James Hamilton "Jimmy" Ballantyne

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HERO OF MALTA TORONTO FLYER IS DECORATED
Flt.-Sgt. J. H. Ballantyne Shot Down Five Enemy Machines
and Damaged Others — Gets D.F.M.

Dec. 5, 1942 - A fighter pilot stationed at Malta for the past six months, Flt-Sgt. James Hamilton Ballantyne, of Toronto, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, according to an announcement made in London, Eng. Flt.-Sgt. Ballantyne, whose parents reside at 1529 Bathurst Street, was among a list of nine awards made to Canadian airmen serving in the European and Middle East theatres of the war. According to the citation, the 24-year-old Toronto flyer is “a most courageous and brave pilot who has played a worthy part in the defense of Malta." DOWNED FIVE PLANES

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POPPED OUT LIKE CORK
WHILE FLAME SPURTED FROM DOOMED FIGHTER
Swung Peacefully Over Mediterranean -
Far From Battle in Few Seconds
NOW HE HAS D.F.M.

December 12, 1942 - “Just a few lines to let you know I'm still in one piece. I wrote Mom weeks ago, giving her all the latest news up to that time, but since then lots as happened. For one thing I've been in the Mediterranean twice now, both on impromptu swimming exercise. That will sound like a bit of line-shooting, but out here, things you read about really happen.
“Here's the inside story of one of my trips into the drink.” Ballantyne wrote, “It's just one of such like experiences that take place in the usual days work, not to myself thank goodness, although it has happened twice to me in eight days.
“15 Big Jobs - Climb Fast”
I was down at dispersal at five bells, and we had our kit in her kites and were on top line by 5:15. The other boys and myself were lounging around in chairs reading. The telephone rang and everyone stopped to listen. Sure enough, it was operations at the other in, and as soon as our operator got all the information he called out - “scramble.”
“Eight of us scrambled for our kites and the ground crews strapped us in and started us up in seconds we were tearing down the drome and in the air. Ground operations telephoned up to tell us that our party consisted of 15 big jobs and quite a few small jobs, and to climb fast.
“We did just that, for we knew from experience that it is a lot better to do the bouncing then to be bounced. I rather thought this would be a good show, as the few kites jerry had sent over during the night had come to grief from our night fighter boys’ guns and he was sure to try to get us with a stronger mob.
“So we scooted up to 27,000 feet and tore right into their little jobs (the fighter escorts) and boy what fun! The air was filled with a million kites, it seemed, everyone buzzing around like bees. I got two and was just getting a sight on a third when I noticed a big yellow-nosed 109 coming down. I figured it was no place for me to be hanging around so I intended to give my “friend” in front of me a good burst, then beat it.
“I pressed the firing button but nothing happened. My guns had jammed, so I did a sharp break away and my aileron turned down as fast as the old kite could go - and that's fast, believe me.
“Old Jerry's tracery was sliding past me and I was doing all the things one is taught not to do at elementary - slipping, skidding, etc. I called up on my radio and had just given my section the details of my most lovely predicament when my engine started running unusually rough and pearly-gray smoke plus oil and stuff started to come up from the bottom of the cockpit.
“I kept looking behind and saw old Jerry break away with one of our boys pumping slugs at him. I also saw a nice tail of glycol smoke in a spiral trail behind me. That, dear dad, was my glycol and even a Merlin won't last long without some kind of coolant, so I pointed the old nose for home and started to glide for the Island, hoping that things might hold together long enough to land.
“7 miles from Malta the engine, which was still ticking over, started to vibrate and black smoke and flame spurted out from the sides of the cowling. I gave the ground station a call for a “fix,” undid my helmet, trimmed the kite for a dive, held back on the stick, undid my harness, opened the hood and as soon as I let go of the stick the kite dove smartly down and I popped out like a cork. Some way to pass the time!
No “Old School Tie”
“I pulled the ripcord and in the matter of seconds there was a jerk and then just a peaceful swinging up in the blue. It didn't take long to come down and as soon as I hit the water I disengaged myself from the chute and inflated my dingy. I crawled in and just lay there, looking for some signs of an aircraft. Funny enough though, just a few minutes before, the sky was filled with them, I couldn't see one now.
“Finally one of our boys spotted me and directed the air-sea rescue launch in my direction. It wasn't long before I had refreshments, smokes and good warm clothes. I didn't fly again that day, but was up and at them the day after. So now you will see why I haven't written as often as I should.
“The other drive into the sea was more or less similar, except it was going in on a formation of bombers and I get nicked by return fire. I got the bomber though. But every pilot has his own experiences, some less fortunate, but all of them true.

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BALLANTYNE, FS James Hamilton (R85860) - Distinguished Flying Medal - 229 Sq.
Award effective 1 December 1942 as per London Gazette dated 4 December 1942 and
AFRO 2069/42 dated 18 December 1942.

Since June, 1942, this airman pilot has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft and damaged others. One day in July 1942, he became separated from his section but with courage and determination attacked three Messerschmitt 109s, destroying one. Some days later Flight Sergeant Ballantyne was leading his section when the squadron attacked a formation of enemy heavy bombers. The bombers were successfully intercepted and pursued to within ten miles of the Sicilian coast. On yet another occasion this pilot attacked two Junkers 88s and then while separated from his squadron was attacked by four enemy fighters. By skilful maneuvering and great tenacity he fought off the enemy fighters and landed his aircraft safely. Flight Sergeant Ballantyne is a most courageous and brave fighter pilot, who has played a worthy part in the defence of Malta.

NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9606 has recommendation transmitted to Air Ministry on 4 November 1942 which was thereafter edited to the form above. Original text as follows:

This airman pilot arrived at Malta on 9th June 1942 and his score up to date is five and one-quarter enemy aircraft destroyed, one and one-half probably destroyed and six damaged.

Between 11th and 16th October when intense aerial activity was experienced over Malta, he destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged four. On 1st July 1942 he was separated from his section and attacked three ME.109s with great determination, destroying one of them and probably destroying another. On 12th October he was leading his section when the squadron attacked a formation of Ju.88s approaching the island from the north. The enemy bombers were turned back and he with others pursued them to within ten miles of the Sicilian coast.

Flight Sergeant Ballantyne badly damaged two of the Ju.88s and separated from his squadron was attacked by four ME.109s. By skilful maneuvering and great tenacity he fought off the enemy fighters to within a few miles of Malta, landing his aircraft safely. He has led his section on numerous occasions with outstanding courage and keenness. Pressing home his attacks in the face of odds, he is a most courageous and brave fighter pilot who has played a worthy part in the offensive fighting from Malta.

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Commissions Given Airmen Overseas

London, Dec. 28, 1942 (CP) — Royal Canadian Air Force overseas headquarters announced the commissioning of the following Ontario airmen :
R.C. Payne, R.L. Reeves, J.B. Schults, J.L. Davidson, M. Pettit, J.H. Ballantyne, R.J. Elliott, J. J. Flood, E.J. Tucker, R S. Eustace, J.P. Wheeler and T.E. Oliver, Toronto; K.H. Owens, O.A. Taylor, J.F. Murphy and B. L. Whaley, Ottawa; D.N. Row, Almonte; S.O. Hill, Port Arthur; W. J. Robbins and J.M. Morrice, London; D.A. Weskett, Woodroffe; J.H. Dowding, Sarnia; S.J. Shewell, Owen Sound; J.A. Hutchinson, Port Dover; K.A. Decher, Kitchener; H.J.F. Kerr, Russell; L.J. Tomb, Niagara Falls; W.B. Begy, St. Catharines; S.J. Abel, St. Thomas.

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"IT WAS LIKE THIS," explains F/O Jim Ballantyne DFM, left, as he chats with an old school chum, F/L Stan Love of No. 6 Initial Training School. They attended Oakwood Collegiate together. Now Love, who is going for his pilot’s wings, gets the “gen” from an expert.

Flew Spitfires at Malta, D.F.M. Winner on Leave

November 11, 1943 - As always, the Ottawa train was crowded. People poured from the tunnel and it wasn't easy to interview F/O Jim Ballantyne, DFM, as he pushed through the milling mob last night.
It grew progressively worse as his friends spotted him. His mother estimated there were more than 50 (people) down at Union Station to accord him a royal welcome. Every time a question was posed a different aunt turned up. But he was grinning and obliging, this mustached, 25 your old fighter pilot who came away from Malta with five confirmed Nazi ships and five more probables. He was pretty embarrassed by the reception.
As thrilled as anyone were his mother and father, Mr. & Mrs. J.H.H. Ballantyne of 1529 Bathurst St. and because the train was 23 minutes early, his mother insisted Jim wait around “just in few more minutes because I'm sure there are a few more coming.”
Everyone was interested in his operations at Malta, over which gallant little island he flew with F/O Buzz Beurling in the dogfight days. It was nothing to be out numbered 10 to one in those days he said shaking hands with a different uncle.
He flew Spitfires at Malta; called the Spit his favorite fighter. He has flown Mustangs, Typhoons and Hurricanes but he'll take Spits. He admitted he was prejudiced.
He was never injured but twice was forced to bail out when attacked by Me-109s. Once he leaped from a flaming ship; the other time from one badly shot up.
From Malta he went to England, he said, while in old school chum grinned a welcome. There, he'd done instruction on Typhoons. Now he's home for a month's furlough after 27 months overseas. “It's been a long time” he remarked, and ducked his head to kiss a different cousin.

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JAMES BALLANTYNE REPORTED MISSING

March 3, 1944 - Flying of Mr. James H. Ballantyne, DFM, has been reported missing in air action over Europe, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Ballantyne, Bathurst St. In a letter to his parents his superior officer wrote: ”he was on offensive operations over enemy territory when his aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire and was last seen going down out of control.”
Flying Officer Ballantyne was home in October last year on a months leave, following service at Malta.
Before Christmas, Jimmy Ballantyne was one of the defenders at Malta during the dark days of that islands heroic stand, associates recalled. It was flying out of Malta that he chalked up a score of five definite kills and five probables as well as countless other Nazi planes damaged. Twice in air battles he was forced to “hit the silk,” once when his plane was a flamer, the second time when his tail assembly was shot off. Each time he was fished out of the sea by the air-sea rescue crew.
His citation told of attacking three Messerschmitts while alone and destroying one of them, of attacking two Junkers and then beating off an attack by four fighters.

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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, April 12, 1944 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 855 of the R.C.A.F., naming Ontario men and next of kin. List includes:
Missing After Air Operations
BALLANTYNE, James Hamilton, D.F.M., F/O. J. H. H. Ballantyne (father), 1529 Bathurst St., Toronto.

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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, Dec. 19, 1944 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 1070 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing next of kin of those named from Ontario include :
Previously Missing, Now Officially Presumed Dead
BALLANTYNE, James Hamilton, DFM, F/O. J. H. H. Ballantyne (father), 1529 Bathurst St., Toronto.

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Victories Include :

5.25 / 0.5 / 7

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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