_________________________________________________
Squadron Leader And Two of His Pilots Awarded Coveted
D.F.C.
Daring and Skill of Canadians Bring Reward —
Formation Destroyed 30 German Planes in Few Weeks
London, Oct. 10, 1940 — (CP Cable) — Sqdn.-Ldr.
Ernest McNab, of Regina, and two members of the
Royal Canadian Air Force squadron he commands have been awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for the daring and skill with which they are helping beat
back the German air attacks on Britain.
Flying Officer Rod McGregor and Flying Officer
Dalzell Russel, both of Montreal, are the pilots who are honored with
their "chief."
The Canadian formation which has destroyed 30 Nazi bombers and fighters
in less than the seven weeks it has been in action, thus wins its first
awards for valor.
_________________________________________________
Born in Toronto, 9 December 1917.
Home in Westmount, Quebec
Enlisted 15 September 1939.
Trained at Trenton and Camp Borden.
F/O 18 May 1940;
F/L, 1 August 1941;
S/L, 1 January 1942;
W/C, 8 July 1943;
reverts to S/L, 1 May 1944 but
promoted to W/C again, 15 July 1944.
With No.1 (F) Sq. 28 May 1940 to 26 Feb 1941.
Repatriated to Canada,
he went overseas again in December 1942,
commanding Nos.411, 402, and 416 Squadrons.
Headed Nos.17 and 127 Wings, July to Oct '43.
At RCAF Overseas HQ, 20 Oct '43 to 1 May '44
Took a cut in rank to command
No.442 Sq. (1 May to 15 July '44) then made
CO of No.126 Wing (15 July 1944 to 27 Jan '45).
Returned to Canada;
released 3 July 1945.
Associated with postwar RCAF Auxiliary. |
__________________________________________________
RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell (C1319) - Distinguished Flying
Cross - No.1 (C) Squadron
Award effective 25 October 1940 as per London Gazette of that date.
Flying Officer Russell [sic] has personally destroyed
five enemy aircraft and has assisted in the destruction of a sixth. He
has shown great keenness to attack the enemy.
_________________________________________________
April 4, 1941 - ...one of the aircraftmen had
been stationed at the same station as Flying Officer Blair Dalzell Russel,
D.F.C., Montreal flier who recently came back to Canada on leave with
Wing Commander McNab, "A good bloke, a regular guy," was the
way the R.A.F. flier described the Montrealer, and told a story of how
F.O. Russell bailed out over Yorkshire. "He wears no goggles or helmet,
you know," said the aircraftmen, "only his flying boots for
equipment. He's a born flier."
_________________________________________________
"There is nothing to compare with the excitement
of plunging into an air battle like that. Your mouth dries up like cotton
wool. Flying Officer Dal Russel, o£ Montreal, who was in my squadron,
was chewing gum when he went into his first scramble. He had to pick bits
of gum from the roof of his mouth afterwards." - Quoted from
an Ernie McNab article entitled, "Initial fight with enemy is memory
that remains." - Hamilton Spectator, May 7, 1941
_________________________________________________
'Nazi Fighter' Stunned Halifax
On a visit to Ottawa I read the story by Christopher Harris on
Jimmy Cagney and the filming of Captains of the Clouds. That brought
back many memories and the most important of these was that it was
only half the story.
I was a flight commander in No. 11 Bomber Rcce. Squadron, stationed
at RCAF Station, Dartmouth, N.S., flying Hudson bombers on antisubmarine
patrol over the Atlantic. We heard rumors that a movie was being
filmed "back in Canada" on the air force and that Jimmy
Cagney was the star, but thought no more about it.
It came as a surprise, therefore, to be called into the squadron
commander's office and told that I had been selected to do Jimmy
Cagney's flying as the lead pilot, delivering a Hudson bomber formation
across the ocean to the United Kingdom.
I was told that Jimmy Cagney and others would stay in Ottawa and
the interior aircraft scenes would be shot in a dummy aircraft mockup,
safely back at the studio in California. Our job was to simulate
the Atlantic crossing of five Hudson bombers and experience a German
fighter attack, when the script told us we were near the British
coast.
That German fighter was made up at Dartmouth Station, using a Hawker
Hurricane from No. 1 Fighter Squadron. The Hurricane was repainted
to resemble a ME 109 Luftwaffe fighter and the pilot, if my memory
serves me correctly, was Flying Officer "Dal" Russel,
from Montreal. The black crosses on the wings and Nazi swastika
on the tail looked surprisingly real.
On checking my log book I found two entries that read "Atlantic
film shooting" on the 18th and 19th of September, 1941. The
log book also revealed that my so-called copilot on these days was
a Mr. Batt. Mr. Batt was one of the directors of the film and his
job was to tell me what to do!
The shooting on the 18th and 19th involved flying over long distances
off the coast - to be out of sight of land. The weather was kind
and we were spared excessive instrument flying. The shooting sequences,
however, meant a great deal of aircraft positioning, because of
sun angles, ocean and cloud backdrops and so forth. The camera aircraft
was over the sky for hours and it was quite fatiguing.
Our friends such as Mr. Batt, who flew with us, were horrified to
learn, once we were airborne, that we were fully armed with loaded
guns and anti-submarine depth charges. This was necessary so that
if any anti-submarine incident occurred we could stop the movie
work and go "operational" immediately. None of the film
people liked that and they were nervous as cats on every take-off
and landing.
Towards the end of the second day we were ready for the "grand
finale" of the film. That was when "Dal" Russel in
his mock ME 109 was to carry out a successful attack on me when
I was, in theory, about to lead our formation to safety across the
British coast. Dal did a beautiful attack sequence, I feigned the
damage and dropped away in full rich mixture to supposedly crash,
smoking, into the sea below.
And that was the end of shooting Captains of the Cloud. But there
was one more incident, which we heard about after landing at Dartmouth.
Dal apparently felt so good about shooting me down that, before
he landed at Dartmouth, he flew very low up Barrington Street, the
main artery of Halifax. He almost started a panic among the citizens.
They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw black crosses flying
right over their rooftops!
We all had a good chuckle, even though Dal probably got a good verbal
"thrashing" from his squadron commander — Squadron
Leader Hartland Molson — now Sen. Molson.
After we were back on the Dartmouth tarmac, with our very relieved
film crews, there were handshakes all around and I suddenly felt
some paper in my hand. I looked at it discreetly and saw two crumpled
$20 bills — a lot of money in those days. This sort of thing,
of course, was strictly against the rules but by that time the film
boys had gone. I discussed the problem with my wife that evening
and she had no qualms whatsoever. She said, "Give it to me
— that will help pay for a new baby carriage, which we are
going to need — surprise!" Then I was speechless. On
looking back, I am sure Jimmy Cagney would have approved.
A. P. Martin
Air Vice Marshal RCAF
(ret'd)
Kingston
[ I got this story from the son of Don Gillis who
also "beat up" a city street - read
]
|
___________________________________________________
Ace Canadian Air Fighters Are Named by Winnipeg Flier
Winnipeg, March 2, 1942 - (CP) - Wing Commander J.A.
(Alex) Kent of Winnipeg, member of a Royal Air
Force squadron that shot down numerous Nazi planes during raids and over
the Channel, said here today that Wing Commander Mark (Hilly) Brown
of Glenboro, Man., killed in action, "was one of the best fighter
pilots in the R.A.F. and still heads the list of Canadian aces" in
this war.
Speaking before members of the Canadian Club, Wing Commander Kent told
of how the Manitoban distinguished himself in several actions against
the enemy as flight commander in the R.A.F.'s No. 1 Fighter Squadron.
Other Canadians whom he named as great fighters were members of No. 1
Canadian Fighter Squadron — Wing Commander E. A. McNab, Regina;
Wing Commander Gordon McGregor and Squadron
Leaders Dal Russel, Hartland Molson and Paul Pitcher, all from Eastern
Canada.
He told how he and other British pilots drilled a squadron of Polish pilots.
"One day (August 30, 1940 - read)
the Polish squadron was practicing intercepting enemy raiders when they
actually ran into a lot of Nazi planes. The fighters gathered around and
got the trainees out of trouble except for one Polish airman (Lt.
Ludwik Paszkiewicz), who dashed across, shot down a Dornier 17 and
then rejoined the squadron. The R.A.F. officers thought it was just lucky
(According to post-war research, the plane misidentified as a Do 17
by Paszkiewicz was a Messerschmitt Bf 110).
The next day however, the Poles shot down six Messerschmitts for no loss.
Then the R.A.F. officers decided the Poles had trained enough and the
squadron was allowed to go into action, which they did with a vengeance.
Flying Hurricanes, the Poles shot down 130 enemy planes in the next six
weeks," Wing Commander Kent said.
_________________________________________________
Quebec Pilot Says Town Almost Wiped Out By Wicked Onslaught
WAS PERFECTLY TIMED
London, Aug. 21, 1942 — (CP) — A smashing
aerial victory for one of the Royal Canadian Air Force Spitfire squadrons
which participated in the attack on Dieppe was reported last night by
two returning members of the squadron. Squadron-Ldr. Chadburn,
of Aurora, Ont., commanding officer of the squadron, reported in a broadcast
interview that his squadron shot down three enemy machines, probably destroyed
another and damaged at least six.
Shoot Down Three
All the pilots in Chadburn's squadron returned safely, he said.
Specifically, Chadburn said, the squadron shot down three 190’s,
probably destroyed a Junkers 88, damaged five Junkers 88's and damaged
one Messerschmitt 110.
Flight-Lieut. Russel, of Westmount, Que., another member of the squadron,
told Flight-Lieut. Jack Beach, the interviewer, how he shot down one aircraft
when the enemy pilot "wasn't looking."
"It was pretty shaky all around," he said. "I was very
lucky.
"I got him when he wasn't looking and I think he was probably a fairly
green pilot."
Asked how Dieppe looked from the air, Russel said:
"There was fire all over. The town was really shaken. There's nothing
left of it at all, I believe."
He said the Canadian pilots "did an excellent job all the way through."
He said he might have bagged another plane, but "ran out of ammunition
and I don't know what happened to that one."
Air and land co-operation was perfectly timed, Russel said, and "everything
worked out well." He believed the presence of Canadian land troops
gave the pilots added confidence.
Chadburn said it was "the biggest show this squadron has ever been
on. We had quite a good time, I'd say, all the way through."
The B.B.C. announcer said Beach had been "out all day" recording
the interviews with the Canadians, believed to be the first authentic
report of the assault from fighting airmen.
_________________________________________________
Airmen Who Met Huns During Battle of Britain Paved Way
For Offensive
Some of Canada's First Aces of This War Still Are in Action
- Pilots Now Seek Out Enemy Over His Own Territory
(Written for the Canadian Press by Flt.Lt. Basil
Dean, R.C.A.F.)
Fighter Command, Somewhere in England, Sept. 8, ‘43.— (CP)—There
are still some of the few left, some of those hard-fighting combat pilots
of Battle of Britain days, but mostly it is a new brood of pilots who
fly from the air bases hereabouts in Britain's Fighter Command. Three
years ago, when the first few of Canada's aerial aces were fighting their
way to fame, the battles were over British soil. Now, with greater numbers
of Canadians than ever before in Fighter Command, the pilots are going
out to seek the enemy over his own territory. This air fighting of today
is offensive, not defensive, as during the Battle of Britain, but it was
the fighting then that made the current offensive possible.
Some Still Flying
Some of the Canadians who fought with honour and glory in those grim days
three years ago are still flying. Wing-Cmdr. B.D. Russel, D.F.C., of Montreal,
who now leads an R.C.A.F. Spitfire wing in Britain, was then P.O. Dal
Russel and a member of Canada's No. 1 Fighter Squadron, which arrived
in England in June, 1940—just in time to get trained for the fierce
tests of August and September of that year.
Russel's old commanding officer, Ernie McNab, now is Group Capt. Ernest
McNab, D.F.C., of Regina, commander of an R.C.A.F. fighter station.
In Sicily, Squadron-Ldr. Stanley Turner, D.F.C.
and Bar, of Toronto, led the R.C.A.F.'s City of Windsor fighter squadron
through the island campaign. In 1940, he was a flight commander in the
R.A.F.’s famed "all-Canadian" squadron led by Wing-Cmdr.
Douglas Bader, D.S.O., D.F.C., which destroyed 63 enemy aircraft during
the Battle of Britain and shared three with other squadrons.
The squadron was composed mainly of Canadians who had joined the R.A.F.
before the war, and fought nobly during the Battle of France and over
Dunkerque.
Most Efficient
Its achievements during the Battle of Britain, indeed, brought from the
air officer commanding of the group in which it was serving at the time
a message which said that its efficiency as a squadron was "equal,
if not superior, to any squadron in the R.A.F." The British chief
of air staff signaled: "You are well on top of the enemy and obviously
the fine Canadian traditions of the last war are safe in your hands."
Greatest pilot of the "all-Canadian" squadron—apart from
the legless commander, Bader (who was not Canadian)—was P.O. W.
L. McKnight, D.F.C. and bar, of Calgary, who
was reported missing some months after the Battle of Britain ended. McKnight
destroyed 16½ enemy aircraft, and was the first Canadian ace of
the war.
The "all-Canadian" squadron's first Battle of Britain engagement
was August 30, when Bader, now a prisoner of war, led a formation of 14
Hurricanes against a "vast number" of German aircraft, two swarms
of 70 to 100 each. Detaching one section to investigate a third formation
of aircraft some distance away, Bader led the rest of his pilots to the
attack. As a result, 12 enemy aircraft were destroyed; not one of the
Hurricanes had so much a scratch.
Similar engagements followed. On September 7, Bader and his Canadians
destroyed 10 enemy aircraft without losing a pilot, although seven of
the squadron's Hurricanes were damaged. On September 19, when the wing
in which the squadron was flying destroyed a total of 18 enemy aircraft,
the "all-Canadians" were credited with 11 of these for the loss
of one pilot killed.
And then, in the greatest day's fighting of all on September 15, the squadron
destroyed 12 enemy aircraft. This was the day on which Bader described
the fighting as "the finest shamble I've ever been in."
"The sky," he added, "was full of Hurricanes and. Spitfires,
queuing up and pushing each other out of the way to get at the Dormers.
I was seldom able to hold my sights on a target for long for fear of colliding
with other Spitfires and Hurricanes anxious to get in a burst."
Among the Canadians P.O. J.B. Latta, D.F.C., Victoria,
B.C., had knocked down five enemy planes; Flt.-Lt. Turner had five; so
had P.O. N.K. Stansfeld, D.F.C., Vancouver.
P.O. H.N. Tamblyn, D.F.C., North Battleford, Sask., and P.O. N. Hart had
four each. Altogether Canadian pilots in the squadron had destroyed 45
of the total of 65 credited to the squadron; Bader had scored 11.
Canada's own No. 1 fighter squadron, which although its personnel have
completely changed; is still flying in Britain with fighter command, had
scored a total of 31 victories during the battle under McNab's leadership.
McNab himself had scored the first victory to be credited to a member
of the squadron when, in order to gain combat experience, he flew as a
supernumerary officer with an R.A.F. squadron before No. 1 fighter was
ready for front-line duties.
In the squadron's first engagement as a unit, on August 24, it destroyed
three Dorniers for the loss of one pilot. By the end of its first week
in action it had destroyed eight enemy aircraft for the loss of one pilot
killed. The score continued to mount until September 27, when the Canadian
squadron destroyed seven enemy aircraft out of about 70 engaged during
the day; one pilot of the squadron was killed. In the day's first fight,
Russel had destroyed an ME 109 and an ME 110 and had shared with a Polish
pilot the destruction of a third enemy fighter.
McNab, Flt.Lt. G. R. McGregor and Russel were
each awarded the D.F.C., having destroyed between them, 11½ of
the squadron's total. McNab and McGregor now are both group captains;
Russel is a wing commander.
In other squadrons of the R.A.F., Canadians had also distinguished themselves.
One of the flight commanders in the R.A.F. squadron was a Canadian, Flt-Lt.
R.A. Barton, Kamloops, B.C., who later became
squadron commander of his unit. He was awarded the D.F.C. for his "outstanding
leadership" on September 27, a day on which the squadron destroyed
21 enemy aircraft for the loss of two pilots killed. The total bag during
September was 48, a total exceeded only by the famous No. 303 Polish squadron,
in which another Canadian, Flt.-Lt. (now Wing-Cmdr.) John Kent, Winnipeg,
was at that time a flight commander.
_________________________________________________
AWARDS MADE TO CANADIANS
Ottawa, Nov. 16, 1943 - (CP) - Wing Cmdr. Blair (Dal)
Russel, D.F.C., Westmount, Que., veteran R.C.A.F. fighter pilot of the
Battle of Britain, has won the bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross in
recognition of his work escorting bomber missions overseas, the R.C.A.F.
announced tonight.
Also announced were D.F.C.s for Flt. Lt. R.D. Phillip of 207 Strathmore
Blvd., Toronto, and FO. D.A. Alcorn of St. Stephen, N.B.
Russel, a member of the first R.C.A.F. fighter squadron to go overseas,
was awarded the D.F.C. in October, 1940, when his score stood at 5½
enemy aircraft destroyed. He returned to Canada in 1941 to take command
of a fighter squadron and went overseas again early this year to lead
a fighter wing.
Phillip, a fighter pilot, is credited with two enemy planes destroyed
and others damaged, in his citation, "This officer has displayed
marked ability in leading his flight over enemy territory. His exceptional
keenness and fine fighting spirit have set a magnificent example to all.
He has destroyed at least two enemy aircraft and damaged others."
_________________________________________________
RUSSEL, W/C Blair Dalzell (C1319) - Bar to Distinguished
Flying Cross - No.126 Wing
Award effective 11 November 1943 as per London Gazette dated 16 November
1943 and
AFRO 113/44 dated 21 January 1943.
This officer as Wing Leader has led his wing on a large
number of escort sorties without the loss of a single bomber to enemy
fighters. The high praise earned by the wing for its skill is largely
due to the great devotion to duty and ability displayed by Wing Commander
Russel.
NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/8992 has recommendation
dated 2 September 1943. He was credited with a total of 91 sorties (169
hours 25 minutes operational time, of which 64 sorties (91 hours) had
been flown since previous award.
Prior to the middle of April, the Redhill VB squadrons
had operated as an appendage of the Kenley IX wing. Squadron Leader Russel
as Commanding Officer of 411 was deputed to act as VB Wing Leader by the
Station Commander in the middle of April. Since then, Squadron Leader
Russel has built up the VB squadrons at Redhill into a most efficient
escort wing which, since the middle of April, has carried out 64 sorties
as close escort or escort cover, in which over 500 medium bombers and
[on] one occasion 30 Fortresses have been taken into and out from targets
from Rotterdam to Cherbourg without the loss of a single bomber to enemy
fighters. Although, as close escort and as cover, the wing has been bounced
several times, the fine formation and discipline for which Wing Commander
Russel is largely responsible have discouraged the enemy on most occasions
from pressing home his advantage, and the wing has lost only two pilots
against two Huns destroyed and three damaged.
The Air Vice-Marshal commanding the Group added (26 September
1943):
The wing this officer has ld has been almost solely employed
on close escort or cover duties and has carried out these duties with
much efficiency and sucess. Although less spectacular than other fighter
roles, the Wing has earned high praise for its devotion to its task and
its skill, the credit for which is largely due to Wing Commander Russel.
_________________________________________________
Post-Mortems Promote Teamwork in Air Force
By FO. IVERS KELLY Somewhere in Britain, Feb. 23, 1944
(Special) - It’s the same with any group of men operating together,
whether as a football or hockey team, or as fighter pilots working in
unison 30,000 feet above the earth. A "get-together" after a
match, or an operation, in the more deadly game of war, at which mistakes,
ideas and tactics are discussed, makes for a better showing the next time
the team takes to the field or the skies.
And so it is with the fighter pilots of the R.C.A.F. fighter wing, in
England commanded by Wing Cmdr. Robert Wendell (Buck) McNair,
D.F.C., and two Bars, of North Battleford, Sask., native of Nova Scotia,
and destroyer of 17 enemy aircraft.
"The Chief," as the men call Winco McNair, is successor in command
of the wing to another great Canadian flier of this war — Wing Cmdr.
B. Dal Russel, D.F.C, and Bar, of Montreal, who boasts the splendid, record
of not having lost a single bomber to enemy fighters during six months
of close escort over enemy territory.
_________________________________________________
FIGHTER PILOT PILES UP SCORE IN AIR BATTLES
August 3, 1944 - Another Hamilton fighter pilot has achieved
the enviable record of four enemy planes destroyed and a score more damaged
and probably destroyed. He is Flt.-Lt. George W. Johnson,
son of Mr. and Mrs. William Johnson, 102 Beechwood Avenue, who knocked
down another Hun fighter over Normandy battlefields yesterday. Flt.-Lt
William Olmsted, son of Major R. I. Olmsted,
M.C., and Mrs. Olmsted, and Flt.-Lt. Jack Bamford, D.F.C., share the record
of four "certain kills” Flt.-Lt. Bamford is now missing.
According to a Canadian Press dispatch from France, "three German
aircraft were destroyed over the battlefronts yesterday by Canadian Spitfire
pilots flying from Normandy bases. One fell to Flt.-Lt. R. R. Bouskill,
of Toronto; one to Flt.-Lt. R. H. Cull, of Alberta,
and one to Flt.-Lt. Johnson.
Now into his second tour of operations, Flt.-Lt. Johnson has scored at
least three of his kills since D-day.
He was posted overseas last June after having served for a year as instructor
in Canada. He was awarded his wings at Dunnville. Employed in the offices
of the Steel Company of Canada, prior to his enlistment, he attended Prince
of Wales School and Central High School of Commerce. His father is a Great
War veteran.
According to today's dispatch from overseas, the Canadians are members
of a squadron commanded by Sqdn.-Ldr. Charlie Trainor,
of Charlottetown, and their victories raised to 92 since D-day the score
of the wing led by Wing Cmdr. Dal Russel, of Montreal. An individual victory
was marked up Wednesday by F.O. Terry Saunderson, of Dorval, Que., who
forced a German pilot to bale out at 3,000 feet.
_________________________________________________
28 HUN PLANES DOWNED FRIDAY BY CANADIANS
London, Sept. 29, 1944 - (CP) - Spitfire pilots of three
Canadian fighter wings destroyed at least 28 German aircraft today, raising
their score for the week to more than 80. The RCAF reported from Belgium
that pilots of a Belgian-based wing under the command of Wing Cmdr. W.R.
MacBrien of Ottawa, shot down nine German planes and damaged two others.
A Reuter News agency correspondent in a field dispatch credited wings
commanded by Wing Cmdr. Dal Russel, D.F.C., of Westmount, Que., and Wing
Cmdr. J.E. (Johnny) Johnson English-born leader of a Canadian wing, with
10 and nine, respectfully. Ft. Lt. Gordon Ockenden
of Edmonton, Flt. Lt. Gordon Smith of Nelson, B.C., and FO. R.A. Hodgins
of Ottawa each scored double victories as MacBrien's wing smashed up German
formations of fighters over Nijmegen, Holland, near the northern tip of
the British 2nd Army's corridor through Holland. Single kills were credited
to FO. A. J. Horrell of Windsor, Ont., FO. K.M. Langmuir of Toronto, and
Flt. Lt. Cap Foster of Grimsby, Ont. Flt. Lt. B.T. Gilmour of St. Thomas,
Ont., and FO. F.R. Kearns of Quyon, Ont., each claimed to have damaged
an enemy plane. Foster's victory was a "revenge" kill. The Grimsby
pilot was forced to bail out behind the Allied lines Sunday when an ME-109
blew up the engine of his Spitfire, but today he got another ME-109 in
his sights and brought it down with a four-second burst. "I was pretty
mad and thinking of what happened to me the other day," Foster said.
"He blew up, and I had to dodge the debris. I guess things are evened
up now." Names of the scorers in the wings commanded by Russel and
Johnson were not immediately available.
_________________________________________________
Eight Ontario Fliers In Latest Honor List
Ottawa, Oct. 5, 1944 - (CP) - The RCAF tonight announced the
award of 26 decorations, including a Distinguished Service Order
and a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, to RCAF Personnel
serving overseas. The DSO was awarded Wing Cmdr. B.D. Russell,
DFC, of Westmount, Que., after his squadrons obtained outstanding
success under his leadership, said the RCAF. The Bar to the DFC
went to Sqdn Ldr. H.C. Trainor, Bedford, P.E.I., reported missing
Sept. 19, for outstanding leadership and fighting qualities. The
recipients:
DSO
Wing Cmdr. B.D. Russell, Westmount, Que.
Bar to DFC
Sqdn. Ldr. H.C. Trainor, Bedford, P.E.I.
DFC
Sqdn. Ldr. G. F. Arbuckle, 930 Queen St. E., Toronto.
Sqdn. Ldr. R. Bannock, Edmonton, Alta.
etc...
Wing Commander Dal Russel
|
|
_________________________________________________
RUSSEL, W/C Blair Dalzell, DFC (C1319) - Distinguished
Service Order - No.126 Wing
Award effective 3 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944.
In recent intensive air operations the squadrons under
the command of Wing Commander Russel have completed a large number of
sorties. Within a period of three days a very large number of enemy transport
vehicles were attacked of which 127 were set on fire and a bigger number
were damaged. In addition, four hostile aircraft were destroyed and seventeen
tanks and nineteen other armoured vehicles were damaged. By his masterly
leadership, sound judgement and fine fighting qualities, Wing Commander
Russel played a good part in the success achieved. His example inspired
all.
_________________________________________________
CHIEFS NAMED AT 2 AIRBASES
With the RCAF Bomber Group In Britain, Oct. 31, 1944
– (CP) – Group Headquarters today announced the appointment
of new commanders for two Bases.
Group Capt. J.L. Hurley of Ottawa assumes command of one base, comprising
three operational bomber stations, and is promoted to the rank of air
commodore. Formerly he was director of organization at RCAF headquarters
in Ottawa. Also promoted air commodore is Group Capt. F.R. Miller, of
Ottawa, who assumes command of a base with three stations housing heavy
conversion units and one housing an air crew battle school. It was additionally
announced that Wing Cmdr. C.C.W. Marshal of Kingston, Ont. has been, appointed
to command of the Tiger squadron. He formerly was a flight commander in
the Porcupine Squadron.
Sqdn. Ldr. Bill Olmsted of Hamilton, Ont., was
named commander of an RCAF fighter squadron in Belgium in a fighter wing
led by Wing Cmdr. Dal Russel of Westmount, Que.
_________________________________________________
RECORD SCORE MADE BY TWO RCAF GROUPS
An Advanced RCAF Airfield in Holland, Nov. 22, 1944 -
(CP) - Here's the record of a hot day's operations by two RCAF Spitfire
squadrons operating as fighter-bombers,
Four enemy fighters destroyed, a fifth probably destroyed; enemy rail
lines cut at 20 points; a direct hit with a bomb on a road bridge; one
locomotive destroyed, 22 damaged and put out of action; six freight cars
destroyed; 28 damaged; two anti-aircraft railway cars destroyed, and two
damaged; four barges damaged; seven transport vehicles destroyed, two
probably knocked out and seven damaged.
The squadrons are commanded by Sqdn. Ldr. Dean Dover, DFC, Mount Dennis,
and Sqdn. Ldr. William Olmsted, DFC, Hamilton, in a wing directed operationally
by Wing Cmdr. Dal Russel, DFC and Bar, of Montreal.
Flt. Lt. Don Laubman, DFC and Bar, of Edmonton,
brought his bag to 15 German aircraft destroyed as a result of the day's
encounters.
FO.'s Don Goodwin, Maynooth, Ont., and Neil Burns, 196 Eglinton Ave.,
Toronto, took off on a weather reconnaissance flight, but returned an
hour later after disabling six locomotives, destroying six freight cars
and cutting two rail lines. They encountered a perfect setup for dive-bombing—two
trains passing one another—10 miles east of Deventer. They scored
direct hits on both, severing the parallel lines and destroying six cars.
Then they returned and strafed both locomotives.
En route home they damaged four more engines by cannon and machine-gun
fire. Olmsted's men had the most success against trains, disabling 18
of 23 Locomotives and all but three of 34 freight cars.
_________________________________________________
Canadian Fighter Unit Downs 201 Nazi Planes
An Advanced R.C.A.F. Airfield in Holland, Dec. 18, 1944
- (CP) - Fliers of a Canadian Spitfire wing under Group Capt. G. R. McGregor
and Wing Cmdr. Dal Russel, both of Montreal, became the second to pass
the 200 mark in German aircraft destroyed since the wing’s formation,
when they shot down a pair of FW190's over Geldern in Germany.
First to establish the mark was the wing commanded jointly by Group Capt.
W.R. MacBrien of Ottawa, and Wing Cmdr. Johnny Johnson, whose fliers shot
down five aircraft Oct. 8, raising their total to 202, and subsequently
to 207. The McGregor-Russel wing's total stands at 201.
The two Canadian units have destroyed 314 Huns between them since D-Day,
scored more than 15 probables and damaged upwards of 200. In addition
to crippling German road and rail transport with dive-bombing, as well
as machine-gun and cannon offensives.
The first Jerry destroyed by McGregor-Russel pilots, July 19, 1943, was
a FW190, joint victim of Sqdn. Ldr. Ian Ormston of Montreal, and Sqdn.
Ldr. Bob Hayward of St. John's, Nfld. Since
then many aces have been born within the wing. The most recent being Flt.
Lt. Don Laubman, of Edmonton, with 15 destroyed; Sqdn. Ldr. R.I. Smith,
Regina, 11 destroyed; Flt. Lt. W.J. Banks and
F.O. D.R. Jamieson, both of Toronto, each with
eight destroyed.
_________________________________________________
"Canadian Wing Commanders"
by George Brown & Michael Lavigne
Lists Victories as follows :
August 26, 1940
½ Do 17 destroyed
NE of North Weald, England
August 31, 1940
1 Do 17 damaged
Near Gravesend, England
September 4, 1940 1 Ju 88
damaged Near East Grinstead,
England
1
Me 110 probable Near Gravesend,
England
September I5, 1940 1 He 111 probable
Southeast London, England
September 25, 1940 ½ Do 17
destroyed Off Beachy Head, England
September 27, 1940 1 Me 109 destroyed
Kenley-Biggin Hill, England
1
Me 110 destroyed East Grinstead area,
England
½ Me 110 destroyed East
Grinstead area, England
June 22, 1944
½ FW 190 destroyed
West of Argentan, France
August 10, 1944
1 Me 109 damaged
Near Alencon, France
|
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RUSSEL, F/O* Blair Dalzell, DSO, DFC (C1319) - Croix de
Guerre with Silver Star (France)
Award as per Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947 and
AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947.
* NOTE: The rank requires an explanation; Russel reverted
to Flying Officer on 19 November 1946 and was not reappointed to Wing
Commander rank until 13 July 1948.
_________________________________________________
RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell, DSO, DFC (C1319) -
Officer, Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 23 January 1948 and
AFRO 81/48 dated 6 February 1948.
Public Records Office Air 2/9293 has recommendation drafted
when he was a Wing Commander: In operational command of No.126 Wing, Royal
Air Force [sic], stationed at the aerodrome Volkel from September 1944
until February until April 1945, through his excellent work has greatly
contributed to the liberation of the Netherlands.
________________________________________________
21 Canadian Airmen Decorated by Czechs
Ottawa, Jan. 23, 1948 - (CP) - Recognizing the co-operation
between Canadian and Czech fliers during the war, Czechoslovakia has conferred
decorations on 21 serving and retired members of the RCAF, it was announced
tonight.
The Czechoslovak War Cross, 1939, was awarded to five officers, all of
whom served in the Battle of Britain. The Czech Medal for Bravery went
to 12 others, while four officers won the Czech Medal of Merit, 1st Class.
Wing Cmdr. P. S. Turner of Toronto, who served
with the RAF in the Battle of France, Dunkerque and the Battle of Britain,
won both the War Cross and the medal for Bravery.
Already a holder of the DSO and the DFC, he destroyed 14 enemy aircraft
and for a time commanded the City of Windsor Squadron No. 417 at Malta.
Later he headed No. 244 Wing and then transferred to the RCAF. He now
is stationed at the Joint Air School at Rivers, Man. Other winners of
the War Cross are: Group Capt. G. R. McGregor
of Montreal and Winnipeg; Group Capt. E.A. McNab of Regina; Sqdn. Ldr.
B. E. Christmas of St. Hilaire, Que., and FO. B. D. Russel of Montreal.
There were no citations accompanying the awards, presented in each case
to Canadians associated in some way with the Czech war effort.
Group Capt. McNab, 41, a son o£ a former Lieutenant-Governor of
Saskatchewan, was the first Canadian flier to receive an award in the
Second Great War. That was on Oct. 4, 1940. Following service overseas,
he returned to Canada and commanded No. 4 Service Flying Training School
in Saskatchewan.
Group Capt. McGregor was among the first three RCAF pilots to get the
DFC. A fighter pilot like the others who won the War Cross, he headed
an overseas fighter station, saw service in the Aleutians, and later commanded
No. 126 Wing.
FO. Russell, who holds his present title as a member of the auxiliary
air force in Montreal, formerly was an acting wing commander and led a
wing overseas.
_________________________________________________
RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell, DSO, DFC (C1319) - War Cross,
1939 (Czechoslovakia)
Canada Gazette dated 24 January 1948, and
AFRO 81/48 dated 6 February 1948.
_________________________________________________
For good photos see :
PL-19373 (with Spit - top)
PL-3093 (beside Hurricane),
PL-6911 (portrait),
PL-19372 (waist up in battledress, 1943),
PL-22169 (with Alsatian mascot - above),
PL-42559 (portrait). King George VI presented him with
- DSO, DFC and Bar to DFC on 10 October 1944. |
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--- Canadian Aces ---
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|
