To No.92 Squadron, 6 December 1942 serving with that unit until 3 September 1943 (Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 28 July 1943) Arrived in UK, 18 October 1943 but then repatriated to Canada, 13 November 1943 With No.135 Squadron, Terrance, British Columbia, 10 January 1944 to 10 March 1944 With No.135 Squadron, Patricia Bat, 10 March to 7 April 1944 At No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 8 April to 13 August 1944 Left Canada, 30 August 1944 and arrived in the UK, 5 September 1944 To No.442 Squadron, 30 September 1944 (Promoted Squadron Leader, 19 December 1944) Reported missing (POW), 22 February 1945 [* Evaded - see note below] Safe in UK, 5 April 1945; To Canada, 23 April 1945; Released 30 June 1945 DHist file 181.009 D.1636 (RG.24 Vol.20604) has application for Operational Wings dated 15 February 1944 Postwar he attended University of Toronto, graduating 1949 in mining engineering * NOTE: Public Record Office WO 208/3326 has MI.9 report of his evasion: I left Eindhoven on a dive-bombing operation at 1310 hours on 22 February 1945. I was dive-bombing a staff car and ran into my own ricochet, which hit my engine and I was forced to bale out. I landed near some woods close to Wullen (Germany, 1:150,000, Sheet K.53 A 48), hid my parachute and Mae West in an old shed and went further into the woods. |
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Graduates at Dunnville
All Parts of Canada and U.S. Represented
Dunnville, July 28, 1941— Squadron-Ldr. W. B. Burnett, of the Royal Air Force, who has been attached to No. 6 Service Flying Training school, R.C.A.F., since it opened last November, presented "wings" to a large class of graduating pilots on Sunday afternoon. Group Capt. A. H. Hull, officer commanding the school, said that Squadron-Ldr. Burnett was leaving shortly for another post and the honor of presenting the "wings" was as a tribute for the work he had done at the school.
Close Check-up at Gate
Despite the intense heat, there was a large attendance of relatives and friends of the graduates in attendance. A particularly close check-up was made at the gate and only invited guests and accredited press representatives were allowed inside. Addressing the gathering inside the drill hall, where the ceremony took place, Group Captain Hull explained the reason for the rigid checkup, pointing out that the station was not open to the general public at any time and that only properly identified relatives and friends of the graduating class members were admitted to the "wings" ceremony.
Group Captain Hull, after inspecting the class, congratulated the members on the successful completion of their studies at the school. Speaking of co-operation, the value of which has been stressed at nearly all "wings" presentations, he said that at a school of this kind, it was up to the individual himself to work hard and get as much learning as possible. "If it wasn't for the splendid cooperation we get from every branch of the service at this school, however, we wouldn't be turning out the classes we are," he said. After the "wings" had been presented, Group Captain Hull said to the graduates, "I want to wish every one of you who is going overseas or to some other job the very, very best of luck. Despite the fact that you now have your wings, don't stop learning. Take every chance you can get to further your knowledge."
Flight-Lieut. J. G. Sparling, station chaplain, told the graduates: "I hope God's blessing will go with you. Your responsibility will be great, but I know every man in this class is capable of carrying that responsibility."
The new sergeant pilots are, with the exception of a few from the United States, all Canadians, coming from all parts of the Dominion. Ontario was the home of sixteen. Sgt. Ian McKenzie Duff was the only Hamilton man. His home is at 96 Barnesdale avenue north. Others were: W. F. J. Mason, Smith's Falls; C. W. Fox, Guelph; D. C. Van Atta, Dunnville; T. G. Stevenson, St. David's; J. R. Tufford, Florenceville; J. D. L. LaSalle, Holtyre; J. A. Jodoin, Cornwall; F. C. Duggan, Niagara Falls; J. D. Shanahan and J. J. Silcox, Toronto. James Wendall, R. L. Hazel, B. L. L. McMahon, M. E. Jowsey and C. R. Heggdveit, Ottawa. Montreal was well represented by the following: Sgts. A. G. Dumville, G. C. Burns, F. Buchanan, M. J. Belleau, F. R. Bartlett, J. D. Massey, Clifford Luxton, J. H. G. Leguerrier and R. D. Fletton.
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British Construction Group Restores Airfield in Sicily for Use By Canadian Flyers
Italians Had Ploughed Up Runways –
Deep Furrows Were Speedily Filled Up Soon After Allies Had Landed
(By Ross Munro, Canadian Press War Correspondent) Somewhere in Sicily, July 13, 1943 (Delayed CP Cable) — Canadian pilots now are flying off a Sicilian aerodrome which was captured by Canadian infantry and brought into operation by a British airfield construction group soon after the landing last Saturday.
Furrows Two Feet Deep
The Italians had ploughed up this airfield before the invasion and the airfield construction group, including British pioneers and sappers who came in with the Canadians, went to work filling in furrows which in some parts were two feet deep.
It was not long before fighter planes flown by Canadians landed on the repaired drome, throwing up great clouds of chalky dust as they taxied to a standstill.
At this airfield this morning I met six Canadians of an R.A.F. fighter squadron.
They were: P/O Gordon Wilson, of Regina; P/O Rex Probert, of Moose Jaw, Sask.; F/O Fred Wihak, of Melville, Sask; F/O Bob Hazel of Ottawa, a former Rough Rider football player; F/O Milt Jowsey of Ottawa and Flight-Sgt. Mike Askey of Winnipeg, whose father is a padre of a Canadian division in England.
Hazel told me that Tony Golab, also a former Roughrider, now is flying out of Malta and has been on operations over Sicily.
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CANADIANS SET AERIAL HISTORY IN SICILY FIGHT
Two Pilots Score Initial Victory From Captured Territory
Algiers, July 18, 1943 - (CP) - Two Canadian fighter pilots scored the first air victory achieved by the R.A.F. operating from captured airfields in Sicily, it was reported here today. In a running fight July 14 near Augusta, F/O Milton Jowsey of Ottawa, and P/O Rex Probert of Moose Jaw, Sask., veteran members of a famous desert air force squadron downed two Italian Macchi 202s. They are members of one of the first British and Empire squadrons to strike at the Axis from the first enemy airfield captured on Sicily. The airfield from which squadrons now are operating was taken a few hours after the first Allied landings July 10 in Southeast Sicily. The pilots, most of whom fought through the Western Desert and Tunisian campaigns, went into action a few hours after the squadrons landed. Flying Spitfires, they began dawn-to-dusk patrols over the airfields and over the beaches between Syracuse and Augusta. One enemy fighter was damaged the day before the successful action by the two Canadians. So far, R.A.F. squadrons on Sicily have met little opposition and on several occasions enemy planes have sheered away from combat. |
 F/O Jowsey |
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Global War Stressed By 11 R.C.A.F. Awards
Ottawa, Oct. 1, 1943 - (CP) - Stories of activity from an anti-shipping strike off the coast of Norway to a submarine sinking in the Indian Ocean were written into citations to 11 awards made to members of the R.C.A.F. overseas and, announced by Air Force Headquarters tonight,
A bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded F/L T. W. Lewis of Akron, Ohio, who since has been reported a prisoner of war. In addition, eight D.F.C.s and two Distinguished Flying Medals have been awarded members of R.C.A.F. aircrews.
Among the D.F.C. winners was P/O Archie McDonald of Angus, Ont., who piloted an aircraft in an attack against an enemy anti-aircraft ship off the coast of Norway. He and his navigator, a member of the R.A.F., both were badly wounded and the aircraft damaged by the ship's return fire.
Notwithstanding his wounds and loss of blood, McDonald flew his aircraft back to base and made a successful crash landing. F/O C. E. Robin of South Hazelton, B.C., was awarded the D.F.C. for his part in the sinking of a submarine in the Indian Ocean.
His citation said he came to the aid of another pilot who had expended all his ammunition in attacking the U-boat, made a "determined and accurate attack," and finally sank the submarine. The awards :
BAR TO D.F.C.
F/L T. W. Lewis, Akron, Ohio.
D.F.C.
F/O M. B. Jowsey, Ottawa.
P/O E. A. Ker, Fonthill, Ont.
P/O A. McDonald, Angus, Ont.
P/O B. A. Quinlan, Calgary.
P/O W. J. White, Winnipeg.
F/O E. T. Batchelor, Vancouver.
P/O R. H. Probert, Moose Jaw, Sask.
F/O C. E. Robin, South Hazelton, B.C.
D.F.M.
Sgt. B. M. Berven, Qu'Appelle, Sask.
Sgt. R. R. Davey, Durham Ont
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JOWSEY, F/O Milton Eardley (J6366) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.92 Squadron
Award effective 24 September 1943 as per London Gazette dated 1 October 1943 &
AFRO 2258/43 dated 5 November 1943.
Recently with another pilot Flying Officer Jowsey attacked a large force of enemy aircraft over Catania airfield. During the ensuing engagement he personally destroyed one of them bringing his victories to at least four enemy aircraft destroyed. A cool and capable leader, his courage and determination to engage the enemy have set a fine example to his fellow pilots and have contributed in no small measure to the successes achieved by his squadron.
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 442 Squadron - Volkel, October 1944. Top row - 'Smitty' Smith, Neil Burns, Joe Doyle, 'Rookie' Dunne, Bill Olmsted, Mills, John Lumsden & Vince Schenk. Sitting on wing - Jowsey, Gordie Watkins, Norm Keene & Red Francis. Bottom row - Stan McLarty, Simpson, John Dick, E.C. Ireland and the Engineering Officer. |
Given DSO for Part in Blasting Hun Bombers
With the RCAF Overseas, Dec. 18, 1944 - (CP) - Davie Williams of Vancouver is a D.S.O. flier now, and a wing commander leading the Lynx Squadron of Mosquito night Fighters based in Britain.
He won the award in a fearless daylight operation against German bombers who were attacking a convoy of Allied destroyers southwest of Brest. Williams and his navigator, F/O C. J. Kirkpatrick of Saskatoon, who won the D.F.C. for this exploit, shot down the two attacking bombers.
When he went on the sortie, Williams was officially on leave. He hadn't left his station, however, and when the navy called, asking for air support, Williams and Kirkpatrick went up immediately.
Weather Was Thick
The weather was so thick that the day fighters could not do anything. That was why they turned to the night fighters.
Williams flew in solid cloud until just southwest of Brest, he and Kirkpatrick sighted five Allied destroyers and, five miles away, two German bombers starting their bombing run. He sped in behind them at low level, about 100 feet above the sea and got caught in the bombers' crossfire, which knocked the Mosquito's starboard engine out.
But with one engine left, he pressed on and knocked clown one Dornier, and just as the second was about to bomb, he scored hits which sent it diving into the sea.
Lieut. A. A. Harrington of Ottawa recently shot down his fourth enemy aircraft in night fighter operations. Harrington, who flies with an English navigator in a Mosquito, is a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, finishing his night fighting tour with the Canadian Cougar squadron before transferring to the United States Army.
F/O J. P. W. Francis of North Battleford, Sask., realized the reconnaissance fighter pilot's ambition by shooting down an FW 190 over Germany in the first combat flight of his career. On the same sortie F/L Milt Jowsey, D.F.C., of Ottawa, destroyed another FW 190, his first since starting a second operational tour, and his fifth all told.
A couple of train busters based in Holland with the RAF are F/L W. B. Peglar of Toronto and F/L J. A. Malloy of Ottawa. In two attacks on railway yards in the Wesel area, they damaged a locomotive and left it squirting steam and shot up 30 coaches.
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Victories Include :
| 3 Nov 1942 21 Jan 1943 7 Mar 1943 18 Apr 1943 11 July 1943 14 July 1943 15 July 1943 6 Oct 1944 2 Nov 1944 |
one Ju87B one Ju87 one Me109 one MC202 one Ju88 one MC202 one MC202 one FW190 one FW190 |
damaged destroyed damaged destroyed destroyed destroyed damaged probable destroyed |
33 Sqn. 92 Sqn. 442 Sqn. |
5 / 1 / 3
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Related Sites :
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Thanks go out to
442 Squadron photo from Bill Olmsted's book "Blue Skies"
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.
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