Clarence Murl "Jas" Jasper

(PL-28013) Jasper's 1st claim - 12 March 1944 - "Back from a successful daylight trip, two of 418 Squadron's crews are interrogated by the Intelligence Officer. F/O Johnny Caine left two enemy aircraft, a Ju52 and a Ju86P, burning on the ground and F/O C.M. Jasper badly damaged another Ju52 during the course of their one thousand mile trip. From left to right - F/L Archie Martin, the only original member of the Intruders still with the Squadron and F/O Jasper's observer, F/O G. Morris, the Intelligence Officer, P/O Earl Boat, Caine's observer, F/O C.M. Jasper, F/O J. Caine and S/L H. Lisson, Edmonton, Alta. the C/O of the Squadron."

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R.C.A.F. Finds Spitfires Fine Fighter-Bombers

Ottawa, April 14, 1944 - (CP) - Spitfires are now being used as fighter-bombers by R.C.A.F. squadrons in Britain, it was revealed tonight in the R.C.A.F.’s weekly summary of overseas operations.
The summary did not reveal what changes had been made to the Spitfire, one of Britain's most efficient fighters, to turn it into a fighter-bomber. It said, however, that "success of the Spitfire fighter-bomber technique was attested in the enthusiastic reports of pilots."
The pilots stated that "the accuracy of the bombing was such that only one bomb fell outside the target area."
Highlights of activity for the week ended yesterday were the destruction of three enemy aircraft and damage to several others, the bombing of railway centers in Northern France and Belgium and the mining of enemy waters by aircraft of the Canadian bomber group, the summary said.
None Missing
R.C.A.F. fighters provided cover for United States bomber groups during attacks on Belgium and Northern France.
Not one of the Canadian aircraft is reported missing as a result of the operations.
"The Easter week-end found aircraft of the R.C.A.F. bomber group blasting railway targets in conjunction with the R.A.F., the summary said.
About half the attacking force which laid bombs on the railway yards at Villeneuve St. George, near Paris, Easter Sunday, were Canadian-operated Halifaxes. Similar targets at Ghent, in Belgium, and Laon were attacked by R.C.A.F. Halifaxes and Lancasters, while Canadian personnel were among the RAF crews which smashed at Tergnier on Monday night."

Easter Eggs
"Tell the folks back home that the Goose Squadron delivered her Easter eggs." Smiled F/S Al Reid of Windsor Ont.
Among other squadrons which took part in the attacks were the Iroquois, Ghost, Lion, and Snowy Owl.
Air Commodore A.D. Ross of Winnipeg flew in an Alouette Squadron bomber, piloted by F/L W.L. Venaxen of Smiths Falls, Ont., in the attack on Ghent Monday night. The Bluenose, Lion, Iroquois, Moose, Ghost, Bison, Porcupine, Tiger, Snowy Owl, Leaside, and Thunder-bird Squadrons were represented in the Ghent and Laon attacks.
R.C.A.F. fighters provided the cover for Marauders which attacked railway yards at Charleroi, Belgium, Tuesday, and for Bostons which attacked the same target the following day.
Escort was provided for Mitchells which opened the attack on Charleroi on Monday. The flying "'Millers," F/O G.N. Miller of Edmonton Alta., and his observer, F/O G.D. Miller of Vancouver, of the City of Edmonton Squadron, made two sweeps over enemy territory, claiming the destruction Wednesday of an unidentified twin-engined aircraft and severe damage to an He111 and He177.

Ground Planes Damaged
They also said that in a sweep on Sunday seven other aircraft on the ground were damaged. Two of Sunday's bag were left in flames. F/O C.M. Jasper, Long Beach, an American flying with the City of Edmonton Squadron on his second tour, and his observer, F/L A. Martin, Ottawa, were "stooging" around to get back on course near Metz Wednesday night when they encountered a FW-190. .
"I gave it a short burst," said Jasper, "The starboard wing tank, burst into flames and I had to pull up to go over the Jerry. He went straight down, hit the deck and exploded."

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16 RCAF Men Given Awards

Ottawa, Aug. 14, 1944 - (CP) - Air Force Headquarters announced tonight the award of 16 decorations to members of the RCAF overseas. Five officers received a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross and 11 others the DFC. The awards:

Award of the DFC to Dow, Judah, Hewitt, Richard, Douglass, Hamilton, Carter and Hall was covered by a joint citation saying they had completed in various capacities many successful operations against the enemy in which they had displayed "high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty."
F/L Martin was cited for participating in many sorties both by day and night, and for assisting, as observer, in destroying four enemy aircraft. F/O Finlayson, also an observer, was cited for taking part in a large number of sorties, many of them of a difficult and dangerous nature, and for assisting in the destruction of five enemy aircraft during a sortie far into enemy territory in May.

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JASPER, F/L Clarence Murl (J10611) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.418 Squadron
Award effective 15 August 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2052/44 dated 22 September 1944.

This officer is a most skilful and resolute pilot whose determination to engage the enemy has always been evident. He has completed many sorties and has destroyed three enemy aircraft in the air and others on the ground.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9158 has recommendation raised 23 May 1944 which is much more detailed. He had flown 23 sorties (86 operational hours):

This officer has completed 23 operational sorties over enemy and enemy occupied territory; of these 19 have been Intruder and Bomber Support sorties and four Day Rangers.

Flying Officer Jasper has shown a marked determination to engage the enemy and has patrolled many of the most heavily defended enemy airfields. His unfailing keenness has rewarded him with the destruction of six enemy aircraft destroyed and the damaging of another.

On the night of April 12th, Flying Officer Jasper planned an Intruder sortie into Western Czechoslovakia. While en route to his target, he encountered and shot down a FW.190.

Much of the success enjoyed by this squadron on recent daylight sorties has been due to the support and personal participation of this pilot. On March 12th, Flying Officer Jasper damaged a Ju.52 at Clermont. On April 16th this officer planned and led a very successful daylight sortie to Luxueil where he destroyed a Caudron Goeland in the air and two more on the ground. Again on May 14th, Flying Officer Jasper planned and led a sortie in daylight to Haguenau. At Atzlot he destroyed a Ju.87 on the ground and at Nancy he shot down and destroyed a He.111.

Flying Officer Jasper has shown fine fighting qualities and has played an important part in the operations of this squadron. His usefulness to an operational squadron cannot be rated too highly and his personal example is most commendable.

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Victories as follows:

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