Gordon Learmouth "Raffy" Raphael 

________________________________________

Story Finally Told

Ottawa, Jan. 30. — (CP) — The R.C.A.F., announcing award of the Distinguished Service Order to Wing-Cmdr. Gordon L. Raphael, of Quebec, made public today an interview with the leader of one of Britain's foremost night-fighter squadrons in which he told about the time early in the war when his plane was forced down in the North Sea.
Wing Cmdr. Raphael had just been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for operations in bombers.
"I stuck my neck out," he said, "I was feeling so good about getting a gong that I asked to be allowed to fly again the next night, although it wasn't my turn. We were going after an oil refinery, and our machine was first over the target to drop incendiaries and light it up for the later arrivals.
"On the way back, we were attacked by a Jerry over the North Sea. He shot out both my engines and busted the hydraulic system, but my rear gunner got him and he went down in flames.
"We had to land in the sea; that made a couple of 'first times' on this trip. It was the first time a Whitley had shot down an enemy night fighter, and the first time a Whitley had been put down in the sea with all the crew unhurt.
"My crew really got out in a hurry when we hit the water. I was a bit slower because I’d discovered that a bullet from the enemy's guns had gone through both my feet. However, we got the dinghy out and didn't discover until later that we had it upside down.
"We were picked up by a British destroyer and I spent a couple of comfortable days in the sick bay. When I got ashore, I had to spend three months recuperating.
"That was a bit annoying; it meant I missed a lot of good shows."

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Select British Aviators Here For Training Jobs

Group of 150 Officers and Airmen Report Hazardous Trip — Two Ships Sunk
January 25, 1940. A group of 150 of Britain's best air officers and airmen reached Toronto today after a hazardous ocean crossing. They came by train, after 13 officers had been dropped off at Trenton and Camp Borden to fill their assignments at the advanced training posts.
Seven of the officers will remain here. Nineteen other officers and 124 men have gone on to the training center at St. Thomas.
The 164 airmen reached Canada safely, though the ship ahead of them in the convoy, and the ship that followed them, were both sunk either by mine or bomb.
The group is under the command of Group Captain P. H. Mackworth, who piloted one of the R.A.F. planes that took part in the 1926 flight from London to Cape Town.

FOURTEEN TO TRENTON
To R.C.A.F. Station, Trenton: Squadron Leader C. Lloyd, Flying Officer W. J. Ralphs, Flying Officer J. McG. Fitch, Squadron Leader H. Y. Humphreys, Squadron Leader J. McLaughlin, Squadron Leader C. B. Hughes, Flight Lieut. S. C. Black, Flying Officer H. J. Maxwell-Luller, Squadron Leader R. T. Gething, Squadron Leader N. G. Goodman, Flying Officer K. Petrie, Flying Officer S. Mirylee, Flying Officer R. B. Harris, Flying Officer G. L. Raphael.

_________________________________________________

Canada's Airmen Show Themselves Fit Successors
to Flyers of Great War Days

Feb. 10, 1942 - Canada's fighting airmen have "proved themselves fitting and worthy successors to the great Canadian airmen of a generation ago— to Bishop, Barker, Collishaw, and many other great Canadian aces— garnering through their gallant exploits 157 awards for bravery and distinguished conduct under fire during less than two and one half years of aerial warfare.
Of this number, three important awards came to Hamiltonians. Pilot Officer Warring Laird Jennings was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Group Captain Archibald Patrick Campbell was mentioned in dispatches, and Sgt. James Bain won the Distinguished Flying Medal.
In a story released by the public relations branch of the R.C.A.F. today, it is reported that three Brantford residents and one from Niagara Falls also have received important awards.
Squadron-Ldr. Gordon L. Raphael of Brantford, received the D.F.C. and bar, Flying Officer Peter J. Valachos received the D.F.C., and Sgt. Douglas Martin received the D.F.M.
A Niagara Falls native, Squadron-Ldr. Lloyd Gilbert Schwab, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
One hundred and thirty-three decorations, including 94 D.F.C.s and 12 bars to this award, have been won by Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force, while the men of the R.C.A.F. serving abroad and at home have won 24 awards, of which ten are D.F.C.s and nine Distinguished Flying Medals. The former decoration is given only to officers and the latter to non-commissioned officers and to airmen. Not included in the 157 total are 12 mentioned in dispatches.

_________________________________________________

RCAF MEMBERS RECEIVE AWARDS

Wing-Cmdrs. Gordon L. Raphael and Paul Davoud Are honored
Ottawa, Jan. 30, 1943. – (CP) – The R.C.A.F. today announced awards of the Distinguished Service Order to Wing-Cmdr. Gordon L. Raphael, of Quebec, and of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Wing-Cmdr. Paul Davoud, of Kingston, Ont., both commanders of night-fighter squadrons in Britain.

Heads "Dawn Patrol"
Wing-Cmdr. Raphael, who already held the D.F.C. and bar, leads a squadron which is the successor to the famous "Dawn Patrol" Squadron commanded in the First Great War by Air Marshal W. A. (Billy) Bishop, now director of recruiting for the R.C.A.F.
The citation for the D.S.O. said: "Since being awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Wing-Cmdr. Raphael has destroyed three enemy aircraft at night. By his inspiring leadership, great skill and untiring efforts he has contributed in a large measure to the high morale and operational efficiency of the squadron he commands.
The citation for Wing-Cmdr. Davoud, former bush pilot, airline pilot and traffic manager, widely known in the north, read. "This officer has been engaged on night-flying operations for more than a year. He is a skilful pilot whose fine example and inspiring leadership have been worthy of high praise."
Wing-Cmdr. Raphael, 27, has commanded Air Marshal Bishop's "Dawn Patrol" Squadron of the last war since early summer last year. Since he joined it, he has accounted for eight German aircraft certainly destroyed, all during night operations over Britain.
"Raffy" was born in Quebec. In 1934 he went to England to study at the College of Aeronautical Engineering in Chelsea, but gave up aeronautical designing to fly. He took a short service commission in the R.A.F. in 1935.
He was on bombers early in the war and was on the first "leaflet, raid" of the war—over the Ruhr.
Bombs from his plane were the first to hit the German base at Sylt during this war. He is married with a wife and son in England.
Wing-Cmdr. Davoud was born in Utah, but made his home in Kingston. His wife now lives in Montreal. He is a graduate of Royal Military College and Queen's University.

_________________________________________________

RAPHAEL, F/O Gordon Learmouth (37508) - Mention in Dispatches - No.77 Squadron
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 20 February 1940.

No citation to MiD

_________________________________________________

RAPHAEL, F/L Gordon Learmouth (37508) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.77 Sq.
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 May 1940.

No citation other than "for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations". Public Record Office Air 2/9317 has recommendation dated 22 March 1940 which specifically identifies him as a Canadian:

As captain of a Whitley aircraft engaged on a Nickel flight to Warsaw on the night of 15/16 March 1940, this officer carried out his task with a precision and exactness that has marked all his operational flights.

His teamwork in the air, his meticulous planning before a flight, his ability as a pilot and navigator and his complete knowledge of his equipment makes all his flights appear simple and uneventful. The flight to Warsaw, in spite of an increase in wind speed when going to the target and dense clouds on the return journey, was completed with a deviation from schedule which can be accounted for almost to a minute by the increased wind speed. Throughout the period of the present hostilities this officer has shown skill, daring and initiative on all his flights.

Previous flights include a Nickel raid on Posen, as well as several security patrols, reconnaissance and Nickel raids on other German towns.

This is minuted by a staff officer in No.4 Group on 1 April 1940:

This Canadian officer has carried out many flights over enemy territory since the outbreak of war with a maximum of success. His Nickel flights to Warsaw and Posen were excellent both in prior planning and execution. Very strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Although the award was gazetted without a citation, the recommendation was edited for security purposes in case it had been published:

As captain of an aircraft engaged on a pamphlet flight to Warsaw on the night of 15/16 March 1940, this officer carried out his task with the distinction that has marked all his previous operational flights. His teamwork, careful planning and ability as a pilot are of the highest standard and throughout the period of hostilities he has shown skill, daring and initiative. Previous flights include a pamphlet raid on Posen, several security patrols and also reconnaissance and pamphlet raids on other German towns.

_________________________________________________

RAPHAEL, F/L Gordon Learmouth (37508) - Bar to DFC - No.85 Squadron
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 July 1941.
Air Ministry Bulletin 682 refers.

This officer has proved himself to be a relentless and skilful night fighter pilot. Since May 1941 he has destroyed three and probably another of the enemy's aircraft

_________________________________________________

RAPHAEL, W/C Gordon Learmouth (37508) - Distinguished Service Order - No.85 Sq.
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 2 February 1943.
Air Ministry Bulletin 9121 refers.

Since being awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Wing Commander Raphael has destroyed three enemy aircraft at night. By his inspiring leadership, great skill and untiring efforts he has contributed in a large measure to the high morale and operational efficiency of the squadron he commands.

_________________________________________________

RCAF Press Release 407, cleared by Security on 9 June 1942 and by
Headquarters, Fighter Command, on 12 June 1942 states -

"The thing I like about this place", said Raffy as he strolled around the garden of the old, creeper-covered English rectory where he lives with his wife and Gaby, his 17-month old son, "is that you can be up in the night tangling with the Huns and then sit here in peace 15 minutes later."

Raffy Raphael stood in the lovely rectory garden, which looks out over a broad, lush valley in one of England's most beautiful counties. "We have tried to keep up the Bishop tradition," he said. "Our squadron emblem is still the white hexagon which was painted on the old SE.5s which the squadron had when Bishop commanded it in the last war.

"It flew in France during this war, too - with Hurricanes. That was before I came to the squadron. They destroyed 90 Jerries during the Battle of France and 54 more during the Battle of Britain. I came here after it had become a night fighter outfit."

Raffy lives in the old rectory with his wife and their young son because it is handy to the aerodrome. "I don't want to let the war interfere with my family life any more than I can help," he says. "Particularly I don't want to miss the biggest thrill of being a father - watching my son grow up."

Lean, moustached, 26 years old, Raffy Raphael is exactly the kind of man you would expect one of the RAF's best night fighter pilots to be. Since he joined the squadron about a year ago, he has accounted for five German aircraft certainly destroyed during nights over Britain - and it is well to remember that he got these in times when the number of Jerries that venture over England to be shot at, even at night, has not been considerable.

"It wasn't really my doing, you know", he says. "That young radio operator of mine has been responsible for our getting each one of them." His radio operator is a diminutive English Warrant Officer who is a wizard with the secret detectors used by British night fighters.

Raffy became a night fighter squadron commander by a devious route which is long in the telling. Born in Quebec in August 1915, he attended the High School of Quebec and came to England in 1934 to study at the College of Aeronautical Engineering in Chelsea, London.

"I wanted to design aeroplanes", he says with a short laugh, "but after a year I discovered that what I really wanted to do was to fly. So I took a short service commission in the RAF in 1935.

"They trained me as a bomber pilot and after I got my wings I went to a Heyford squadron which was at that time regarded as the crack squadron in Bomber Command. You may remember the Heyford. It had a long, gaunt fuselage suspended from the underside of the upper wing (it was a biplane). Consequently, it always looked as if it was upside down. But believe it or not, it was lovely to fly.

"My term of service was due to end in December 1939. In the meanwhile, we had converted to Whitleys shortly before the war, and so when war broke out, I started on a long series of ops with the Whitleys.

"Those were curious days. We didn't know what to expect, because nobody had ever done night raids on germany, and I remember that the first time we went over we were quite certain that we would be shot down. But we soon found out that it wasn't really so bad."

There was no bombing in those days. The Whitleys used to go out loaded with leaflets. Raffy Raphael made the first leaflet raid of the war - over the Ruhr - and he and his crew used to liven up the evenings by permitting the rear gunner to fire at searchlights. "We accounted for between 50 and 60 searchlights altogether", he says.

With another RAF pilot, he took one of the only two aircraft of the RAF ever to fly to Warsaw and back. "We dropped leaflets there, too," he says. "We took off from France and the trip took me 11 hours and ten minutes. It took the other lad a bit longer, though. He landed after getting lost and found he was in Germany, so he promptly took off again. He got home quite safely. The astonishing part about that trip was the fact that most of the towns in eastern Germany were lit up quite brightly. I guess they never figured there would be an enemy aircraft around."

One day, however, Raffy and his crew managed to drop a few bombs. These fell on Sylt - they were the first bombs to hit the German base during the present war. "We went after a bridge and the flare path of one of the aerodromes," Raffy says.

With the invasion of Norway, the show started up in real earnest. The Whitley's of Raffy's squadron went out to bomb objectives in Oslo - particularly the airport where the Germans had been landing troops.

"The first time was a piece of cake," he says. There was scarcely any flak. Se we went back three days later. By this time the Jerries has moved up in force. We went in fairly low - just as we had the first time. I was promptly picked up by 23 searchlights and about 60 multiple pom-poms opened up on us. We got away, but I don't know how."

A little later, the Whitleys carried out the first raid on Trondheim. Squadron Leader Raphael was on that show, too. He was also on the night raid on the Maastrict bridge during the invasion of the Lowlands, and after all these varied ops, he was awarded the DFC.

"Then I stuck my neck out," he says. "I was feeling so good about getting a gong that I asked to be allowed to fly again the next night, although it wasn't my turn. We were going after an oil refinery, and out machine was first over the target to drop incendiaries and light it up for the later arrivals.

"On the way back we were attacked by a Jerry over the North Sea. He shot out both my engines and busted the hydraulic system. But my rear gunner got him and he went down in flames.

"We had to land in the sea; that made a couple of 'first times' on this trip. It was the first time a Whitley had shot down an enemy night fighter, and the first time a Whitley had been put down in the sea with all the crew intact. My crew really got out in a hurry when we hit the water; I was a bit slower because I discovered that a bullet from the enemy's guns had gone through both my feet. However, we got the dinghy out and didn't discover until later that we had it upside down. We were picked up by a British destroyer and I spent a couple of comfortable days in the sick bay. When I got ashore, I had to spend three months recuperating. This was a bit annoying, because it meant that I missed a lot of good shows."

When he got back on operations, however, he saw plenty more good shows. Included among them were trips to Berlin and three flights to Italy. The Italian tours were all done in the same week. What he remembered most about them is the flight over the Alps. "It was a wonderful sight." he says. "I'll never forget it. I used to go skiing in the Alps before the war, but they never looked as lovely then as they do so from the air in the moonlight. Incidentally, on one of these trips we started a beautiful fire in the Fiat works."

Another trip he made was to the Zeiss optical and instrument works at Jena. "Believe t or not," he says with some pleasure, "that was the first time in 150 years that they had seen war at first hand in that part of Germany. A Me.110 tried to intercept us, but my tail gunner was on the job all right. The Jerry went down in flames."

In September 1940 he made his last bombing trip; then he went to a Coastal Command general reconnaissance school as an instructor for a change from operational flying. When he had finished his rest, he went, at his own request, to night fighters - which is probably the most highly specialized job in the service.

His first victory in this game was during the big blitz on London on May 10 [1941], the last time the Luftwaffe attacked Britain in force. It was the night when Britain's new system of defence against night bombing brought down 33 German raiders. Raffy's victim was Heinkel 111.

After that night, the opportunities to get confirmed victories have been few and far between, but Raffy managed to get three, in a short while, of the very few raiders seen over England. For these victories, he was awarded the Bar to the DFC.

One of his victories was over a Ju.88 which crashed into the North Sea a short distance out from the English coast. He still wears the orange-colored Mae West jacket which belonged to the pilot of that aircraft. "t's a kind of souvenir", he explains.

In the Adjutant's office at squadron headquarters hangs a big oil painting of Billy Bishop. All around the room are pinned photographs of aircraft with which it has been quipped during both Great Wars - the SE.5s of the last war, the Hurricanes which it flew during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, and the Douglas Havocs which it flies now.

On the side of each of these black machines is painted the famous white hexagon which shows on the pictures of the old SE.5s. The spirit of Bishop runs strongly through everything that the squadron is doing today.

Flying with Raffy are four other Canadians and one American who joined the RCAF. Of these, one is a radio operator; the rest are pilots.

They are: Pilot Officer H.H. Norsworthy of Westmount, Quebec, Pilot Officer R.B. Harris of Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Flying Officer J.J. McCloskey of Richmond, Virginia, Pilot Officer C.F. Medhurst of Foremost, Alberta, and Flying Officer I. MacInnes of Vancouver, the radio operator.

Raffy has just recently been made commander of the squadron and the boys - Englishmen and Canadians alike - think he is terrific.

When he has finished his night's flying, Raffy goes down the road to the Old Rectory, where his wife and son are always waiting. It is very quiet there, under the shadow of the massive oak trees and the spire of the 14th Century village church. Sometimes Raffy wanders around the churchyard and examines the inscriptions on the ancient tomb-stones. "Some of them," he says, "are unbelievably old."

Usually, after he has finished the day's work in the officer - all the administration which the squadron commander must look after in addition to leading his pilots and air crews into battle in the air - he goes home for tea and plays for awhile with young Raffy, who is just learning to walk. Together they look out over the wide valley behind the old rectory - the pilot, the wife and the son. "This," says Raffy, "is what is worth fighting for. You will not find it anywhere else in the world."

After tea, when it is time to go back and get ready for the night's flying, he strides out through the front gate. From the nursery window, the youngster watches and waves. Soon he will be in bed, asleep. Somewhere, two or three miles over his head, his father will be searching steadily in the moonlight night, aided by the miraculous eye of science, looking for sights of those who come in the night to bring death to children. The child will sleep peacefully; as yet, he does not know the meaning of the purple and white ribbon with the silver star on his father's chest; he has not seen the neat little row of swastikas on the side of his father's aircraft. He will know one day, and he, like all who know Raffy Raphael, the man who wanted to design aeroplanes, will be proud.

_________________________________________________

______________________________________________

RAPHAEL, GORDON LEARMOUTH G/C(P) 37508 D.S.O. D.F.C. with two Bars, M.i.D. - Royal Air Force. From Brantford. Ontario. Killed In Action Apr. 10/45 age 28. #605 County of Warwick Squadron (Nunquam Dormio). G/C. Raphael had been the Commanding Officer at Manston, England, had been posted to #77 squadron during 1939/40. #10 squadron in 1940. and #85 squadron in 1941. He was an ace credited with destroying seven enemy aircraft all as a night fighter. He was killed when his Spitfire aircraft collided with a Dakota aircraft over France. Group Captain Pilot Raphael is buried in the Cudham Churchyard, Orpingham, Kent, England.
                                                    from "They Shall Not Grow Old"

______________________________________________

--- Canadian Aces ---

_______________________________________________