For additional details see H.A. Halliday's "The Tumbling Sky" Note [HH]: The Operational Record Book of No.411 Squadron, under date 19 February 1944, is interesting for a word on his leadership: "In the afternoon the Wing was given a talk by W/C Buck McNair who told all the pilots to smarten up and get ready for the coming fight. He really laid into the pilots and I’m sure his talk will have a lasting effect on all of them." |
||||||||
_________________________________________________
"… Buck McNair's engine had cut out twice more over enemy territory. The first time he was again able to glide back and make a safe landing; but the second, his engine caught fire halfway across the Channel, and he had to bail out. He was burnt around the eyes, and by the time he got close to the water they were so swollen that he could hardly see. Thinking that he was just about to go in the water, he jettisoned his 'chute and fell from about three hundred feet into the sea. He was picked up by the Air-Sea Rescue boys. As soon as Buck's eyes were opened wide enough, he insisted on returning to lead his Wing.
Buck's burnt faceWith the Sicilian campaign over, the high-ranking triumvirate of this Campaign were recalled to England in preparation for the Invasion. From the Army came Generals Montgomery and Patton. From the Air Force came Air Marshals Tedder and Coningham and Air Vice Marshal Broadhurst. Tedder put Coningham in charge of the Tactical Air Force, and Air Vice-Marshal Broadhurst replaced Air Vice-Marshal Dixon, who had guided the 2nd TAF through the teething stage. All were under the Supreme Allied Commander General Eisenhower. The Field Commanders brought their personal caravans and set up Mobile Command Posts around them. Eisenhower provided each one with a personal staff car marked with the appropriate number of stars of the equivalent American rank. Each had their Staff Officer's pennant fluttering from the front fenders. Broadhurst loved driving his Cadillac convertible. It was a common sight to see him at the wheel, his personal assistant Burgess beside him, with the driver in the back seat. One day he found himself held up by a large slow-moving convoy of American trucks. The last vehicle was filled with bored American GI's who began shying refuse at the Air Vice-Marshal. The enraged Broadhurst got in front of the truck at the first opportunity, stopped, and told Burgess to get out and take their names. Not only did the GI's refuse to cooperate, but they pulled his cap down over his eyes and roughed him up. Broadhurst had no choice but to complain to Eisenhower. GI's didn't take orders from anyone but Americans. As soon as his Field Headquarters was established, Broadhurst started weekly conferences for all the Wing Leaders under his command. Broady, as he was referred to, had led a Wing in the Battle of Britain and subsequently made a name for himself as an efficient Staff Officer and a hard-nosed Field Commander. He openly admitted at first that he had little use for Canadians and Buck McNair in particular. Buck had flown under him at Hornchurch before he had left for Malta. As far as Buck was concerned, the feeling was mutual. I distinctly remember the first Wing Commanders' conference that Broady called in his Headquarters. In desert tradition, the meeting was held in a long rectangular field-tent furnished with a mobile conference table, field maps and collapsible chairs. Broady chaired the meeting from one end of the table, and by chance Buck McNair occupied the chair at the other end. Through the meeting Buck sat with his chair pushed back, his arms folded, with a disgruntled frown on his face. The meeting had no particular purpose, except to give the Air Vice-Marshal an opportunity to tell us exactly what he expected of us. His remarks required no comment, and instead of asking if there were any questions, the Air Vice-Marshal hunched forward in his chair and, glaring at Buck, said:
"McNair, I'm disappointed in you. This is the first time I have seen you sit there without opening your big mouth. Are you ill?"
There was a long silence as Buck measured his gaze without blinking an eye. Finally he said with a smile:
"These meetings of yours are interfering with my social life, Sir."
For a second Broady's jaw stiffened, and he glowered down the table at Buck. Just when the tension was getting unbearable, Broady suddenly threw his head back and laughed uncontrollably. Nervously the Company followed his example." - from "Lucky 13" by Hugh Godefroy
_________________________________________________
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS AIR-FIGHTER DEPOT
Group Captain Campbell, Hamilton Officer, in Attendance
COUNTRY IS PROUD
Somewhere in England, Sept. 6, 1941 - (CP Cable) - Prime Minister Mackenzie King, visiting the first all-Canadian fighter station in Great Britain, told airmen today that "there is nobody in the world more in the hearts of all of us than you."
Enjoying Visit
Obviously enjoying his visit to the great station, the Prime Minister
chatted with young flyers standing beside their Spitfires, Hurricanes
and Beaufighters.
Scores of the Royal Canadian Air Force men snapped pictures of Mr. King
as he stood on the wing of an aeroplane and later sat in the cockpit of
a Hurricane wearing a helmet and talking to the station control room over
radio telephone.
"Nothing could inspire me more than meeting you airmen," he
said in the longest informal speech he has made since coming to Britain.
The speech was made to a Spitfire squadron.
"I suppose there is nobody in the world more in the hearts of all
of us than you. I can't begin to tell you how proud we are of our air
force.
"The people of Canada follow with pride and thankfulness your gallant
exploits. Your bravery and courage are known to them."
Pleasing Plan
Mr. King recalled that he had paid tribute to the R.C.A.F. flyers in his
speech this week at the Lord Mayor's luncheon in London and said that
no words he had ever uttered gave him more pleasure.
He added that "no act of the government ever pleased my colleagues
and myself more than the working out of this plan with British representatives,"
referring to the initial conversations with Lord Riverdale and a British
mission which led to the Commonwealth air training plan.
"From my heart I trust the all-seeing and living Providence will
watch over you." Mr. King concluded: "God bless you all, boys."
Wearing a grey suit, a black Homburg and carrying a cane, Mr. King was
in a jovial mood as he talked with the airmen. He climbed up on the wing
of one of the new model Spitfires to shake hands with P/O Win Ash, of
Dallas, Tex.
As photographers took pictures, the Prime Minister quipped: "Don't
start this plane while I'm here. These press men would like nothing better
than to have me taken up 60 feet and dropped."
Meet "The Boys"
"I wonder if I may shake hands with these men?" he said when
he greeted F/L Kit Bushell, of Qu'Appelle, Sask., in charge of a group
of Spitfire pilots who were lined up in front of their dispersal hut.
Those he met included Pilot Officers Boyd Gartshore of Toronto; Ken Boomer of Ottawa; R. W. McNair of Prince Albert, Sask. and Sgt.-Pilots Dick Ellis,
of Montreal; Bill Hagyard of Perth, Ont. and Aubrey Ferguson of Glace
Bay, N.S.
Two of their mates — Ash and P/O Donald Blakeslee of Cleveland,
Ohio — staged a practical scramble into their planes and Mr. King's
hat was blown off by the slipstream caused by the propellers.
A squadron, led by Squadron Leader Paul Pitcher of Montreal, told Mr.
King there was a scarcity of magazines and newspapers from home.
The Prime Minister was cheered as he headed towards Beaufighter squadrons,
where he was greeted by F/L Bruce Hanbury of Vancouver. While Mr. King
was inspecting the airmen, L.A.C. Stuart Lee, of Almonte, Ont., photographed
him. Later Mr. King took pictures of the lads with Lee's camera and visited
the squadron's operations room.
With Hamilton Officer
Mr. King was accompanied throughout his tour by Air Commodore Leigh Forbes
Stevenson, air officer commanding the R.C.A.F. in the United Kingdom,
and Group Capt. A. P. Campbell, of Hamilton, Ont., the first Canadian
named to command an air station in Britain.
There was a touch of sadness when he asked of one group, "Who trained
these men to their present fine efficiency?" He was told they were
trained by an officer who was killed a few days ago — Wing Cmdr.
N. R. Peterson, of Winnipeg.
Mr. King concluded the visit by chatting with members of a Hurricane squadron
led by Squadron Ldr. Norm Johnstone, of Winnipeg. Among the men were P/O
Don Ball of Edmonton and F/L "Bev" Christmas of Montreal.
The Prime Minister climbed into the cockpit of a Hurricane and P/O Bud
Connell of Nipawin, Sask., showed him how to work the radio telephone.
Mr. King sent greetings to the control room.
_________________________________________________
Scores First Victories
Ottawa, Dec. 4, 1941- (CP) - A newly formed Royal Canadian
Air Force fighter squadron, led by Squadron Leader P.B. Pitcher of Montreal,
has shot down one Messerschmitt 109 and damaged two more in recent sweeps
over France, R.C.A.F. Headquarters announced tonight,
The German aircraft first to be shot down by the squadron, fell before
the two cannon and four machine guns of a new Mark V Spitfire flown by Pilot Officer R.W. McNair of North Battleford, Sask.
"I was on a sweep and saw a number of Messerschmitts below me,"
said McNair in a report. "I dived on them and saw they were circling
a pilot in the sea. I picked one out and gave him a three-second burst.
I overshot him and pulling away, I saw him go into the sea. This took
place over Boulogne. The pilot did not bale out.
"I climbed again and turned for home. Then a Jerry dived on me from
out of the sun, his fire hitting my engine. My cockpit filled with smoke
and the enemy overshot me. He came around directly in front of me. It
was my turn then and I gave him a burst and saw hits registering. His
hood came off. Only my starboard guns were firing now and flames were
coming out of the cockpit. So I put my nose down.”
"Finding my engine cutting out I baled into the sea. I got rid of
any parachute immediately upon touching the water and had no trouble inflating
my dinghy. I was picked up fifteen minutes later by a sea rescue motorboat."
McNair trained at Toronto, Windsor and Kingston and worked for Canadian
Airways before enlisting, the Air Force said
"Everybody's Party"
The squadron's first engagement was described by Squadron Leader Pitcher:
"On a day sweep over France we were jumped by a number of Messerschmitt
109's. From then on it was everybody's individual party, with only sections
managing to keep together. Two Huns dropped down on Flight Lieutenant Boomer's tail, but he shook them off and managed
to get in a squirt at one of them."
Flight Lieutenant K.A. Boomer of Ottawa is the leader of a flight of the
squadron, the air force said. He came from the University of Toronto to
the R.C.A.F. three months before war broke out.
Squadron Leader Pitcher joined No. 115 Auxiliary Squadron in Montreal
in 1935. He was a junior partner in the law firm of Mann, Lefleur &
Brown until war started. He went overseas with one of the first fighter
squadrons and shot down a Messerschmitt while with that unit.
Sergeant Pilot J.D. McFarlane, Calais, Maine, who trained at Prince Albert,
Regina and Ottawa, described his part in the squadron's initial scrap:
"I felt a sudden explosion under me, and I felt a hit on my leg.
My cockpit filled with grey smoke. I wasn't certain whether I was being
attacked by enemy aircraft or flak. Looking at my wings, I saw a number
of small holes in them, and the port wing was covered with oil.
Bails Out Safely
"I headed for the English coast, and about two minutes later my engine
stopped. I was up about 23,000 feet when the fun started so I glided down.
"A Rhodesian squadron leader covered me all the way back. At about
half a mile from the coast I slowed down and baled out. I landed between
Dover and Folkestone about 200 yards inland. My leg wound was only slight
and I was flying two days later."
"B" flight of the squadron is led by Flight Lieutenant R.C.
Weston of De Marts Street West, Saint John, N.B., who saw action with
a Royal Air Force squadron earlier in the war. He bagged a Heinkel and
a Dornier while with his first squadron. The new Spitfires are popular
with the Canadian fighter pilots. "There's nothing like them,"
said Pilot Officer J.R. Coleman, Waterloo Street, Saint John, one of the
newest members of the unit.
Sergeant Pilot F.E. Green is from Toronto.
_________________________________________________
1942
_________________________________________________
Three Canadian Airmen Decorated for Exploits
London, (Friday) 22 May 1942 - (CP) — Three Canadians whose exploits won recognition in the air war against Germany were listed today in an announcement of awards by the Air Ministry.
Acting Flying Officer Reginald Wiseman Brown, who came to Britain from Saskatchewan, and Pilot Officer Robert Wendell McNair of Springfield, N.S., were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Flight Sergeant E. S. Alexander of Montreal won the Distinguished Flying Medal, and a New Zealand member of the R.C.A.F., Acting Flight Lieutenant A. B. Wheeler of Wellington, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Brown, a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, was navigator of a Stirling bomber which dropped a heavy load of high explosives on the Skoda works at Pilsen, Czecho-Slovakia, his citation said.
"Dense clouds were experienced in the last 200 miles to the target, but owing to the navigational skill of Brown the objective was reached and located five minutes before the estimated time," the citation continued.
"Very heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered, and the aircraft was repeatedly hit. On the return journey the aircraft was held by search-lights and subjected to further antiaircraft fire, which it evaded successfully. Later the Stirling was engaged by a Ju88, fire from which caused damage to the oil system, the port landing wheel and the petrol tanks.
"Brown has continuously displayed great skill and courage and always identified his targets under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions."
McNair, a 23-year-old member of the R.C.A.F. serving with the RAF’s 249 Squadron, has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft during dogfights and damaged seven, four of them during single combat, his brief citation said. It added that McNair was a "skilful and courageous" pilot, and that he invariably pressed home his attacks with the greatest determination, regardless of the odds.
Alexander, a 22-year-old member of R.C.A.F. 419 Squadron, an observer-bomber, was intercepted by an enemy fighter after a successful attack on the German naval base of Kiel last month. The fighter damaged the port airscrew and the hydraulic system, and the bomber's rear gunner was unable to open his turret doors.
The citation said that "Alexander, although slightly wounded in the arm, forced the turret doors open with an axe and helped the rear gunner out.
"Although nearly all the instruments were unserviceable, Alexander's skillful navigation was mainly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft and crew. The courage and high sense of duty displayed by this airman have been an inspiration to other members of the crew."
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, P/O Robert Wendell (J4745) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.249 Squadron
Award effective 21 May 1942 as per London Gazette dated 22 May 1942 &
AFRO 880-881/42 dated 12 June 1942
This officer is a skilful and courageous pilot. he invariably presses home his attacks with the greatest determination irrespective of odds. He has destroyed at least five and damaged seven enemy aircraft. Four of these he damaged in one combat.
_________________________________________________
Canadian Flyers Revel in Aerial Fight at Dieppe
Tales of Stirring Action and Great Heroism Follow Epic Feats
(By Alan Randal, Canadian Press Staff writer) London, Aug. 20, 1942 - (CP Cable) - Canadian airmen protecting their own troops from enemy air assault for the first time gave the Dominion's attack force in the battle of Dieppe the greatest aerial cover ever provided, it was indicated today.
Flying with the R.A.F., Spitfire and Army Co-operation Squadrons of the R.C.A.F. formed a big proportion of the trans-channel shuttle service during the operations yesterday.
Some made two and three trips, pausing only long enough at their home base to refuel and reload with ammunition.
While Canadian losses were not announced - it is known Allied losses were 98 planes and the Nazis 91 (48 –jf) - the Canadian victory score stood at nine German aircraft destroyed or probably destroyed and many more damaged.
Amazing Triumph
But these were just early figures on the Canadians' part in this amazing triumph over the German air force in French skies - amazing from the Canadian and allied point of view because the losses were so nearly equal, whereas the Germans lost four and five to one in the Battle of Britain.
It is expected that the Canadians' tally will rise as all reports are checked and double-checked. It is likely that planes probably destroyed or damaged will run well beyond a score.
One quarter said, "The early figures probably will not do full justice to the Canadians' accomplishments."
Eager to Attack
At one station, while awaiting their dispersals for the take-off on the third sweep of the day, Canadian pilots only then learned via radio that Canadian troops were taking part in this assault.
Already at fever pitch, they were more than ever eager to sally out again.
In addition to providing an actual umbrella for the assault troops, the Canadian Spitfire squadrons took part in escort work, accompanying United States army air force Flying Fortresses on the raid on Abbeville, which was closely related to the Dieppe attack.
A Canadian army co-operation squadron, in its first big operation, was considered one of the most important units in the attack and kept in the air from the outset of the assault until the troops departed from French soil late in the day.
Action and Heroism
From all squadrons as the weary aerial soldiers forsook their planes for much-needed rest came stories of action and heroism in this, the greatest day of the war for Dominion servicemen.
One Canadian squadron, commanded by S/L Syd L. Ford, of Liverpool, N.S., reported five German aircraft destroyed and three damaged.
Ford himself set the pace. He downed a Focke-Wulf 190 and a Messerschmitt 109 with Spitfire cannon.
P/O H. J. Murphy, of St. Claire, Me., bagged another. F/L George Hill, of Digby, N.S., shared in the destruction of an FW190 with Sgt. M. K. Fletcher, of Terrace, Ill. Each damaged an Me109.
The action was so fast and so furious there were times without number when the Canadians were unable to see the full effect of the damage caused to the enemy.
From All Provinces
A unit headed by S/L Keith Hodson, of London, Ont., accompanied the Fortresses and met stiff opposition en route home. Then it went out into a still more desperate fight on the day's second excursion, when it added five probables or damaged.
Canadian from every province shared in the action.
F/L R.W. McNair, D.F.C., of North Battleford, Sask., who recently distinguished himself over Malta, was another Canadian scoring a probable - an FW190. He took part in the early-morning "umbrella" sweep.
"When we went over with other squadrons of Spits, we met just as many Jerries as over the channel, so we waded right in," said McNair. "From occasional looks at the ground we could see a helluva lot of smoke and plenty of flak coming up."
The Spitfires came back with plenty of battle scars and flak and bullet holes in the wings.
The squadron's second sweep provided the first action of the day for young Sgt. Gordon Bray, of Toronto, who later served with a convoy escort to troop-carrying vessels returning over the channel.
"They must have gone home for tea," said Bray commenting on the absence of Nazi airmen during the final phase of the great operation.
_________________________________________________
RUSSIAN AIRMEN REPORTED GOOD
Canadian Flyers Discover That They Are All Individualistic
With the R.C.A.F. Somewhere in England, 28 Sept. 1942 - (CP) - Russian flyers are "individualists - but good," says F/L "Dave Ramsay, of Calgary, who spent part of last winter flying Hurricanes on the Russian front. F/L Jimmy Walker D.F.C., of Edmonton, was also in Russia with him. Ramsay now is a flight commander in an R.C.A.F. fighter squadron commanded by S/L Bob Newton, an Englishman. He left University of Alberta classrooms to join up.
Ramsay made four trips over Dieppe, providing cover for the attack. He called it "a fine show."
His opposite number, commanding the other flight, is F/L Buck McNair, DFC, of North Battleford, Sask., who ran up a string of planes destroyed over Malta.
The station from which this fighter squadron operates is commanded by Group Capt. Patrick Campbell, of Hamilton, Ont., who has been eight years in the R.A.F.
Medical officers on the station are S/L Lloyd Hession, of London, Ont. and S/L J.W. Hiltz, of Toronto. F/O Rutherford (Max) Hickey, of Grand Falls, N.B., and Saint John, is an intelligence officer attached to the squadron.
_________________________________________________
HERO OF MALTA NOW IN OTTAWA
Canadian Ace Has Shot Down at Least Nine Enemy Planes
Ottawa, Oct. 20, 1942 - (Cp) - Flight-Lieut. Robert Wendell (Buck) McNair, D.F.C., one of the defenders of Malta and a veteran of 14 months operational flying, reached Ottawa yesterday on his way to a well-earned rest at his North Battleford, Sask., home.
The 23-year-old son of a railway engineer, he has won distinction on two fronts; shot down nine and probably destroyed or damaged many more enemy aircraft; been shot down himself once, been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and become flight-commander in a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron in England. With that squadron he took a prominent part in the combined-operations Dieppe raid.
Some of his experiences were described in a statement from R.C.A.F. headquarters.
From July until February of 1942 he served with an R.C.A.F. squadron in Britain, and then was chosen to go to hard-pressed Malta with an R.A.F. squadron. He was already a seasoned veteran, having taken part in many sweeps and having been forced to bail out into the channel after being shot down by an ME-109.
It was typical of McNair that, when his own disabled Spitfire was fast losing altitude, he managed to catch the circling Hun on his sights and spattered him with accurate fire. When McNair was picked up by the Royal Navy rescue launch, its crew reported that he had probably destroyed his adversary.
He arrived in Malta at a time when the enemy was playing havoc with the island's air defences, and when R.A.F. fighters almost invariably had to contend with odds of from three to one up to 10 to one. Then, when Spitfires were brought in to replace the ageing Hurricanes, the first batch was shot up by the enemy while still on the ground. Later, however, McNair was one of a small number of senior pilots chosen to go to Gibraltar and guide back another force of Spitfires which had been carried part of the way on the carrier Eagle. This time, the Spitfires got into the air over Malta and from that time onward Britain held control above the beleaguered isle.
On his best day, McNair destroyed or probably destroyed four Huns. "But the incident which he recalls most clearly and which helped to earn him his "gong" was the destruction of a JU-88 reconnaissance plane scooting home with newly taken pictures.
"I was just about to land when I saw the JU-88 buzzing off homewards," he recalls. "I didn't have any too much fuel, but anyhow I took after the Hun and chased him all the way to Sicily before I managed to overhaul him and shoot him down. When I got home I had barely a quiver left in my petrol gauge, but I had had a lot of satisfaction."
_________________________________________________
Dieppe Picnic After Malta Show, Italians Are Poor Air Fighters
Ottawa, 20 Oct. 1942 - (CP) - After five months in Malta, the air side of the Battle of Dieppe was a picnic to Flight Lieutenant R. W. (Buck) McNair of North Battleford, Sask.
"I got along fine at Dieppe," the 23-year-old veteran of some of the toughest air fighting of the present war said today when he talked to Ottawa newspapermen at a press conference. "I enjoyed it very much."
 |
F/L McNair flew a Spitfire with one of the squadrons which provided air support for Canadian troops who landed and fought on French soil for nine hours last Aug. 19. At Malta he won the Distinguished Flying Cross and now he is back in Canada on a holiday. He hopes to visit his family in North Battleford next week and get back to the war in a month or so. After tasting fighting from Malta and Britain, he wants to try the Middle East the next time. Before he gets home to North Battleford for his leave, he will probably be drafted to visit his native Nova Scotia to help with the Victory Loan drive. He said today he hopes the loan goes over the objective because he knows from experience that it gives men overseas a lift to hear that Canadian men at home have made another loan drive a success. "It shows the folks at home still have faith in us and are willing to put their money on us," he said. Two emergency airdromes were marked out at Dieppe for the use of Canadian and British pilots who might get into trouble during the battle, F/L McNair said. One was the race track back of the town and the other a level piece of ground to the left of the town, near Puys where the Royal Regiment of Canada took terrific losses in attempting to force a landing. The airmen were ordered to make a forced landing if necessary, at one of these points, blow up their aircraft and join the troops. At least one airman that he knew of made such a landing and got back to England with the Canadian ground forces. He said he believes Pilot Officer Paris Eakins of Winnipeg, former Winnipeg Free Press sports writer who recently was reported missing, attempted to land at the Puys landing spot after the radiator of his plane was shot away by a German cannon shell. As the Canadian troops never obtained control of that area, F/L McNair added, he thinks Eakins was either killed or taken prisoner on his landing (note: Eakins was one of 11 Canadian fighter pilots to die that day –jf). "The Germans are great fighters but the Italians are not so hot," was the way McNair sized up the two air forces which attacked Malta. Actually, most of the bombing of Malta had been done by the Germans, although the Italians came over at one stage and bombed from 23,000 feet whereas "the old Hun used to come down and brush the treetops." "The Italians are good fliers but they are not good fighters," he said, "but the Huns are absolute wizard fighters. They sure are good." |
The Italians were more gallant than the Germans. They seemed to look on the war as a game and tried to play it according to the rules and like gentlemen. The Germans would do anything to win.
"The Huns will shoot a man after he bails out of his plane but the Italians never do that," he remarked.
At one stage during three “hot" months at Malta - March, April and May - the defenders were reduced to two serviceable aircraft.
Squadron Leader Bud Connell of Nipawin, Sask., took one off during a raid and McNair tried to take the other off but ran into a bomb hole and was put out of action.
The bombing of the airdromes caused the defenders comparatively little trouble, although they had to watch out for bomb holes all the time.
"The Army co-operated with us 100 per cent," McNair said. "They had their trucks loaded with stones and gravel right on the airdromes and as soon as a raid was over they were right out to fill in the holes.
As for the aircraft themselves, the safest place was in the air, and when a raid started every plane that would fly went up whether it had ammunition or not.
The three main target areas in Malta, the harbor and two airdromes, were within six or seven miles of one another. The targets and the area between got the most intense bombing. All the villages round about were pretty well wrecked.
Because of its land defences, McNair said, he believes Malta will never be taken unless the Allies are driven out of North Africa and the Mediterranean. The island was "teeming" with troops and could not be taken by forced landing. The stone walls which surround all the small land plots on the island made it easy to defend.
Centuries ago, the land in Malta had been in large estates. As the owner of an estate died he willed part of it to each of his heirs and each land-owner built a stone wall around his land.
This process of dividing and subdividing went on until the island was broken up into small plots all separated by walls behind any one of which troops could take cover and resist invaders.
The Germans always gave Malta a going over about a day before they started to move a convoy of supplies, to General Rommel in Africa. At the height of their bombing attacks last spring, all British offensive operations from Malta were stopped since all the bombers there were destroyed.
More recently, with the island reinforced and the enemy busy elsewhere, British bombers had been going out from Malta to harass enemy convoys.
Because of such operations, Malta played an important role in United Nations Mediterranean operations. Should the Germans be driven out of North Africa and an attack from Africa be launched at Italy, planes could be massed at Malta to provide cover for the landings.
Before joining the air force, McNair, born at Springfield, N.S., the son of a railway conductor, worked for Canadian Airways and flew as a radio operator in planes operating from Prince Edward Island and Edmonton.
_________________________________________________
1943
_________________________________________________
R.C.A.F. PILOTS DOWN 3 NAZIS
Poles Bag Five Others in Sweeps Over France
London, July 6, 1943 (CP) — Canadian pilots flying
with R.A.F. Spitfire squadrons over Northern France and along the French
coast from Dieppe to Dunkirk today shot down three of eight Nazi planes
destroyed, a Polish wing of the R.A.F. accounting for the other five.
S/L R. W. McNair of North Battleford, Sask., destroyed one Messerschmitt
109 inland from Boulogne before the engine of his plane coughed out. He
glided the 30 miles to his home base in England.
The other two Canadian bags were destroyed by F/L H. D. MacDonald of Toronto, who raised his personal score of destroyed Nazi craft to seven
in today's action, and F/L Walter Conrad,
Richmond, Que.
F/L Art Sager of Vancouver damaged another
enemy aircraft, but was unable to observe results. Late tonight the British
Air Ministry announced that two enemy fighter planes had flown for a short
time this evening over a district in East Anglia, at one point wounding
a small number of persons by machine-gun fire.
R.C.A.F. headquarters said in a communiqué that Canadian Spitfires
destroyed three enemy craft over Northern France and that no Canadian
fighter was missing from the action.
The Berlin broadcast recorded by the Associated Press said enemy planes
carried out "nuisance raids" over Western and Northern Germany
during the night, but there were no immediate announcements by the British
concerning any night activities.
_________________________________________________
Three B.C. Airmen High on List
Canadian Fighter Aces Make Enviable Records
Written for the Canadian Press By F/L BASIL DEAN, RCAF, LONDON, 14 Aug. 1943 — Seventeen Canadian fighter aces of the present war have accounted for more than 220 enemy aircraft in the various theatres of war.
They flew in operations ranging from Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain to the Sicilian campaign. Between them they have won at least 34 decorations for gallantry.
Early in the war a young Canadian fought his way into "Ace" category. He was Willie McKnight, a pilot in the RAF from Calgary, who flew in the famed "All-Canadian" squadron led by W/C Douglas Bader, DSO, who was then a squadron leader.
Over Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain, McKnight destroyed 16½ enemy aircraft and won the DFC and Bar. He was reported missing in 1941 following one of the early RAF sweeps over France.
With him in those early days flew another Canadian, S/L Stanley Turner, DFC and Bar, of Toronto, who is also in the RAF. Turner, now leader of the City of Windsor Spitfire Squadron in Sicily, was a flight commander in the "All-Canadian" squadron when Bader commanded it. He now has a total "bag" of 14 enemy aircraft destroyed.
STILL FLYING
During 1941 a third Canadian in the RAF, S/L E.F.J. Charles, DFC and Bar, of Lashburn, Sask., was achieving a big reputation. At the most recent count, Charles has destroyed 15 enemy aircraft, of which six were knocked down in 1941. He is still flying on operations and leading an RAF Spitfire squadron from a British base.
Fighting over Malta during 1942 gave great opportunities to fighter pilots and it is known now that over 25 per cent of all fighter pilots on the island during its great bombing ordeal were Canadians.
Leader of them all, of course, is F/O George Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM and Bar, of Verdun, Que. He has 29 destroyed.
S/L R. C. (Moose) Fumerton, DFC and Bar, of Fort Coulonge, Que., a night fighter, destroyed 13 enemy aircraft, all during darkness.
TOTAL EXCEEDS 20
W/C Mark Brown, DFC and Bar, of Glenboro, Man., who was killed in action in Africa early last year, had destroyed 18 enemy aircraft when he gained the Bar to his DFC. Subsequently he destroyed several more and his total is known to be more than 20.
 |
S/L R.W. (Buck) McNair (left), DFC and Bar, of North Battleford, Sask., commander of the RCAF Red Indian Spitfire squadron in Britain, has a score of 12 destroyed. He got eight of these over Malta last year, the remaining four on sweeps over northern France since he returned to operations after a rest in Canada. In Malta F/L L. Gosling, DFC and Bar, of Battleford, Sask., began piling up a score towards the end of the campaign and his total at the time of his second award stood at 10. He now is missing. VICTORIAN GETS 20 |
W/C James E. Walker, DFC and two Bars, of Edmonton, is the only member of the RCAF to be awarded the DFC three times. He led an RAF Spitfire squadron in the North African campaign and accounted for 10½ enemy aircraft destroyed.
Also in the North African campaign was F/L J.F. Edwards, DFC, DFM, of Battleford, Sask., whose record at the time of his DFC award stood at eight enemy aircraft destroyed. He now has eight enemy aircraft destroyed.
RECORD IN BRITAIN
Top scorers of the RCAF wing in Britain are two members of the Wolf squadron — S/L Hugh Godefroy, DFC, of Toronto, the squadron commander, who has six to his credit, and F/L H. D. MacDonald, DFC, also of Toronto, who has destroyed eight.
Probably the most brilliant fighter pilot who ever flew with the RCAF in Britain was F/L Don Morrison, DFC, DFM, of Vancouver, who now is a prisoner of war. Morrison was awarded the DFM in July this year, several months after he had been shot down over France and suffered loss of a leg. The citation recorded the fact he had destroyed 15 enemy aircraft.
Morrison's score of 15 destroyed puts him at the head of the list of RCAF fighter pilots. The only Canadians ahead of him did their scoring with the RAF.
F/L Jones 'Spitfire Man'
F/L Jones, 26, visited his parents in Abbotsford last January following participation in air battles at Malta when he flew with Beurling.
At that time, he told of watching 10 RCAF Spitfires tear into 80 enemy planes and "when the smoke cleared away, our 10 Spitfires were still riding high."
Jones' reputation in the ranks is reflected in their nick-name for him, "Spitfire man of Malta." He joined the RCAF in 1940 and received the DFC in October 1942.
His brother, Thomas J., is overseas with the RCE.
S/L Woodward, 26, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Woodward, 1587 Fairfield Street, Victoria. Born and educated in Victoria, he joined the RAF in 1938 and was a leading fighter pilot in the Western Desert campaign. He led a fighter squadron over Greece and Crete, and is now back on operations after a year as instructor in Rhodesia. He was awarded the DFC in April 1941, and the Bar was added to it this month.
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, S/L
Robert Wendell (J4745) - Bar to DFC - No.421 Squadron
Award effective 30 July 1943 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2507/43 dated 2 December 1943.
This officer is a skilful and determined fighter whose record achievement and personal example are worthy of high praise. Squadron Leader McNair has destroyed ten hostile aircraft, five of them whilst serving in the Middle East, and damaged a number of others.
_________________________________________________
France Attacked Today
Report 22 Bombers Lost, All R.C.A.F. Planes Safe; Great Bombardment
Fleet Swooped Down on Nazi Capital Out of Clear Sky
Assault "Highly Concentrated"
London, 4 Sept. 1943 - (BUP) - Heavy explosions in extreme northern France shook towns on the southeast coast of England today a few minutes after a strong formation of Allied planes flew against the Continent.
A great bombardment fleet of R.A.F. and Canadian Lancasters smashed Berlin last night from a clear sky, casting down 1,000 tons of fire bombs and howling steel in 20 minutes of attack officially described by the Air Ministry as "highly concentrated." From a night of far-ranging operations - other British and Canadian airmen rode the skies above the Rhineland, beat at enemy flying fields in France and sowed mines in enemy waters - the British lost 22 bombers.
All Canadian Planes Safe
All Canadian planes returned safely to their bases, it was announced today, a record for a Berlin attack. The previous raid against the Nazi capital cost the Canadian bomber group seven big planes.
D.N.B., German news agency, reported in a radio broadcast from Berlin that a preliminary count showed that 15 four-engined bombers had been shot down.
The Berlin raid was the third within 11 days, but was not on the terrible scale of destructiveness of the two that went immediately before it.
But it struck the city already scarred and smoking from attacks that have already thrown upon it more tons of bombs than fell on London in all the long months of Hermann Goering's attacks, and thus had a cumulative effect far beyond the weight of explosives let loose.
The loss of British planes announced by the Air Ministry is less than half those of the two previous raids - 58 and 47 respectively.
The bulletin reported that the Berlin raiders encountered "thick clouds along the route," but said that over the target "the sky was clear."
This time, as in the previous Berlin attacks, squadrons from the Canadian bomber group flew with their R.A.F. comrades, it was learned authoritatively.
Described As Terror Raid
The German radio as usual described the attack on Berlin as a "terror raid" but acknowledged that some damage and fires resulted. "A considerable number" of British planes were brought down by anti-aircraft batteries and fighters, the broadcast claimed.
"Bombers dropped bombs over the city and the suburbs," said D.N.B., German news agency. "Once again it was beyond doubt a terror attack, as residential quarters, hospitals, churches and other cultural monuments were hit and destroyed.
While combating the fires the Berlin population showed themselves capable of effective and exemplary behavior."
The Germans also reported that British planes had attacked shipping during the night in the IJsselmeer in Holland, sinking one ship and machine-gunning several others.
Pass Over Sweden
Associated Press dispatches from Stockholm, meanwhile, said that large numbers of foreign war planes - presumably R.A.F. bombers returning from the attack on Berlin - had passed over the southern tip of Sweden during the night, drawing the heaviest barrage of the war from Swedish anti-aircraft batteries.
One plane was said to have crashed in flames to the summer residence of the crown prince just across the strait from Denmark.
The assault culminated a day of Allied aerial activity which included a full-scale raid by American heavy bombers upon the Caudron-Renault aircraft plant on the outskirts of Paris and attacks by other American units escorted by R.C.A.F. fighters upon five Nazi air fields in France, including Romilly-sur-Seine.
A Vichy broadcast recorded by the Associated Press said that many fires still were burning in the Paris suburbs this morning following the raid and that casualties included 98 persons killed and 352 injured.
Canadian Spitfire squadrons provided escort for the attacks on Lille Nord, Beaumont le Roger and other targets. One Canadian fighter was lost, an R.C.A.F. communiqué reported.
However, two enemy aircraft fell to the Red Indian squadron of the R.C.A.F., Sqdn. Ldr. R. W. (Buck) McNair, of North Battleford, Sask., and F/O M. C. Love, of Wynnewood, Pa., an American in the R.C.A.F., being awarded the kills.
This marked McNair's second victory in three days and his 14th enemy plane in all.
Another section of the Canadian fighter wing, led by Wing-Cmdr. B. D. Russel, of Montreal, also patrolled over France during the day, but without incident.
_________________________________________________
TERRIFIC PACE IN AIR WAR SET FOR OCTOBER
London, 3 Oct. 1943 - (AP) - R.A.F. and Canadian heavy bombers, clamping a nutcracker squeeze on the Nazi Party's birthplace, dumped heavy explosives on Munich last night less than 48 hours after Africa-based American bombers shook the city in a daylight raid Friday.
Five hundred tons of bombs were rained on Munich in a 25-minute attack the Air Ministry news service said, with 10 two-ton bombs dropped every minute.
Munich, rail bottleneck, through which Germany pushes reinforcements and supplies into Italy, already had gained the doubtful distinction of being the first German city to be placed under two-directional aerial pounding by the British-American double-punch method by reason of the Sept. 6 R.A.F. night attack and Friday's United States raid.
Through the official news agency D.N.B., the Germans acknowledged "major damage in several quarters of the town" as a result of the British raid. Nine bombers were lost from this and other night operations, including attacks on the German Ruhr and Rhineland and mine laying in enemy waters.
The tempo of the new month's aerial onslaught, which in the first three days has embraced a heavy R.A.F. raid on the Nazi industrial city of Hagen, and a new American daylight blow at the German North Sea port of Emden, continued through this morning with aerial dashes over Holland.
Formations of American medium bombers, escorted by Allied Spitfires, winged eastward in great waves after daylight to hit Nazi fighter-plane bases at Woensdrecht, Haamstede and Amsterdam-Schipol.
Twenty-four German fighters were shot out of the air by R.A.F., R.C.A.F. and Allied fighters during a series of daylight sweeps. An Air Ministry official said this was the greatest number destroyed by the R.A.F. in any one day's offensive operations over enemy territory. Allied losses were four R.A.F. Medium bombers and 11 fighters.
Three of the seven enemy planes fell to the Canadian "Indian" squadron led by S/L R. W. McNair of North Battleford, Sask. McNair himself bagged a Focke-Wulf 190 - one of 12 which sought to intercept the Allied raiders.
American Flying Fortresses, escorted by Thunderbolts, gave the Nazis' prime North Sea merchant shipping port of Emden it's third battering of the week Saturday afternoon. The industrial city of Magen in the Reich was hit Friday night by the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F.
_________________________________________________
RCAF FIGHTERS DESTROY 24 ENEMY PLANES
London, 3 October 1943 - (CP) - Hitting hard at Hitler's
Western European aerial defenses, Fighter Command aircraft shot down 24
enemy fighters over occupied territory today, with Canadian aces bagging
nine of the total.
F/Sgt. H. W. Bowker of Granby, Que., and F/O
Art Coles of Vancouver led the Canadians by blasting two Germans each.
Others fell to S/L R. W. McNair of North Battleford,
who got his 16th victim in leading the Canadian Red Indian Squadron, W/C L. V. Chadburn of Aurora, F/O W. G. Dodd of Winnipeg, F/O Frank Packard of Montreal, and P/O John Hicks of Ottawa.
The Canadians, providing a strong escort for day-long bombing raids, met
and bested the Nazis in a series of heavy dogfights in which, as S/L G. E. W. Northcott of Minnedosa, Man.,
commented, "The Jerries were in a scrapping mood for once."
Two Canadian planes were lost.
Scattered 28 ME-109's
The biggest fight involved the City of Winnipeg and City of Oshawa Squadrons
which ran into
30 Messerschmitt 109's and scattered them after 20 minutes when Chadburn
and Dodd sent two German planes down to earth spiraling smoke.
Coles, former Dominion downhill ski champion, destroyed two Focke-Wulf
190's in separate engagements, blowing the wing off one. Packard's victory,
his first, was scored by riddling his foe at the top of two barrel rolls
the German made before Packard's Spitfire. Bowkers' pair came in a scrap between his squadron and 15 Focke-Wulf 190's near
the French coast.
Besides McNair's victim the Red Indian squadron shot down two other planes - making
a total of three of the seven Nazis destroyed by fighters escorting bombers
on the Holland airfields attack. McNair's engine gave out as the enemy
went down, and as McNair attempted to glide over the Channel he dropped
9,000 feet before the engine started again. This was the third time he
experienced trouble. Once he glided home all the way from France after
the engine failed, and another time he was forced to bail out over the
English Channel.
_________________________________________________
Canadian Heroes Honored By KingLondon, 20 Dec. 1943 - Leaders of two Canadian fighter wings grounded their Spitfires long enough to visit London and receive bars to their DFCs from the King at Buckingham Palace. |
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, S/L
Robert Wendell, DFC (J4745) - Second Bar to DFC - No.421
Squadron
Award effective 7 October 1943 as per London Gazette dated 26 October
1943 and
AFRO 358/44 dated 18 February 1944.
Squadron Leader McNair is a tenacious and confident fighter whose outstanding ability has proved an inspiration to the squadron he commands. He has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed fifteen and damaged many other enemy aircraft. His keenness has been outstanding.
_________________________________________________
1944
_________________________________________________
RCAF WHITTLES DOWN GERMAN AIR STRENGTH
Ottawa, Jan. 14, 1944 - (CP) - R.C.A.F. fighter squadrons continued to whittle down Germany's air strength during the last week, although bad weather kept the bomber squadrons at their home bases preparing for the next phase of the air assault on Europe, the R.C.A.F. reported today in its weekly summary of operations.
The weather also had a curtailing effect on fighter activities, but fighter squadrons flew several sweeps over France and on three days escorted United States and R.A.F. medium and light bombers which continued the daylight offensive against targets in Northern France.
Two German planes credited to Canadian Spitfires were destroyed by Toronto pilots during a sweep over France led by W/C Buck McNair, D.F.C., and two bars, of North Battleford, Sask. F/L R. W. Orr came down at nearly 600 miles an hour from 18,000 feet to get an FW-190. He poured fire in the cockpit and saw the Nazi crash in flames into a wood. F/O H. K. Hamilton also went down low to get his FW-190 which was seen burning on the ground later.
The week also brought confirmation of a "kill" by F/L Karl Linton of Plaster Rock, N.B., during a recent dogfight over France, raising the score of the Red Indian Squadron on that day to six destroyed and three damaged, enough to establish the squadron, led by S/L Jimmy Lambert of Winnipeg, as one of the highest scoring in Britain during the last six months.
The "heavies" of the RCAF bomber group were out only once during the week when Halifaxes laid mines in enemy waters.
_________________________________________________
Post-Mortems Promote Teamwork in Air Force
By F/O IVERS KELLY, Somewhere in Britain, 23 February 1944 (Special) - It’s the same with any group of men operating together, whether as a football or hockey team, or as fighter pilots working in unison 30,000 feet above the earth. A "get-together" after a match, or an operation, in the more deadly game of war, at which mistakes, ideas and tactics are discussed, makes for a better showing the next time the team takes to the field or the skies.
And so it is with the fighter pilots of the R.C.A.F. fighter wing in England commanded by W/C Robert Wendell (Buck) McNair, D.F.C., and two Bars, of North Battleford, Sask., native of Nova Scotia, and destroyer of 17 enemy aircraft.
"The Chief," as the men call Winco McNair, is successor in command of the wing to another great Canadian flier of this war – W/C B. Dal Russel, D.F.C. and Bar, of Montreal, who boasts the splendid record of not having lost a single bomber to enemy fighters during six months of close escort over enemy territory.
Immediately after every operation - a sortie accompanying bombers into enemy territory, or merely a practice flight over England - "The Chief" holds a "bull session" with his fellow pilots. It’s a custom he instituted earlier in his career as flight lieutenant in charge of a section of pilots and kept going later as squadron leader of the "Red Indian" squadron. He continued these sessions because he found them definitely beneficial to himself and to all the men flying under him.
The pilots go straight to the "bull session" after landing from an operation or a practice flight. A few minutes are taken up with the natural small talk of fighter pilots back from a mission, and some of them avail themselves of the tea which always awaits their return. Then "The Chief" takes over.
Frank and outspoken are these informal sessions, and, although discipline is observed, every pilot, be they squadron leader or sergeant, is free to say what's on his mind about the operation. And he does, even to criticizing the Winco himself if he feels justified in doing so. There's nothing acrimonious about the discussions criticism being offered only where the critic feels that it is constructive.
"Well, men," said W/C McNair one day recently, rising from his chair among the pilots to sit on the table, "I'm glad to say your flying was really hot today. I'm glad to be able to say your formations were good, very good, and I have only a couple of complaints. So-and-so (naming an outstanding flight leader in his wing) chattered too much over the RT (radio telephone) we can't have chattering on the RT. It's crowded enough under the best of circumstances without someone making aimless remarks over it. And so-and-so (naming another flight leader) allowed his section to fly out too wide a couple of times. You should watch that, my man. Keep in closer."
His troubles off his chest "The Chief" asked his men if they had any criticisms. None was forthcoming so he put his invitation to criticize another way, by inquiring whether his own turns that day had at any time been a bit too "tight" for all the members of the wing to follow in close formation. A sergeant flying No. 4 plane of the wing immediately answered “Yes, Sir." On one particular turn, he said, he had difficulty keeping up. He Mentioned when and where it occurred, and the Winco recalled the turn. He promised to try not to make such a "tight" one again.
On occasions when the wing has tangled with enemy fighters or has been close to them, the pilots discuss fighting tactics. They go into the merits of one pilot's tactics and discuss something which they think another pilot might have done differently and perhaps have brought better results. Each pilot believes his participation helps build the wing into the outstanding fighting aggregation it is acknowledged to be, and any suggestion likely to add to its glory is welcome.
When W/C McNair was awarded the second bar to his D.F.C. last October he was a squadron leader. The official citation accompanying the award described him as "tenacious and confident" and "an inspiration to the squadron he commands." When asked how his "bull sessions" had developed, McNair replied that he had decided to hold them when he was promoted to flight lieutenant, although he had not been in a section or squadron where such sessions were held.
"I found that our sessions produced good results in our flight," he said. "I kept them up when I took over the Red Indian squadron and they proved worthwhile. Now in this large wing I can keep my eye on some youngster - pilot officer or sergeant - who shows at these bull sessions that he wants to know the score. He listens and his comments are good; he speaks up and his ideas are sound; such a youngster shows qualities of leadership. I keep an eye on him, and if he keeps it up and if his flying merits, he is soon a flight lieutenant in charge of a section.”
The "bull sessions" have helped pilots of the Wing in changing their fighter tactics, a change necessary when the wing converted to a more modern type of Spitfire, coincident with the appointment of W/C McNair to command it. The change was necessary because their new Spit "nines" had a more powerful motor, much greater speed and a longer range than their old Spit "fives" which they flew under W/C Russel.
_________________________________________________
D.S.O. AWARDED BUCK McNAIR, HUGH GODEFROY
Ottawa, 13 April 1944 - (CP) - Award of the Distinguished Service Order to two top-ranking R.C.A.F. fighter pilots, Wing Commanders R. W. (Buck) McNair of North Battleford, Sask., and Hugh Godefroy of Toronto - both of whom already have won multiple recognition - was announced tonight by the R.C.A.F., with a series of lesser decorations.
McNair already has won the D.F.C. thrice, while Godefroy has won it twice. McNair becomes the most-decorated flier who has spent his entire operational career in the R.C.A.F. and is topped only by F/L George Beurling of Verdun, Que., who won most of his decorations while a member of the R.A.F.
Also announced was the award of the bar to the D.F.C. to S/L George C. Keefer of Charlottetown and award of D.F.C.s to F/L J.A.H. De Le Paulle of New York; F/L K.R. Linton of Plaster Rock, N.B.; F/O V.I. Gorrill of Creston, B.C.; F/O R.H. Watt of Winnipeg, and F/O J.E. Williams of Grand Rapids, Mich.
High Scorers
Award of the D.S.O. to McNair and Godefroy tops the careers of two of the R.C.A.F.'s highest-scoring fighter pilots.
McNair, who for the past few months has led a fighter wing, has bagged 16 Nazi planes himself while his wing has brought down 13 since he took over. McNair won his first decoration after shooting down five planes over Malta. After a six-month leave in Canada, he returned overseas and, operating out of England, quickly shot to the top. He was awarded the first Bar to his D.F.C. after he had boosted his score to 15 victories, and his second Bar shortly after he took command of his fighter wing.
Godefroy also leads a fighter wing, which has shot down 28 enemy planes while he has been in command, one of which he tagged himself. Before assuming command of the wing, Godefroy accounted for at least eight enemy aircraft, and three enemy locomotives picked off on sweeps over occupied territory. Flying Spitfires, his wing has been giving fighter cover for American daylight bombers.
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, W/C
Robert Wendell, DFC (J4745) - Distinguished Service Order - No.126 Wing
Award effective 5 April 1944 as per London Gazette dated 14 April 1944
and
AFRO 1020/44 dated 12 May 1944
Since being awarded a second Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Wing Commander McNair has completed many further operational sorties and destroyed another enemy aircraft, bringing his total victories to at least sixteen enemy aircraft destroyed and many others damaged. As officer commanding his wing he has been responsible for supervising intensive training in tactics. The results achieved have been most satisfactory. The wing, under his leadership, destroyed at least thirteen enemy aircraft. Throughout, Wing Commander McNair has set a magnificent example by his fine fighting spirit, courage and devotion to duty both in the air and on the ground. He has inspired his pilots and confidence and enthusiasm.
_________________________________________________
Beurling Ranks Fourth Among European Aces
By FRED BACKHOUSE [I have modified this article to be more accurate –jf]
London, 15 July 1945 - (CP) - Group Captain J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, English-born, former leader of a crack Canadian Spitfire wing, has been officially recognized as "ace of aces" among Allied fighter pilots who fought over Europe. [post war research has revealed Pat Pattle was probably the top RAF ace –jf]
Final scoring records, compiled by The Canadian Press from figures supplied by the RAF, RCAF, and United States 8th and 9th Air Forces, put this peace-time accountant from the Leicestershire town of Loughborough at the top of the list with 38 German planes destroyed.
G/C Johnson, who so closely identified himself with his otherwise all-Canadian squadron that he wore "Canada" on his shoulder, has often given much of the credit for his success to the Canadians who flew with him. "It's all a combination play," he said. Many of his men themselves became "aces."
Of the first 16 places supplied by the air forces, fourth is held by a Canadian - F/L George (Buzz) Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM and Bar, of Verdun, Que. - and 11 by RAF pilots. For the record, only those with more than 24 "kills" were offered by the three services as their top men. Official final scores are:
S/L Thomas “Pat” Pattle (RAF), 50 [approx.]
G/C James “Johnny” Johnson (RAF), 36.91
S/L William “Cherry” Vale (RAF), 30.5
G/C Adolph “Sailor” Malan (RAF), 29.5
F/L George “Screwball” Beurling (RCAF), 29
W/C John “Bob” Braham (RAF), 29
S/L Brendan “Paddy” Finucane (RAF), 29
W/C Clive “Killer” Caldwell (RAF), 28.5
Lt/Col Francis “Gabby” Gabreski (8th AF), 28
An anonymous Polish sergeant [Czech pilot Josef Frantisek] (RAF), 28
S/L James “Ginger” Lacey (RAF), 28
W/C Colin Gray (RAF), 27.7
W/C Stanford “Tuckie” Tuck (RAF), 27.66
Capt. Robert S. Johnson (8th AF), 27
S/L Neville Duke (RAF), 26.83
Maj. George “Ratsy” Preddy (8th AF), 26.83
W/C Frank Carey (RAF), 26
F/L Eric “Sawn-Off” Lock (RAF), 26
W/C LC “Wildcat” Wade (American in the RAF), 25
Lt/Col J. C. Meyer (8th AF), 24
RCAF fighter pilots in the European war with scores of 15 or more German planes destroyed number six according to overseas headquarters in London. In addition, there were two equally high-scoring Canadians in the RAF, both of whom were killed in that service before they could transfer to the RCAF. After Beurling they are:
SL Henry "Wally" McLeod, DSO, DFC and Bar, of Regina, 21
S/L Vernon "Woody" Woodward, DFC and bar, 18.83
F/O William "Willie" McKnight, DFC and Bar, of Calgary, 18
W/C Mark "Hilly" Brown, DFC and Bar, of Glenboro, Man., 16.45
W/C James "Eddie" Edwards, DFC and bar, DFM, MiD, 16.1
W/C Robert "Buck" McNair, DSO, DFC and two bars, of North Battleford, 16
W/C Edward "Jack" Charles, DSO, DFC and Bar, Silver Star (U.S.), 15.5
F/L Don Laubman, DFC and Bar, of Edmonton, 15
The late Wing-Cmdr. Brown is officially credited by the RAF with "at least 18" [includes shared claims -jf] aircraft destroyed. His score may well have been higher, but uncertainty exists because the records of No. 1 Squadron, RAF, of which he was then commanding officer, were destroyed during the retreat at the time of the collapse of France.
_________________________________________________
Well, wadaya think? Artist Bob Hyndman of 411 Sq. shows "The Chief"
his new piece
Victories Include :
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 / 5 / 14 - 11
_________________________________________________
15 Flyers Honored Armistice Day By French Awards
Ottawa, 9 November 1948 - (CP) - Fifteen Canadians will be decorated here Thursday, Remembrance Day, by the French Government, far wartime service with the RCAF.
Francisque Gay, French ambassador, will confer the awards, which range up to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor.
The commander rank will go to Air Chief Marshal L. S. Breadner of Kirk's Ferry Ont., former chief of air staff and commander-in-chief of the RCAF overseas, and Air Marshal Robert Leckie, Ottawa, former chief of air staff. Air Chief Marshal Breadner also receives the Croix de Guerre with palm.
The award of officer in the Legion will go to the late Air Vice-Marshal N. R. Anderson, wartime assistant chief of the RCAF overseas, and to Air Vice-Marshal C. N. (Black Mike) McEwen, Montreal, who commanded No. 6 Bomber group overseas. Mrs. Anderson will receive for her late husband this decoration and also the Croix de Guerre with palms. She lives in suburban Westboro.
Named chevalier in the Legion will be Air Vice-Marshal C.R. Slemon, now air member for operations and training, and S/L R. W. (Buck) McNair of Ottawa, fighter pilot, who brought down 17 enemy planes.
F/L E. M. Bishop, Ottawa, will receive the Croix de Guerre with Vermeil Star.
The Croix de Guerre with silver star will go to F/L D.A. Brownlee, Ottawa; S/L L. E. Logan, Ottawa; G/C W.R. MacBrien, Ottawa; G/C J. B. Millard, Ottawa; W/C A. C. Hull, Clinton, Ont.; S/L C. M. Black, Ottawa, executive assistant to the air member for air plans.
The Croix de Guerre, with bronze star will go to S/L H. T. Patterson and F/L A. M. Ogilvie, both of Ottawa.
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, S/L Robert Wendell, DSO, DFC (21047) - Croix de Guerre avec Palm (France)
AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947 &
Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, S/L Robert Wendell, DSO, DFC (21047) - Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France)
AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947 &
Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, Wing Commander Robert Wendell, DSO, DFC (21047) - Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 7 August 1954 &
AFRO 448/54 dated 13 August 1954
NOTE: This was originally raised as a George Medal recommendation but downgraded inside NDHQ as it was deemed that McNair, being part of the crew, has a special responsibility with respect to passengers.
Wing Commander McNair was flying as a crew member in one of the crew rest positions of North Star 17503 when it crashed at Vancouver, British Columbia on 30 December 1953. The aircraft ended its crash landing run in an inverted position and as a result, all crew and passengers found themselves suspended in mid-aid in an upside down position. Self-preservation was uppermost in the minds of practically everyone because of the imminent danger of fire or explosion but Wing Commander McNair, cognizant of the large number of passengers being carried and the state of turmoil that must be existing, threw caution to the wind, remained in the aircraft and fought his way to the passenger compartment. Here, he set to work, restored calm and through prodigious effort assisted all passengers in evacuating the aircraft as quickly as possible. Still not content, Wing Commander McNair remained in the aircraft and personally searched through the debris on the off chance that someone might have been overlooked. Only then did he abandon the aircraft. It is to be remembered that this officer was soaked in gasoline at the time of this incident from an overturned Herman Nelson heater, a condition which would immediately bring to mind the fact that he had been badly burned by fire in his aircraft during the war and therefore should have been acutely aware of his precarious position under the present set of circumstances. The fact that the aircraft did not explode or did not take fire should not be allowed to detract in any way from the magnitude of Wing Commander McNair's deeds, for it was only by an act of God that neither calamity occurred.
_________________________________________________
McNAIR, Wing Commander (Acting Group Captain) Robert Wendell, DSO, DFC (21047) - Bronze Star Medal (United States)
This award was offered to McNair through official channels in 1954 but RCAF policy precluded acceptance because "offers of foreign awards for purely administrative or organizational services rendered outside the Korea area, which normally should be considered to include Japan, will not be accepted."
This policy was stated in a memo by A/M C. R. Slemon to the Minister of National Defence, 26 February 1954.
For the record, the American citation was as follows:
Group Captain Robert W. McNair distinguished himself by meritorious service in connection with military operations against an enemy as Royal Canadian Air Force Liaison Officer to the Far East Air Forces from 27 June 1951 to 27 July 1953. During that period, Group Captain McNair monitored the administration and operation of the Exchange Officer Program between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force. He gave unstintingly of his own time to ensure that this program functioned smoothly and mutually aided the United Nations cause in Korea; for he rendered exceptional service through his sound advice on operational techniques and maintenance procedures. The overall significance of Group Captain McNair's effort was that major advantages accrued to the United Nations Air Forces operating over Korea. By his spirit of cooperation, initiative and professional skill, Group Captain McNair reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
_________________________________________________
Related Sites : |
_________________________________________________
Thanks go out to
son Bruce for the color photo
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.
|
Some content on this site is probably the property of acesofww2.com unless otherwise noted.
