John Baptiste Bernard Rainville

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RCAF Shoots Down 26 Enemy Planes
in Normandy Between Dawn and Dusk

By P.O. H. R. McDONALD, A Canadian Airfield in France, June 29, 1944 - (CP) - Canadian fighter planes, in one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the R.C.A.F., shot down 26 out of a total of 34 enemy aircraft destroyed over the Normandy front between dawn and dusk yesterday.
In addition, R.C.A.F. pilots chalked up a number of enemy planes probab1y shot down and a number of others which were damaged.
Four pilots scored double kills. They were Wing Cmdr. J.E. (Johnny) Johnson, English – born commander of a Canadian fighter wing operating from an R.C.A.F. base in Normandy, and Flt, Lts. H.C. Trainor, Charlottetown; W. T. Klersy, 14 Harcroft Rd., Toronto, and R. K. Hayward. St. John's, Nfld.

Destroys Two, Damages Third
Hayward destroyed two FW-190's and damaged a third, which gave him the highest R.C.A.F. individual score of the day. Earlier reports indicated the Canadian airmen had downed 18 enemy planes in yesterday's daylight operations.
The complete figures were reached by intelligence officers today after a period of aerial operations which exceeded in intensity anything since the Allied Normandy beachhead was opened June 6.
Besides the toll of enemy planes; which included all fighter types, R.C.A.F. pilots also strafed transport on the roads. Final claims on two aircraft are being sifted.
Among the R.C.A.F. Spitfire pilots contributing to the total with one Hun each were: Flt. Lts. Irving Kennedy, Cumberland, Ont.; G.R. Patterson, Kelowna, B.C.; John McElroy, Kamloops, B.C.; Henry Zary, New York; R.M. Stayner, Saskatoon; A.F. Halcrow, Penticton, B.C.; G.W. Johnson, 102 Beechwood Ave., Hamilton, Ont.; D.E. Noonan, 146 Willingdon Ave., Kingston, Ont.; J.B. Rainville, Montreal; and Flying Officers W.J. Banks, Leaside, Ont. and G.H. Farquharson, Corbyville, Ont.
Wing Cmdr. Johnson's score of two brought his total of enemy planes downed to 32, equaling the mark set by Group Capt. A. G. (Sailor) Malan, a South African, now on ground duty.
Among the R.C.A.F. fliers scoring probables were FO. A.C. Brandon, Timmins, Ont.; FO. J.B. O'Sullivan, Vancouver; and PO. J.M. Flood, Hearst, Ont.

Nine Others Damaged
At least nine others were damaged by fliers of the R.C.A.F.
Of the wings comprising Group Capt, W. (Bill) MacBrien's R.C.A.F. sector, the one led by 22-year-old Wing Cmdr, George Keefer, D.F.C. and Bar, Charlottetown, was high scorer of the day with 13 confirmed victories. Johnson's wing was second with seven, in a close race with a unit led by Wing Cmdr. R.A. Buckham, Vancouver.

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A group of 403 Squadron Fighter Pilots (1941)

Front row (Left to right) : Sgt. Charlie Grigg of Mount Brydges, Ont.; Sgt. Lawrence Soanes (R.A.F.); Sgt. John Rainville of St. Johns, Que.; Sgt. Hugh Belcher of Roblin, Man.; F/O C. A. Hyde Bray, (R.A.F.); Sgt. Eric Crist of Wallaceburg, Ont.; Sgt. Ken Collinson of Niagara Falls, Ont.; Sgt. Jack Ryckman of London, Ont.; Sgt. Doug Granham of Winnipeg, Man.

Back row : P/O Derick Colvin, (R.A.F.); P/O Cyril Wood, (R.A.F.); F/L Ted Cathelo of Vancouver, B.C.; S/L Tony Lee Knight, (R.A.F., KIA); F/L B. S. Christmas, of Montreal, Que.; P/O Phil Carrillo of New York City; P/O Don Ball of Edmonton, Alta.; F/O L. E. Price of Quebec City, Que.; P/O L.S. Ford of Liverpool N.S.; F/O S. J. Peeson of Singapore, S.S.;

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Victories Include :

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Another shot of Rainville in the "President Roosevelt" Spitfire, which he looks quite happy to fly.

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--- Canadian Aces ---

--- Other Canadian Fighter Pilots ---

--- Canadian Air Gunners ---

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