Hugh Charles "Charlie" Trainor

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 (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 bf 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.; 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. P. 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 wire damaged by fliers of the R.C.A.F.
Of the wings comprising Group Capt, W. (Bill) MacBrien's R.C.AF. 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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TRAINOR, F/L Hugh Charles (C1697) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.411 Squadron
Award effective 8 August 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2052/44 dated 22 September 1944.

Within a very short period Flight Lieutenant Trainor has shot down five enemy aircraft. His successes are a fine tribute to his great skill and fighting qualities.

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Johnson Bags 2 More, Boosts His Total to 35

LONDON, July 5 (CP).—Canadian Spitfire pilots, their 28-year-old English leader, Wing Cmdr. John E. (Johnny) Johnson again setting the pace, destroyed seven German aircraft over Normandy today, raising to 65 the number of enemy planes knocked down by Canadian fighter wings in one week. Johnson, leading Allied air ace in the European theatre, shot down two planes today to bring his score to 35. FO. R. T. McRobert of Calgary also got two "kills" in today's triumphant sweep by the Canadian fliers that followed their spectacular success of July 3 when they got 19 of the 21 German planes destroyed over Normandy that day. The Canadians shot down 13 planes on June 30, and 26 on June 28.
One aircraft was missing after the day’s operations by the Canadian fighters, which culminated an active 24 hours for airmen of the R.C.A.F. Canadian-manned Typhoon and Mustang fighter-bombers attacked bridges over the Orne and broke up a road leading to that river, while Bomber and Coastal Command crews also saw action, and intruders were out over France. Johnson's kills today brought his score to three more than the mark set during the Battle of Britain by Group Capt. A. G. (Sailor) Malan, who is not now on active operations, and the late Paddy Finucane, lost in action last year. Unofficially, Finucane was credited with 33 planes.
Three kills and several damaged, credited to R.C.A.F. airmen yesterday, also were reported tonight. Flt. Lt. H. C. Trainor, Charlottetown, P.E.I., got two German planes southeast of Caen, and shared in the destruction of a third with Sqdn. Ldr. G. D. Robertson of Toronto

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TRAINOR, S/L Hugh Charles, DFC (C1697) - Bar to DFC - No.401 Squadron
Award effective 3 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944.

On many occasions recently, Squadron Leader Trainor has led the squadron on a variety of sorties and has displayed excellent tactical ability and great resolution. On one occasion a very superior number of enemy fighters were engaged and eight of them were shot down, one of them by Squadron Leader Trainor who displayed great skill and determination throughout the fight. This officer has shot down at least nine enemy aircraft.

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ALL-CANUCK FIGHTER WINGS IN BATTLE FOR BEST SCORES

Competition So Intense Airmen Beg For Another Crack at Enemy
London, July 12.—(CP Cable)—-Competition among all-Canadian fighter wings operating from Normandy in support of the Allied invasion reached such a pitch by to-day that pilots are plaguing operations officers to have one more show "laid on" so they can top the score of German planes downed by rival wings.
Excellent Record
A summary of the operations of one Normandy-based fighter wing during four weeks of the invasion period shows that 170 Nazi aircraft have been shot out of the skies. This summary covers the period up to Monday, since when poor weather in the bridgehead area has reduced tactical flights to a minimum.
Since D-day Wing-Cmdr, J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, who holds the D.S.O. and two bars, the D.F.C. and bar, and the American D.F.C., has skyrocketed to new fame as Britain's leading ace with a score of 35 German aircraft downed. Johnson, native of Nottingham, England, now heads a Canadian fighter wing.
Downs 35th Victim
He downed his 35th enemy victim June 30 to top the record of 33 set up by Group Capt. A. G. (Sailor) Malan, from South Africa, who now is on ground duty. At the same time Johnson's wing went on to win a bet made with the late Wing-Cmdr, Lloyd V. Chadburn, of Aurora, Ont., holder of the D.S.O. and bar and the D.F.C., six weeks before D-day.
The two wing-commanders wagered that their respective wings would outscore the other during the month after the invasion was launched. After Chadburn lost his life over France in the early days of the invasion, the wager was taken over by Squadron-Ldr. Walter Conrad, D.F.C. of Richmond, Ont., of the Red Indian Squadron.
Until Johnson's wing scored seven victories in one operation July 5 Chadburn's wing, now led by Wing-Cmdr. R. A. Buckham, D.F.C., of Vancouver, was only two behind. The latest available accounting showed Johnson's wing is in the lead 47 to 40.
Others in Race
Meanwhile however, another Canadian-led wing under Wing-Cmdr. George Keefer, of Charlottetown, although not included in the wager, is just as interested in finishing at the top and in the last reckoning was tied with Johnson's wing with 47 enemy planes destroyed.
Furthermore, Keefer's pilots claimed 23 enemy aircraft damaged against 11 by Johnson's wing. Flt.-Lieut. Charlie Trainor of Charlottetown, who until June 28 was scoreless, entered the ace class by being credited with 7½ victories in the subsequent seven days. This was half a point more than Johnson achieved during the first month of the invasion.
Other Canadian airmen who have achieved notable scores during that period are: Flt.-Lieut Doug Lindsay, Arnprior, Ont., four; Squadron-Ldr. H. W. (Wally) MacLeod(sic), D.F.C. and bar, Regina, four; Flt.-Lieut. W. T. (Bill) Klersy, Toronto, four; Flt.-Lieut. Paul Johnson, Bethel, Conn., four.
Typhoons Prominent
These scores brought Lindsay's total kills to six, McLeod's to 19, Klersy's to five and Johnson's to five also. McLeod became Canada's leading operational pilot with his score of 19.
The Normandy-based Empire fighter plane group to which these Canadian wings are attached is commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Henry Broadhurst, of the R.A.F. Total of 12,000 sorties were flown by British and Canadian members of Air Vice-Marshal Broadhurst's group during the four weeks following D-day.
An all-Canadian Typhoon wing in the sector, commanded by Wing-Cmdr. Paul Davoud, D.S.O., D.F.C., of Kingston, Ont., has achieved a high degree of precision in dive-bombing since assigned to this role in Normandy. More than 8,000 rockets have been projected by R.A.F. Typhoons from close range at enemy targets within the battle area

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TRAINOR, S/L Hugh Charles, DFC (C1697) - Distinguished Service Order - No.401 Squadron
Award effective 1 December 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 239/45 dated 9 February 1945.

Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has led the squadron on many sorties, during which considerable success has been achieved. Within a period of three weeks some 385 enemy vehicles have been put out of action, many of them by Squadron Leader Trainor. In addition seventeen enemy aircraft were shot down, two of them by this gallant and relentless fighter. Squadron Leader Trainor displayed magnificent leadership, great determination and devotion to duty.

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FIGHTER PILOT PILES UP SCORE IN AIR BATTLES

Flt.-Lieut. George Johnson Has Destroyed Four Enemy Planes, Damaged Several
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.
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.

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Eight Ontario Fliers In Latest Honor List

Ottawa, Oct. 5 (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.

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PEI native evaded capture the first time he was forced to land behind German lines,
but was not so lucky the second time

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Famous Aerial Fighter Freed

Ottawa, May 23 (CP)—The name of Sqdn. Ldr. Hugh C. Trainor, 28, of Bedford, P.E.I., who as a fighter pilot and later as commander of a Canadian squadron, won the DSO and DFC and Bar for distinguished aerial operations after D-Day, was contained tonight in an RCAF list of Canadian fliers liberated from prison camps.
A native of Charlottetown, Sqdn. Ldr. Trainor joined the RCAF in 1940 and was awarded the DFC in August, 1944, after shooting down five enemy planes in a short period. By October he had nine planes and won the Bar to the DFC.
He was reported missing and later as a prisoner late that year when he was awarded the DSO for his leadership in command of a Canadian fighter squadron which destroyed 385 enemy vehicles in three weeks.

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--- Canadian Aces ---