John Wilburn Garland

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NINTH CLASS GIVEN WINGS
Toronto and Ontario Fliers in P.E.I. Group
GARVIE LEADS LIST

Summerside, P.E.I., Oct. 24, 1941 (CP) — Wing Commander E. G. Fullerton, Officer Commanding the No. 9 Service Flying Training School here, today presented pilots wings to the ninth class to graduate since the school was opened under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Robert Leslie Garvie of Owen Sound, Ont., was announced as leader of the class, which had members from many parts of Canada, some from the United States and, one from Bermuda. . The graduates included: Robert Leslie Garvie, Owen Sound; John Reid Carver, Braeside; Joseph Lawrence Hitchon, Belleville; John Clifford Bruner, Leamington; Charles Woodward Smith, Windsor; Edward Earle Muffitt, Coe Hill; William Elias Foster, London; Stanley Handforth, Toronto; Alvin Bossenberry, Grand Bend; Arnold Raymond Herron, Waterford; John William Garland, Richmond; Kenneth Hunter Sutherland, Toronto; Roy Winnifred Cairns, Orillia; Thomas Elmer White, Collingwood; Edward William Edwards, Windsor.

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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.

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Air Force Awards

Ottawa, Feb. 23, 1945 — (CP) — Air Force headquarters announced today the award of one bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Distinguished Flying Crosses to members of the R.CA.F. overseas. The Ontario recipients include:

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GARLAND, F/O John Wilburn (J17155) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.80 Squadron
Award effective 23 February 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 563/45 dated 29 March 1945.

This officer has completed a very large number of sorties, involving attacks on enemy targets in various battle areas. During these operations he has effectively attacked shipping, many mechanical vehicles and a number of locomotives and wagons; his successes also include the destruction of four enemy aircraft. Flying Officer Garland has proved himself to be a highly skilled, courageous and resolute fighter.

NOTE: No.80 Squadron initially flew Hurricanes. His first sortie was a scramble on 22 August 1942 and his second a scramble on 23 August 1942. His 12th sortie (24 October 1942) was escort to tank-busting aircraft. On 14 August 1943 he flew his last Hurricane sortie (and his 81st operational flight), an ASR mission. On 23 August 1943, having converted to Spitfires, he flew his first Spitfire trip (a scramble). His first tour concluded on 22 March 1944 with his 145th sortie, by which time he had flown 218 hours 20 minutes on operations. His second tour commenced on 16 August 1944 (escort mission). The next day he went to West Malling and converted to Tempests. On 13 and 14 September 1944, flying Tempests, he attacked V-2 sites. He flew 66 Tempest sortues until he was shot down by flak on 8 February 1945 and taken prisoner.

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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, March 19, 1945 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 1,145 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing next of kin of those named from Ontario as follows :

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Airmen Freed

Ottawa, May 4, 1945 — Following is the first list of air force prisoners freed. Those from Ontario include :

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Canada Honors War-Time Deeds At Investiture

Ottawa, Nov. 8, 1949 (CP) — "In the name of His Majesty, the King, I invest you . . ."
Many times these words have been repeated in the white-pillared ballroom at Rideau Ha1l. Again yesterday they brought back memories of the Second World War" as Canada's Governor-General, Viscount Alexander, spoke them once more to the 68 servicemen and women — and next-of-kin — who stepped forth to receive the rewards of war-time gallantry.
It was the first such investiture at Government house in nearly a year. Decorations ranging from the Order of the British Empire to the Distinguished Flying Cross were presented to members and former members of the three services.
Twelve mothers, five fathers and four widows received the awards of those who either did not return from overseas or who later died.
A red-headed, four-year-old, Terry Platana of Regina; stepped smartly alongside his mother, Mrs. Sarah Platana, as she walked up the long, carpeted aisle to meet Viscount Alexander, and receive the Distinguished Flying Cross; won by her husband; the late F-O D. D. Platana.
Terry later proudly displayed the big silver cross his father had won for "a high degree of skill and courage during his many operational missions against the enemy."
"Terry always said he wanted to be on hand to receive his father's medal," said Mrs. Platana.
Full Of Remembrance
Tales of coolness in the face of enemy opposition, operational sorties, mine-laying missions — the voice of the aide-de-camp droned on as he read the citations. Unfamiliar phrases now, but haunting, and they were as full of remembrance as the great red poppies several of the men wore in their buttonholes.
Mrs. Beatrice DeCourey of Windsor, Ont., received the D.F.C., for her son, the late S-L T. J. DeCourey. Mrs. Edith Awrey, also of Windsor, received it for her son; the late P-O D. M. Awrey; Mrs.
Edward Lee, St. Thomas, Ont., for her son, the late F-L J.G. Lee; Mrs. Ida May Munro, Brantford, Ont., for her son, the late F-L L.E. Munro; Mrs. E.R. Smith, Toronto, for her son; the late F-L W. R. Smith; Mrs. May Murray, Galt, Ont., for her son, the late F-O T. R. Murray.
Other Ontario awards were: The D.F.C. – A. J. Little of Agincourt, on behalf of his son, the late F-L S. W. Little; Mrs. Evelyn Pieri, Toronto, for her husband; the late F-L D. M. Pieri; Mrs. O. E. Ridge, Toronto, for her husband, the late F-L R. C. Ridge; P. E. Suddick, Toronto, for his son, the late F-L W. E. Suddick; G. Peacock, Everett, for his son, the late F-O W. G. F. Peacock; F-L J. W. Garland, Richmond; F-L R. B. Grant, Stittsville.

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Victories Include :

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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