Robert Kitchener "De Bub" Hayward

_________________________________________________

Canadian Fliers Down Hun Planes in France

London, Feb, 14 1944 - Canadian and Allied planes today continued the almost daily bombardment of Nazi installations in Northern France while R.A.F. Typhoons struck an enemy airfield and other military targets and United States fighter bombers raided the Gilze-Rijen airdrome in the Netherlands.
All the bombers and the American fighters returned without loss, but the R.A.F. lost four fighters in the day's operations.
The raid on the Nazi Northern France installations by R.A.F., R.C.A.F. and Allied Bostons, Mitchells and Mosquito bombers was the 42nd daylight pounding given them in 56 days. Spitfires provided the escort.
FO. R. K. Hayward of St. John's, Nfld., destroyed a Messerschmitt 210 today during a sweep by R.C.A.F. Spitfires over Northern France in support of Mosquito bombers. Hayward found the enemy close to the ground, dived and destroyed the plane with a short burst. "I saw two Germans jump out, but their parachutes did not open," Hayward said. Canadian planes made the sweeps without loss.
Canadians flying R.A.F, Mitchells said the bombing of the Pas-de-Calais area targets was deadly despite heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire. There was no fighter opposition. Flt. Sgt. Stew Weaver of Melfort, Sask., said he thought the squadron with which he flew "really did a job."
Vichy radio said 25,000 persons had been evacuated from the area to another, department of France.
The Gilze-Rijen base is used by the Germans to launch interceptors against Allied fleets bound for Germany, a task for which Hitler is apparently saving his fighter force. It was the 15th blow in 18 days by the United States strategic air force, and the second attack in five days on Gilze-Rijen, last on Feb. 10.
British fighters bagged at least four German planes during offensive patrols off France and over Northern France, one falling, to two Spitfires that chased the German around church spires and over rooftops.

Canadians Down Raiders
German planes poured a heavy rain of incendiary and explosive bombs on the London area and parts of Southeast England Sunday night, and Berlin claimed "several hundred Planes" made "another concentrated attack" on the centre, of London., British officials estimated 80 planes came over, with 15 penetrating to the capital. Six were reported downed, two by R.C.A.F. Mosquitos, all of which returned safely to their bases.
One of the raiders was shot down by Sqdn. Ldr. J. D. Somerville of Parry Sound. His observer was FO. D.G. Robinson of Transcona, Man. The other fell to FO. Rayne Denis Schultz of Bashaw, Alta., who has as observer Flt. Lt. V.A. William, of 132 Cavell Ave., Hamilton, Ont. The Schultz-Williams victory was their fifth as a night fighter team. They destroyed a Junkers S8 after a six-minute battle. Their aircraft was riddled and the engine and gasoline tanks holed before the enemy craft plunged in flames to the sea.
Schultz said the enemy pilot "was evidently dead before the enemy machine started its final dive but the gunner poured withering fire into us."
"I could actually see the gunner swinging in his turret, firing at us," Williams added.
Schultz and Williams each received the D.F.C. last December after shooting down three aircraft in one night. They have been flying as a team for more than a year.

Downed One, Damaged Another
Somerville, who is 33, and his observer were on their first operational flight together. They sighted an enemy plane at 18,000 feet over the sea. After being severely hit, the enemy disintegrated in midair. Later, the pair damaged another enemy plane with a short burst of fire.
Another Canadian, WO. I. E. Nelson of North Battleford shared a destruction of a Messerschmitt 109 during a fighter sweep over France early today. The enemy plane was brought down jointly by Nelson and an English flight sergeant after a chase inland.
Two churches, a school and many houses in one thickly populated residential area were burned out in London as a result of the Nazi Incendiaries. An East Anglian town suffered what was termed probably its heaviest loss of the war. Stores, two hotels and a theatre were hit.

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Two Toronto Fliers Get Hun Each

London, March 15, 1944 - (CP) - Spitfire pilots of a Canadian squadron escorting two-engined American bombers on an attack on Northern France today destroyed four German aircraft and damaged a fifth.
Four enemy fighters were shot out of the air and a bomber was attacked on the runway of an airfield near Cambrai.
The victors were Flt. Lts. Alec Foch Halcrow, 26, of Penticton, B.C.; Henry Kemp Hamilton, 21, of 1 Clarendon Ave., Toronto; Jack Sheppard, 23, of Dollarton, B.C., and FO. David Douglas Ashley, 24, of 1097 St. Clarens Ave., Toronto.
Their victims were four Focke-Wulf 190's, shot down over an airfield where a Messerschmitt 410 was damaged on the runway by FO. Robert Kitchener Hayward, 27, of St. Charles, Nfld,

_________________________________________________

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 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.; J. 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 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.
The margin for Keefer's wing was established in two dusk operations in which seven enemy planes were destroyed and two damaged. In the first action Hayward sighted more than 25 Nazi fighters and led his formation in pursuit. He damaged one.
Later the same Spitfires became embroiled with a dozen FW-190's, and Hayward got two of them. The first fell out of control, and the second burst into flames and crashed after Hayward had followed it down to tree-top height.
"The Huns were like bees,” said WO. Murray Havers, 1 Lloyd St., Hamilton. Ont. "They seemed confused and acted as though they did not know what they were doing."
The Canadian airmen said the Germans did not put up much of a fight despite their numerical advantage.
Other Canadians credited with kills during the day were FO. G. R. Stephen, Montreal; FO. Larry Robillard, Ottawa; FO. W. A. Gilbert, Dartmouth, N.S.; FO. Don Goodwin, Maynooth, Ont.; and FO. Tommy Wheler, 10 Beauford Rd., Toronto.

_________________________________________________

HONORS GIVEN 11 RCAF MEN FOR GALLANTRY

Ottawa, Sept. 5, 1944 -(CP)- Air Force Headquarters announced tonight the award of 1 Distinguished Service Order, 1 Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, 6 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 3 Distinguished Flying Medals to members of the RCAF Overseas. The recipients:

DSO
S/L H. W. McLeod, DFC & Bar, Regina

BAR TO THE DFC
S/L I. F. Kennedy, DFC, Cumberland, Ont. - (reported missing June 26)

DFC
F/L J. M. G. Plamandon, Ste. Michel, Que.
F/L L. R. Brochu, Ste Marie de Beauce, Que.
F/L R. K. Hayward, St, John's, Nfld.
F/L R. W. Orr of 206 Livingstone Ave, Toronto.
F/O W. T. Klersy of 14 Harcroft rd., Toronto.
F/O H. J. Powell, Frankford, Ont.

DFM
F/Sgt. J. W. Cumbers, Winnipeg.
F/Sgt. E. A., Snider, Haliburton, Ont.
Sgt. W. R. Williams, Winnipeg.

McLeod, who has distinguished himself as one of Canada's top-scoring fighter pilots with 17 enemy aircraft to his credit, was awarded the DSO for his continued display of the "highest standard of courage and resolution as an exceptional leader and relentless fighter."
Kennedy received the Bar to the DFC for his example of  "Keenness and resolution." He has 11 enemy aircraft to his credit.

_________________________________________________

HAYWARD, F/L Robert Kitchener (J12324) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.411 Sq.
Award effective 5 September 1944 as per London Gazette & Globe & Mail
of that date and AFRO 2373/44 dated 3 November 1944.

This officer has participated in a large number of varied sorties. He has displayed a high degree of skill and courage and his example has been most inspiring. He is a bold and resolute fighter and has shot down four enemy aircraft.

_________________________________________________

HAYWARD, S/L Robert Kitchener, DFC (J12324) - DSO - No.411 Squadron
Award effective 31 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 1/45 dated 5 January 1945.

Squadron Leader Hayward is a very skilful and courageous fighter. During a period of intensive air operations since the landing in Northern France, he has led his squadron on a very large number of sorties during which several hundred German mechanical vehicles have been most effectively attacked. In air fighting Squadron Leader Hayward has destroyed five enemy aircraft. His skilful leadership and iron determination have proved most inspiring

_________________________________________________

Toronto Airman In RCAF Awards

Ottawa, Nov, 1, 1944 - (CP) - Award of the Distinguished Service Order to one member of the RCAF overseas and the Distinguished Flying Cross to six others was announced tonight by Air Force Headquarters.
The DSO went to Sqdn Ldr. R. K. Hayward of St. John's, Newfound land, credited with destroying five enemy aircraft. He had "proved himself a most courageous leader," Headquarters said.
Recipients of the DFC were: S/L J.A. Hatch of 145 Douglas Drive, Toronto; F/L H. McLachlan of Aden, Alta.; F/L F. B. Young of Vancouver; F/O C. W. Chown of Mirror, Alta.; F/O H. L. Davenport of Russellville, Arkansas; F/O H. J. L. McKinley, Nassau, Bahamas, West Indies.

_________________________________________________

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 G/C G. R. McGregor and W/C 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 G/C W. R. MacBrien of Ottawa, and W/C 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 S/L Ian Ormston of Montreal, and S/L Bob Hayward of St. John's, Nfld. Since then many aces have been born within the wing. The most recent being F/L Don Laubman, of Edmonton, with 15 destroyed; S/L R. I. Smith, Regina, 11 destroyed; F/L W. J. Banks and F/O D. R. Jamieson, both of Toronto, each with eight destroyed.

_________________________________________________

Bob Hayward, Leonard Cheshire VC, Jack Charles, Freddy Green & Jack Sheppard

_________________________________________________

Victories Include :

5.5 / .25 / 5.5

_________________________________________________