Presented with award 9 February 1943. Designated CO of 402 Squadron, 13 June 1943 & attached to 421 Squadron for a few days to get back to operational standards. On 17 June 1943 he took command of 421 Squadron on posting of its CO, Jimmy Hall. That same day, 17 June 1943 (Spitfire LZ996) he was shot down and killed. Buck McNair was sent to replace him on the 19th. Archer's Spit IX was recovered by the Douglas Bader Foundation in 1996. They were digging for Douglas's Spit V |
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Training: Interviewed in Montreal, 15 April 1940 by F/O J.V. Sorsoleil who described him as “Pleasant, courteous, determined, enthusiastic” and added, “Very good type. Excellent around athletic background. Polite, keen, intelligent, observant, steady nerves. Anxious to serve.”Course at No.1 ITS was 24 June to 20 July 1940. Courses and marks as follows: Mathematics (87/100), Armament, practical and oral (68/100), Drill (85/100), Law and Discipline (97/100). Did not take Visual Link. Placed 76th in a class of 244. “Good type, should make a good fighter pilot” (W/C G.S. O’Brian).
Course at No.6 EFTS was 22 July yo 16 September 1940 with a course extension to 6 October 1940. All flying on Tiger Moth (35.25 day dual, 40.40 day solo, 5.30 in Link). “Needs practice in aerobatics, forced landings and instrument flying.” Ground courses were Airmanship (159/200), Airframes (154/200), Aero Engines (155/200), Signals, practical (36/50), Theory of Flight (90/100), Air Navigation (158/200), Armament, oral (185/200). Placed 6th in a class of 23.
Course at No.1 SFTS was 29 November 1940 to 7 January 1941. All flying on Yales (28.15 day dual, 20.00 day solo, 1.20 night dual, 1.30 night solo, five hours in Link). “Progressed steady. A smooth and quite accurate pupil pilot.” (S/L Walter E. Kennedy, Chief Flying Instructor). Ground courses were Airmanship (149/200), Armament, written (71/100), Armament, practical (67/100), Air Navigation (126/200), Signals (28/50). “Above average type of pupil. Discipline and attitude excellent.”
Notes: Some correspondence on file indicates that as early as 16 October 1942 he was being considered for command of No.421 Squadron, it being deemed that the CO of that unit (one S/L Willis) had somehow failed through lack of experience (although it was admitted that Willis had “performed the duties to the best of his ability.” The promotion and command did not go through because Archer was due for a rest tour. Air Marshal Harold Edwards wrote on 23 October 1942 to Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, suggesting that “Flight Lieutenant Archer would attain as much rest at a quiet unit such as No.421 Squadron as he would at an OTU.” He then added, “I feel confident that Flight Lieutenant Archer’s appointment to command No.421 Squadron would be beneficial both to the Squadron and to the Service as a whole.” Nevertheless, he went to Kenley as Sector Gunnery Instructor.
Letter dated 29 June 1943 (W/C J.E. Johnson to his mother) stated he had flown 76 sorties and 182 hours five minutes on operations. On the other hand, a letter dated 19 October 1942 (just as he was being sent to instructional duties) mentioned his having flown 197 operational hours to that date,
Circumstances of Death: Report of October 1943 states:
No.421 RCAF Squadron reported that Spitfire aircraft LZ996 failed to return from a Rodeo operation. It left base at 1502 hours on the 17th June 1943. Between 1517 and 1549 hours the wing was engaged by the enemy between Ypres and St. Omer.
Another report, this time dated 28 July 1943 (Commanding Officer, No.421 Squadron to Air Ministry Casualties Branch) read:
Squadron Leader Archer took off from Kenley Aerodrome in Spitfire IX, LZ996, at 1502 hours on 17 June 1943 to take part in Rodeo 231. The wing was engaged by the enemy between Ypres and St. Omer between 1517 and 1549 hours. Squadron Leader Archer did not return from this operation and casualty signal T.51 was despatched.
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Nazis Dodge Scotland As Eager RCAF Waits
With the R.C.A.F., Somewhere in Scotland, May 4, 1942 — Scotland's rare beauty is something to be admired, but the war can't be won by gazing at rolling green hills or tree-fringed locks. That's how airmen of a Canadian Spitfire squadron stationed in Scotland feel.
They are "browned off"—fed up— and want action. Enemy inactivity over this part of Britain has left them virtually jobless.
"We'd like to go to the Middle East," said the squadron commander, Squadron Leader Lloyd Chadburn, 22-year-old pilot from Aurora, Ont., "Even the south of England would be good enough."
Flight Lieutenant W.W. Murray of Woodstock, Ont., a flight commander, felt the same way. Still in his flying boots and Mae West after a cannon-firing test, he said he would go anywhere to "get a little action."
He almost saw his wish fulfilled a little while ago, when the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen were making their spectacular escape from Brest.
Murray and seven other Canadian airmen were ordered to fly to an air station in the south. When they landed there they were sent out to attack aircraft escorting the vessels.
"We raced almost to the Hook of Holland," he said, adding regretfully that "when we got there we found the warships were several miles further away." So Murray and his mates had to return home because they didn't have enough gasoline to take them any further.
"I wouldn't mind at all being back in the south, where you're only a few minutes away from enemy territory. I saw some action when I was down there before with another squadron."
Recalling how he lost a wing tip in a tilt with a Messerschmitt 103 during a sweep over France, Murray said he shot at the Nazi, "and I think I got him, but I wasn't able to confirm it."
Members of his flight who were lounging around in the flight office included Pilot Officers Clyde Scollan, Ottawa; Philip Blades, Victoria; W.T. Johnston, Calgary; Bob Turp, Aurora, Ont.; Flight Sergeants Roy Wozniak, Regina; Doug MacPherson, Edmonton; Jim McNamara, Montreal; Jack Rae, Toronto, and Jack Moul, Port Alberni, B.C.
In the other flight, commanded by Flight Lieutenant P.L. Archer of Barbados, B.W.I., are Pilot Officer Roger Paradis of Shawinigan Falls, Que., the French-Canadian pilot with the squadron; Pilot Officer Buckham of Vancouver; Flight Sergeants Angus Kelly, Regina; Howard MacDonald, Sydney, N.S., and Gene Richardson, Windsor.
The 25-year-old Paradis, who has been with the squadron since it was formed, was a machine operator in a cellophane factory before he joined up.
"This is a very good life," he said, "but I wish we would see some action."
One of the flying control officers at the station is a Canadian, Flying Officer Reg Fisher of Toronto. He supervises the landing and taking off of aircraft from the watch office.
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FOUR CANADIANS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR GREAT WORK
Toronto Pilot Gets D.F.C. For Attacks Deep Into Germany
DEEDS OF HEROISM
London, September 11, 1942 - (CP Cable) - The air ministry today announced the award of Distinguished Flying Crosses to six members of the Royal Canadian Air Force who have been carrying the air war deep into German-occupied territory.
The flyers are: F/O James Elmslee Walker, of Edmonton; F/O John Lefroy McCaul, of Toronto; P/O John William Williams, Chilliwack, B.C.; Acting F/L P.L.I. Archer, native of Bridgetown, Barbados, B.W.I.; F/L Frederick Ernest Green, of Toronto, and S/L John Fee, Calgary, Alta.
The citation said Walker destroyed a Nazi plane while serving with the R.A.F. wing in Russia last year and has "shown a keen desire to engage the enemy at all times." Since March he has led his flight continuously on all operations.
Bombs Aerodrome
McCaul was the navigator of a bomber which attacked a German aerodrome last July, the citation said. He got his bombs on the target despite intense searchlight activity and anti-aircraft fire and his "accurate navigation in the face of great difficulties was of the highest orders."
Williams "fought the enemy with great determination," his citation said. "Within a short period he has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft, two of which he shot down in one day. Later his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire but he flew it safely to its base."
Walker and P/O David L. Ramsay, of Calgary, were the only Canadians in the R.A.F. wing which fought in Russia. On his return from Russia early this year Walker described flying in the Murmansk area much the same as winter flying in Canada except that they saw action.
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ARCHER, F/L Phillip Leslie Irving (J3508) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.416 Squadron
Award effective 24 August 1942 as per London Gazette dated 11 September 1942 and
AFRO 1535/42 dated 25 September 1942.
This officer has completed sorties over enemy territory and has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft. On one occasion, although wounded in the leg, Flight Lieutenant Archer flew his badly damaged aircraft back to the base where he executed a skilful landing. He is a most efficient leader.
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Air Casualties
Ottawa, July 25, 1943 - (CP) - The R.C.A.F. in its 636th casualty list of the war containing 38 names yesterday reported two men killed on active service overseas, one dead from injuries suffered on active service overseas, 12 missing on active service after overseas air operations and four killed on active service in Canada. Including with next of kin:
ARCHER. Philip Leslie Irving. D.F.C. Sqdn. Ldr., missing after air operations overseas. Mrs. F.L. Archer (mother), Belleville, St. Michael, Barbados.
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Air Force Casualties
Ottawa, November 16, 1943 - (CP) - The R.C.A.F. reported tonight in its 734th casualty list of the war, containing 50 names, that nine men have been killed on active service overseas, while 16 others are missing on active service after air operations. In Canada, three men were listed as killed on active service and three others as previously reported missing on active service and now for official purposes presumed dead. Including, with next of kin:
ARCHER, Philip Leslie Irving – D.F.C., Sqdn. Ldr., previously reported missing on active service overseas, now for official purposes presumed dead. Mrs. F.L. Archer (mother), Clovelly, Barbados, B.W.I.
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Victories Include :
| 23 June 1941 7 July 1941 9 July 1941 11 July 1941 18 July 1942 17 June 1943 |
one Me109 one Me109 one Me109 one Me109 one Ju88 one Do17 one FW190 |
destroyed destroyed & damaged destroyed destroyed destroyed destroyed |
92 Sqn 92 Sqn 92 Sqn 92 Sqn 416 Sqn 421 Sqn |
6 / 0 / 1
stats from Aces High 2nd Ed.
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Related Sites :
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Thanks go out to
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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