feb. 25 – (CP Cable) – An increasing
number of Canadian fighter pilots are in action on the Tunisian front
and squadron leader Jimmy Walker of Edmonton,
now commands a Spitfire squadron, the first Canadian-led RAF squadron
in North Africa.
Walker has just been awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross.
His citation reads: “This officer has destroyed four enemy aircraft
and damaged four others since his arrival in North Africa. His untiring
efforts and leadership merit the highest praise. His example has been
an inspiration to other pilots in his wing and has contributed greatly
to the wing success in the air.”
Flying with Walker at different times during the campaign have been several
other Canadians who have been knocking off enemy aircraft.
Toronto Man Promoted
Alan Aikman, of Toronto, has been promoted from the rank of flying officer
to that of flight lieutenant and he now is leading a flight of Spitfires.
Aikman flew No. 2 to the famous Irishman, Paddy Finucane,
and was with him the day he was shot down off the French coast by anti-aircraft
fire. The Torontonian has a score of five enemy planes destroyed in North
Africa. Recently he shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 in an air fight over the
Mediterranean. The German plane crashed on the shore.
Aikman said Spitfires have been doing a large number of sweeps recently
to harry the Germans on the northern sector of the front. "The Jerries
don't seem to want to mix it up with us," he said, "Sometimes
we get a dozen or 15 in the sky but they sheer off when we get in at them.
So life is a little dull at times these days."
Another high-scoring Canadian is P.O. Harry (Junior) Fenwick,
of Leamington, Ont., who has destroyed five of the enemy and damaged five
more, besides having a probable to his credit. He wears the ribbon of
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flying in the same squadron as Fenwick are six other Canadians: Sgt. Louis
Hamilin, Sgt. Donald Rathwell, and P.O. Calvin (Pep) Peppler, all of Winnipeg;
Flt.-Sgt. Douglas Husband, of Toronto; F.O.
Bill Olmsted, of Hamilton, Ont., and Sgt. John
Olsen, of Kirkland Lake, Ont.
With another squadron that flies on sweeps with Fenwick and his crowd
are P.O. Jim Woodill, of Halifax, Flt.-Lieut. Glen Lynes, of Montreal,
who has just been promoted from the rank of pilot officer and leading
a flight like Aikman; P.O. C. F. Sorenson, a Dane from Toronto, and P.O.
Howard McMinninam, of Frederickton.
Flying with still another R.A.F squadron that included a half-dozen Canadians
is F.O. R. W. Robertson, of Sydney, N.S., who has been through a couple
of recent scraps over Tunisia. On a dawn patrol he ran into seven Nazi
fighters and engaged them immediately. He took on three at first and headed
straight at them. At less than 100 yards he squirted lead at one and saw
it break away and dive for the ground, riddled with bullets. Troops on
the ground saw it crash and Robertson got the credit for destroying it.
He was not finished, though. He chased after the rest and damaged two
before returning to his base in time for breakfast. Robertson flies a
Spitfire with the name Bluenose painted on its nose. He has done almost
150 operational hours as a fighter pilot. .
A great friend of a large number of Canadian pilots out here is Flt-Sgt.
Tony Jonsson, the only Icelander in the R.A.F., who was recently awarded
the Distinguished Flying Medal. His score is three destroyed, one probable
and one damaged.
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AIKMAN, F/O Frederick Alan (J7460) - Distinguished
Flying Cross - No.154 Squadron
Award effective 19 February 1943 as per London Gazette dated 19 October
1943,
AFRO 513/43 dated 26 March 1943 and
The Globe & Mail ...
Toronto RCAF Man Honored for Gallantry
Ottawa, Feb. 26, 1943 (CP) – The RCAF today announced
the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to F/O Frederick Alan Aikman,
son of F.H. Aikman of 178 Albertus Avenue, Toronto. The citation
reads:
"This officer has taken part in a large number of sorties over enemy
territory from England. Since his arrival in Algeria he has destroyed
three enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of three others. F/O
Aikman is an exceptionally skilful pilot and a fine section leader who
has always shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy."
Now Leads Spitfires
A cable from North Africa on Feb. 25, reported that Aikman had been promoted
to the rank of flight lieutenant, and was now leading a flight of Spitfires.
"He has a score of five enemy plants destroyed in North Africa, (Ross)
Munro wrote, "and recently he shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 in a big
air fight over the Mediterranean coast." Munro quoted Flt.-Lt. Aikman
as remarking that "The Jerries don't seem to want to mix it up with
us. Sometimes we get a dozen or 15 in the sky, but they sheer off when
we get in at them. So life is a little dull at times these days."
The 22-year-old pilot arrived in Algeria last November, his father, F.A.
Aikman, said last night. "He is quite reticent about his accomplishments
and we get more news from newspapers about him than from anywhere else."
Flt Lt. Aikman enlisted in the summer of 1940 and received his wings at
Camp Borden. Aikman was born in Toronto and attended John Fisher School
and North Toronto Collegiate.
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Canadian Flyers to Fore In North African Victory
(By Flight-Leut. L. C. Powell) Algiers, May 11, 1943
— (CP) — Many Canadians serving with R.A.F. squadrons "stooged"
overhead as victorious elements of the ground forces entered Tunis and
Bizerte, the two main objectives in the North African campaign. The greatest
air assault any army has ever had to withstand blasted the way for the
big Allied push. Day after day, fighters and bombers, struck again and
again at enemy positions and troop concentrations, at the same time clearing
the sky of all aerial opposition.
R.C.A.F. pilots reported hits on long columns of enemy transport and troops
along the densely-packed road leading to Tunis. Among the fighter pilots
who have played a brilliant part throughout the campaign are Sqdn-Ldr.
Jimmy Walker, D.F.C. and Bar, Edmonton; Sqdn-Ldr.
George Hill, Pictou, N.S; and Flight-Lt. Fred (Butch)
Aikman, Toronto, a youthful veteran of the air war.
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Tunisia Victors - R.C.A.F. Men Among Aces Topping List
By Flt. Lt. LES POWELL, R.C.A.F.
Algiers, May 29, 1943 - (CP) - Royal Canadian Air Force personnel played
a big part in the aerial domination achieved by the Allies during the
closing stages of the Battle of Tunisia, for they were—as they are
everywhere—plentifully sprinkled among R.A.F. squadrons, and even
a United States Army Air Force Mitchell squadron.
They flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, Bostons, Beaufighters, Wellingtons,
and Hudsons
Two of the highest scoring fighter pilots in the campaign were Canadians,
both leaders of Spitfire squadrons. They are Sqdn. Ldrs Jimmy Walker,
D.F.C. and Bar, of Edmonton, and George Hill, D.F.C.
of Pictou N.S. They destroyed a score of enemy aircraft between them,
plus innumerable probable and damaged, and brilliantly lead their units
during the final decisive phase of the battle.
Not far away was another Canadian fighter ace, Flt. Lt. Fred Alan (Butch)
Aikman, D.F.C., of Toronto, while a short distance away, - “cross
the waddi and turn left at the second eucalyptus" - was a squadron
with five Dominion fliers, including another D.F.C., PO. Harry (Junior)
Fenwick of Leamington, Ont.
Listowel Flier a Leader
In addition to carrying out fighter sweeps and ground strafing, these
fighter boys acted as protection for bombers, Flying Fortresses, Mitchells
and Bostons. They liked especially to escort a particular squadron of
Bostons, for the leader, Wing Cmdr. Jimmy Thompson, D.F.C., is a Canadian
hailing from Listowel, Ont. whose men include many Canadians.
Providing convoy protection through the Mediterranean was tremendously
important work, and there, too, were found Canadians. Flt Lt. Ted Bishop
of Ottawa leads a flight which includes some of his countrymen. Another
Hurricane squadron nearby included FO. John (Slim) Wilson of Saint John,
N.B.
One of the most successful preludes to victory was the bombing of the
docks and harbors of Tunis and Bizerte, which stopped supplies for the
Axis. Giant Flying "Forts" for the U.S.A.A.C. went over in daytime,
while Wellingtons took over by night. Here again one found R.C.A.F. personnel
serving.
There were F. M. (Bill) Rublee, 20-year-old 'Wimpey' pilot from Allan,
Sask., a veteran of raids on important Tunisian ports who first learned
to fly a Waco 10 he and a pal bought, four years ago back home, and Sgt.
Jay Lepine, a wireless operator-air gunner from Ste. Anne de Bellevue,
Que. There is also Bill Webb, a pilot officer from Windsor, Ont., and
the squadron's Navigation officer, Flt. Lt. O. H. Morgan, of Kamloops,
B.C. is a veteran of more than a score of trips over enemy targets.
The Mediterranean Fight
Keeping the Mediterranean clear of submarines is the job of Hudsons of
Coastal Command and only recently there was a victory over a large Axis
submarine by a crew which included Sgt. Rod Blair, a wireless operator-air
gunner from Moose Creek, Ont. Other Canadians with the squadron include
Sgt. Doug Berlis and his all-Toronto crew of Sgts. W. L. Allen and W.
J. McKeague.
Not only in the air but also on the ground did Canadians serve in North
Africa. There are LACs, Roy Corney, Ridgeway, Ont., and Alan Harris of
Ottawa, radio mechanics with the fighter squadron commanded by Walker,
Cpl. Clary Brown, Mount Forest, Ont., and many others, all doing important
jobs — jobs which helped to drive the Axis out of North Africa,
except for 100,000 or so we are keeping as "guests."
Now the Canadians are sitting around wondering what's to happen next and
hoping that it will happen soon. They are all eager to get on with the
job, finish it up completely and get back to Canada.
_________________________________________________
Butch Aikman
&
Don Morrison
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AIKMAN, F/L Frederick Alan (J7460) - Bar to DFC
- No.154 Squadron
Award effective 16 October 1943 as per London Gazette dated 19 October
1943 and
AFRO 2507/43 dated 3 December 1943.
Flight Lieutenant Aikman is a keen and tenacious fighter
who has destroyed at least eight enemy aircraft. He has shown a rare zest
for battle.
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‘KEEN FIGHTER,’ WINS BAR TO DFC
Flight-Lieut. Alan Aikman Has Eight Enemy Aircraft
to His Credit
"A keen and tenacious fighter with a rare zest for battle”
reads the citation announcing Flt-Lt.
Alan Aikman, 24, of Albertus Ave., has been awarded a bar to the D.F.C.
he received in February.
Credited with destroying eight enemy aircraft, Flight-Lieut. Aikman is
now stationed in the central Mediterranean area, where several of his
successes have been scored.
"In addition to the eight destroyed, he has several probables to
his credit," said his mother, Mrs. F. H. Aikman. "He has written
us about some of them."
Flight-Lieut. Aikman was the flier who in 1942 "blew to blazes"
the machine-gun post that downed famed RAF Ace Paddy Finucane.
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Cristopher Shores lists Aerial Victories as Follows:
12 November 1942, one Ju.88 destroyed;
13 November 1942, one Ju.88 destroyed;
16 November 1942, two Savoia destroyed (half-share in
each);
22 November 1942, one Ju.88 probably
destroyed;
28 November 1942, one Do.217 destroyed plus
- one Do.217 damaged;
13 January 1943, one FW.190 destroyed;
5 April 1943,
one Ju.87 destroyed plus
- one Bf.109G damaged;
10 April 1943,
one Bf.109G destroyed;
13 April 1943,
one Bf.109G damaged;
25 April 1943,
one Bf.109G destroyed;
17 July 1943,
one Macchi destroyed (fighter) |
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"Butch"
sportin' his highly prized "Afrika Corps" hat while digging
slit trenches in Tunisia
Aikman standing on SUN WORKS
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Photo PL-10283 shows him wearing a "liberated"
Afrika Corps hat (seen above)
Photo PL-60659 shows F/O G.G. Bell, Aikman, & F/O R.B. Forrest in
Burma
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Documents :
Commissioned
Canadian Forces London
Guide
Leave Request
Travel Authority
"Come Back" telegram
Statement of War Service
Gratuity
______________________________________________________
Butch Aikman Posing for the press in front of his Spit "SUN WORKS"
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--- Canadian Aces ---
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