David William Armstrong Harling

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Anzacs, Canucks, Yanks Given Wings at Borden

(By C. W. MacQUEEN, Staff Writer, The Globe and Mail) Camp Borden, Feb. 11, 1941 — Two sets of wings were presented here tonight to members of a graduating class from the Advanced Air Training School, which, instructors said, was the best class to receive wings at the R.C.A.F. station. The class was composed of Australians and Canadians, the former forming practically three-quarters of it.
The Australians were easily distinguished from their brother graduates of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan by their dark blue uniforms, which have no brass buttons or belt buckles. Their wings are almost as distinctive, being somewhat wider and shallower than those of the R.C.A.F. They bear the letters R.A.A.F. surrounded by a light blue wreath on a dark blue background. This was the second set of Australian graduates from the Empire Plan, the other class having received their wings in Regina.
The presentation was made by Squadron Leader W. E. Kennedy, acting Officer Commanding of the station, in the presence of a large number of other men of the station, and friends.
"You have reached the culmination of all your months of work," he told the men, "and Canada and her sister Dominion, Australia, are proud of you. I don't have to advise you to carry on as you have in the past. You have that idea instilled into you already. You have set a great record already and I am sure that you will maintain and add further luster to it. Those of us who are left behind will be with you in spirit and we wish you the best of luck."
Then each man was called forward from the large row that extended across the drill halt and after smartly saluting and having a congratulatory handshake, his prized wings were pinned on his breast.
The Australians were the first to receive their wings and they came from all parts of the Commonwealth, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. Included among them was a native of New Zealand.
An added feature of the ceremonia1 parade was the presentation of the O/C's Trophy to Flight Lieutenant Phillips, commander of No. 1 Day Maintenance Squadron, for the highest scoring section in the sports competition during January, the first month of the competition. Among the Canadians who received their wings was L.A.C. S. J. Kozlowski of Ottawa, a son of a member of the staff of the Polish Consul-General in Ottawa. Young Kozlowski was born in Montreal and is reported to be the first Polish-Canadian to receive R.C.A F. wings. He was secretary of the Polish Canadian Club of Ottawa and president of the Student Council of Lisgar Collegiate there. His brother (illegible line) ...sity, was among the graduates today. Tomorrow afternoon at the Church of the Messiah, Toronto, he will be married to Miss Elise Switzer of Regina.
Another Canadian member of the class and another Bennett, T. L. of Ottawa, is a graduate of the Royal Military College.
The ceremony was the culmination of over seven months training by the Australian boys. After preparing for four months in their native Country, they took about three weeks crossing the Pacific, and they have been at Camp Borden since late in November.
Among those who received their wings are: W. L. F. Anderson, Brisbane; H. B. Chisholm, Sydney; J. A. Cormack, Sydney; K. K. Cox, Melbourne; J. G. M. Curds, Sydney; L. G. Horsfall, Melbourne; E. S. Hughes, Adelaide; H. G. Lesser, Adelaide; J. M. Mayall, Mildura; B. J. McLelland, Sydney; K. H. Murray, Melbourne; J. H. 0'Byrne, Launceston, Tasmania; J. W. Roche, Sydney; J. R. Ross, Seymour; M. E. Sheldon, Sydney; P. A. Stephenson, Melbourne; R. S. Waddy, Sydney; C. N. Wann, Apsley; W. D. Willis, Melbourne; N. W. R. Wood, Sydney; G. B. Chapman, Charleville; W. D. Eccleton, Sydney, a native of New Zealand; J. R. H. Elphick, New South Wales; R. A. Gray, Sydney; R. T. Holt, Brisbane; B. A. Knappett, Victoria; E. E. Lewis, Melbourne; D. W. McCormick, Melbourne; W. J. Metherall, Melbourne; R. Shaw, Sydney; P. M. Sloan, Melbourne; K. W. Truscott, Melbourne; and J. L. Tully, Queensland.
The Canadians include : D. W. Bennett, Lennoxville, Que.; D. A. Fraser, Toronto; W. J. Archibald, Oakville; T. L. Bennett, Ottawa; W. H. Davidson, Preston; G. Gosman, Portage La Prairie; S. J. Kozlowski, Ottawa; P. S. Leggatt, Montreal; L. A. Broad, Belleville; J. W. A. Harling, Montreal; and T. R. Watt, Prince Albert, Sask,
Americans included : O. B. Hughes, Niagara Falls, N.Y., and D. Schnebly, New York City.

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YOUNG WARBIRDS RECEIVE WINGS
Son of Polish Consular Member at Ottawa Graduates

Camp Borden, Ont., Feb. 12, 1941— (CP)—A large group of Royal Canadian and Royal Australian Air Force flyers received their wings in a ceremony Tuesday at the advanced training school under, the British Commonwealth air training Plan.
About three-quarters of the men were Australians from all parts of the Commonwealth and they were distinguished from the Canadian and United States flyers from their dark blue uniforms, unadorned with brass buttons or belt buckles and by their wider, shallower wings.
Among the R.C.A.F. graduates were: S. J. Kozlowski, son of a member of the Polish consular staff in Ottawa, and O. B. Hughes, Niagara Falls, N. Y.
The Canadians who graduated included D. W. Bennett, Lennoxville, Que.; D. A. Fraser, Toronto; W. J. Archibald, Oakville; T. L. Bennett, Ottawa; W. H. Davidson, Preston; G. Gosman, Portage La Prairie; S. J. Kozlowski, Ottawa; P. S. Leggatt, Montreal; L. A. Broad, Belleville; J. W. A. Harling, Montreal, and T. R. Watt, Prince Albert, Sask. Americans included O. B. Hughes, Niagara Falls, N.Y., and D. Shnebly, New York city.

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HARLING, F/L David William Armstrong (J11481) - DFC - No. 416 Sq. (deceased)
Award effective 18 December 1944 as per London Gazette dated 29 December 1944 and
AFRO 379/45 dated 2 March 1945.

Flight Lieutenant Harling has shown himself to be an outstanding pilot and an excellent flight commander. Since D-Day he has either destroyed or damaged thirty enemy mechanical vehicles. In addition he has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft and damaged one. Both in the air and on the ground Flight Lieutenant Harling has displayed commendable courage, keenness and consistent devotion to duty.

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Fliers Win DFC's

Ottawa, Jan. 1, 1945 - (CP) - Air Force Headquarters tonight announced the award of three bars to the Distinguished Flying Cross and of 30 DFC's to RCAF personnel serving overseas.
Two of the DFC's went to F/L Douglas Warren and F/L Bruce Warren, twin brothers from Ponoka, Alta., who are serving with the same squadron overseas. The recipients:

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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, Jan. 17, 1945 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 1,093 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing next-of-kin of those named from Ontario, include:

OVERSEAS
Killed on Active Service

HARLING, David William Armstrong, Flt. Lieut. Westmount, Que.

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Victories Include :

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HARLING, F/L David William Armstrong, DFC (J11481) (deceased)
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
Awarded 17 July 1948 as per Canada Gazette of that date and
AFRO 455/48 dated 23 July 1948

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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