_________________________________________________
Canadian Fliers Down 36 German Aircraft in Luftwaffe
Attack
London, Jan. 1, 1945 - (CP) - Canadian fighter pilots,
in one of their greatest triumphs during the war, destroyed at least 36
of 84 Germans shot down today by the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force.
The big Canadian score was rolled up as the German Air Force came out
in its greatest show of strength for three years in an attempt to smash
up Allied airfields in Belgium, Holland and France.
Five Planes Missing
Canadian fighter squadrons accounted for 35 enemy aircraft and the 36th
was destroyed by a Canadian in an RAF Tempest Squadron Five. RCAF planes
are missing.
Although the Huns' low-level strafings included RCAF airfields and caused
some damage, the operational program of the squadrons was not interrupted
and approximately 300 sorties were flown. Some enemy planes were destroyed
white the airfields were under attack and others when the enemy fled for
home.
The pilot of one RCAF reconnaissance squadron, whose name was not immediately
disclosed, destroyed two ME190s and damaged two FW190s as he returned
to base.
Spitfire fighter-bombers also were active and destroyed or damaged several
locomotives and freight cars in the German supply area around St. Vith
in Belgium south of Malmedy.
The Canadian Wolf Squadron alone knocked down five out of a formation
of 60 enemy craft which strafed the squadron's airfield in the Brussels
area. Two others probably were destroyed and another damaged in a low-level
action that developed into the hottest dogfight for Canadian fighters
in months.
Bags 2 Focke-Wolfs
Four RCAF Typhoons returning from a reconnaissance flight met enemy fighters
and destroyed three and probably destroyed a fourth. Two were destroyed
by FO. A. H. Fraser of Westmount, Que., and the other by FO. H. Laurence
of Edson, Alta. All were FW190s.
A Canadian Tempest pilot, Flt. Lt. J. W. Garland of Richmond, Ont., jumped
two Focke Wulfs just 50 feet from the ground. He dived from 9,000 feet
and destroyed both.
In the Wolf Squadron dogfight, PO. Steve Butte of Michel, B.C., and Mac
Reeves of Madoc, Ont., each downed two planes
and Butte also claimed one damaged. FIt. Sgt. Keith Lindsay destroyed
one and also had a "probable."
These were the first scores for Butte and Lindsay.
Butte and Lindsay found themselves in a swirling mass of Huns as they
took off on a morning patrol. Butte sent an ME-109 down in flames with
cannon fire.
Next victim was an FW-190. "There were strikes on his wing and engine,
and I saw him crash on the edge of a near by town," Butte said.
Out of Ammunition
Then he hit an ME-109, seeing strikes and smoke, but losing sight of the
enemy plane as it dived steeply toward the ground.
"By this time all my ammunition was gone and a Hun got on my tail,"
Butte continued, "I managed to get on his tail, but couldn't do anything
about it."
Lindsay shot one plane down in flames and registered a cannon hit on another,
but couldn't determine whether it crashed.
Reeves and his namesake, Flt. Lt. Dick Reeves of 1507 Mt. Pleasant Rd.,
Toronto, who is no relation, plunged into a flock of enemy planes while
returning from patrol. Dick Reeves had to land immediately because of
a faulty motor, but Mac, his guns belching, closed on the plane which
caught fire and crashed. He attacked the second victim from underneath
and the pilot baled out.
It was announced tonight that the Canadian Mosquito Squadron on the Continent
during Sunday night destroyed two Junkers planes while on defensive patrol.
_________________________________________________
Born in Waugh, Alberta, 7 November 1921.
Enlisted in Calgary, 9 January 1942.
Trained at No.5 ITS (graduated 20 June 1942),
No.13 EFTS (graduated 10 October 1942) and
No.1 SFTS (graduated 5 March 1943; wings that day).
Arrived in UK, 4 April 1943 and
underwent further training at No.17 (P) AFU
(posted there 27 May 1943) and
No.53 OTU (posted there 13 July to 31 December 1943).
Station Grangemouth, 31 December 1943 to 12 May 1944
Station Redhill, 12 May 1944.
With No.403 Squadron, 10 June 1944 to 18 March 1945.
Repatriated to Canada 3 December 1945;
released 17 January 1946.
Award presented at Sea Island, 22 October 1949.
|
_________________________________________________
Canadian Fighter Pilots Get Biggest Bag of Huns
London, Jan. 2, 1945 - (CP) - Canadian fighter pilots
accounted for at least half of the 94 German planes destroyed by the RAF's
2nd Tactical Air Force New Year's Day when the Luftwaffe made an attempt
to cripple west front airfield operations.
A compilation tonight, based on the latest reports received from the Continent,
showed that RCAF fighters in their biggest day of the war destroyed at
least 36 enemy aircraft and half-a-dozen others fel1 to Canadian sharpshooters
in RAF Squadrons.
The top scoring wing in the 2nd Tactical Air Force during the day of close
to 100 "kills" was the Canadian Spitfire unit which brought
down 24 German machines, probably destroyed another three and damaged
seven. An untold number of probables and damaged planes was claimed by
other Canadians.
The wing’s scorers included two airmen who downed three planes apiece,
both from the Ram Squadron. FO G. D. Cameron
of Toronto destroyed a trio of ME-109s while Flt. Lt. John Mackay
of Cloverdale, B.C. destroyed two ME-109s and an FW-190. Mackay got the
last two without using his guns because they dived into the ground when
he chased them.
Flt. Lt. D. Pieri of Toronto and Elmhurst, Ill.,
destroyed two ME-190s and probably destroyed two others.
Flt. Lt. Dick Audet of Lethbridge, Alta., who
last Friday shot down five enemy planes in little more than five minutes,
brought his total to seven with two FW-190s bagged as they roared low
over his field. Friday's quintet were the first aircraft the 22 year-old
Lethbridge airman had downed.
Others from the Canadian wing, who helped to set up the day's record -
the previous top mark for the Canadians in a single day was 22 planes
- included Sqdn, Ldr. Dean Dover, DFC, and Bar, of Toronto, who destroyed
an ME-109 and shared another with FO. Dean Kelly of Peterborough, Ont.
and Flt. Lt Donald Gordon of Vancouver with two
ME-109's.
Double scorers included Flt. Lt. J. W. Garland. Richmond, Ont., PO. Steve
Butte, Michel. B.C.; PO. Mac Reeves,
Madoc, Ont.; and FO. A. H. Fraser, Westmount, Que.
Single scorers included Flt. Lt. W Banks, Toronto;
Flt. Lt. B. MacPherson, St. Thomas, Ont.; Flt Lt. Basil Doak, Cowansville,
Que.; FO. Vic Smith, Toronto; FO. J. C. Lee, Ottawa; PO. D. M. Horsburgh,
Carnduff, Sask.; Flt. Lt. N. Keen, White Lake. B.C.; FO. H. Laurence,
Edson. Alta.; and Flt. Sgt. Keith Lindsay. 10764 95th St. Edmonton. Lindsay
also claimed one probable.
_________________________________________________
BUTTE, P/O Steve (J85829) - Distinguished Flying
Cross - No.403 Squadron
Award effective 6 March 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 625/45 dated 13 April 1945.
One morning early in January 1945, Pilot Officer Butte
was detailed to fly the leading aircraft of a section on a sortie over
the battle zone. Just as the formation became airborne a large force of
enemy fighters attacked the airfield. Pilot Officer Butte immediately
engaged one of the enemy aircraft, shooting it down. A second and yet
a third attacker fell to his guns before his ammunition was expended.
He was himself then attacked by two fighters but outmaneouvred them. In
this engagement against a vastly superior number of enemy aircraft Pilot
Officer Butte displayed great skill, bravery and tenacity.
_________________________________________________
According to this page here
Steve "ended the war with six victories (an Ace) and two probables,
becoming Michel, Alberta's top fighter pilot of the war."
complete score breakdown unavailable |
_________________________________________________
--- Canadian Aces ---
_______________________________________________
|
