James Elmslie "Jimmy" Walker   RAF   W/C DFC   &  Two  Bars Born 4 April 1919 in Claresholm, Alberta Son of James and Helen Augusta Walker Husband of Barbara Joan Walker, of Victoria, B.C. Home in Edmonton (bank teller) Twice tried to enlist, autumn 1939 but was deferred Knew W.R. "Wop" May (WW1 Ace) who gave him a reference Enlisted in Edmonton, 10 May 1940 Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 22 June 1940) [a] No.3 EFTS (graduated 27 August 1940) [b] & No.2 SFTS (awarded wings on 25 October 1940) [c] (but continued advanced training until 30 November 1940) Commissioned 1 December 1940 Embarked for Britain 14 December 1940 Posted to No.402 Squadron - Although neat in appearance & personable, he seemed disinterested in the unit (S/L V.B. Corbett assessment, 20 June 1941) To Station Leconfield, 28 July 1941 Promoted F/O, 1 December 1941 & F/L 18 March 1942 Served with No.81 Squadron (18 August 1941 to 13 February 1943 including service in Russia and North Africa) See Mark Sheppard's article "To Russia With Love", in Aeroplane Monthly, March and April 1997) Promoted to Squadron Leader on 13 February 1943 & given command of 243 Squadron which he led until 1 June 1943 He was then promoted to Wing Commander on 8 July 1943 On staff of RCAF Overseas HQ, 23 June to 8 July 1943, No.127 Airfield (8-14 July 1943) & No.126 Airfield (14 July to 26 August 1943) On 4 August 1943, G/C G.K. Gilroy assessed his performance as Commanding Officer of No.243 Squadron: "A very sound fighter pilot and leader. Should make a wing leader. Very conscientious and dependable." Returned to Canada on leave, September 1943 & married Barbara Joan Whitley, Edmonton, 16 October 1943 Arrived back in the UK, 29 November 1943 Attended RAF Staff College, 6 Dec. 1943 to 2 March 1944 On 25 February 1944 A/V/M C. Medhurst, Commandant, RAF Staff College, wrote of him: "A quiet and competent type with undoubted self-reliance and a certain amount of latent initiative. Possesses sound judgment on most operational matters but his general knowledge is somewhat limited due probably to certain lack of educational background. He does just enough work to carry him through. Inclined to be self-opinionated. He can speak convincingly on subjects he knows, but is shy in expressing himself on other subjects. His written work is average. Suitable for staff duties. Recommended for the symbol w.s." To No.144 Wing, 3 March 1944 as Wing Commander (Flying) Award presented 7 March 1944 Killed in a flying accident, 25 April 1944 (Auster NK116) unauthorized low flying (Sergeant R.F. Teale of the RAF also killed) In banking around some trees, his port wing struck the top branches of two trees. His aircraft crashed nose first. He died in hospital James' last logbook entry is 29 Nov. 1943 so his total flying time is unknown, but as of that date he had flown 903 hours on all types He is buried in the United Kingdom at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave reference 48-I-3 He appears to have been an arms collector, for among his personal effects sent back to Canada were two pistols & two German rifles [a] At No.1 ITS he was assessed thus: "Determined to be fighter pilot. Considerable dash. Dependable. Clean cut. Very Athletic." [b] At No.3 EFTS he flew 32 hours 40 minutes dual, 24 hours 40 minutes solo (Fleet Finch) and was assessed as "Competent pilot - requires some practice in forced landings. He graduated fourth in a class of 24 and was recommended for twin-engine training. [c] Despite the recommendation, he was posted to No.2 SFTS where he graduated 19th in a class of 38 and was assessed as "A capable and smooth pilot, above average in aerobatics and instrument flying."

_________________________________________________

6 September 1940, No.2 SFTS Uplands, J.G Steward of Montreal, J.E. Walker of Edmonton & J.G. Easson of Toronto give each other the thumbs up

_________________________________________________

Canadians Share in First R.A.F. Victory on Russian Front
7 NAZIS DOWNED

London, 24 Sept. 1941 - (CP) - The Air Ministry announced today that an R.A.F. squadron, under Wing Commander H. N. G. Ramsbottom-Isherwood, operating on the Eastern Front had shot down seven German fighter planes in its first operation, and revealed that two Canadian pilots were among British forces fighting in Russia.
The Canadians, Pilot Officers J. E. Walker of Edmonton and D. L. Ramsay of Calgary, are members of the Royal Canadian Air Force detached for service with the R.A.F.
The Air Ministry's announcement said the squadron which shot down the seven Germans lost one plane itself.
There has been no indication of the size of the air force wing which was sent to Russia some time ago, nor has there been any indication of its whereabouts.
The Rome radio reported the R.A.F. had been fighting over Odessa in the south, but the Air Ministry refused to confirm or deny the story saying the Italians obviously were fishing to find out where the squadrons were.
Resumption of Nazi bombings of Britain on a scale equal to the fall and winter of 1940-41, but based on long-term strategy similar to the Royal Air Force's master plan, are predicted by air observers here.
They assert — and many British airmen agree — that the German Air Force will maintain only a holding force of fighters and light bombers on the Russian front, and switch heavier bombers west for attacks on Britain.
Two reasons are given:
1. The biting cold, sweeping winds and deep snow of the Russian winter make large-scale air activity hazardous at best, impossible most of the time.
2. The belief that the German High Command, frustrated by British sea convoys and United States patrols, wants to use the Nazi air force for heavy smashes at British industry and ports.
These blows would be similar to those dealt to Plymouth and Coventry, but would be expected to last six or seven nights.
Another theory widely held by British airmen is that heavy attacks on Berlin, Hamburg and other cities have awakened a desire for vengeance.

May Follow R.A.F. Strategy
About half the German air force now is estimated to be in Russia. British pilots, however, have reported increasing numbers of German fighters over Calais.
A switch to a far-reaching, long-term attack, to replace the swift, grandiose strategy of 1940, would be a counterpart of British strategy - blows delivered regularly at small but important targets; strong fighter sweeps to engage and destroy hostile fighters in a war of attrition; very heavy — up to 400 aircraft — attacks on certain selected industrial cities.
The Nazis tried daylight bombing in the summer of 1940, and were beaten off with appalling losses, but may try daylight raiding again, some airmen say. They predict the Germans again will be unsuccessful unless they adopt the tactics which the R.A.F. has been using in daylight raids on Germany.
The Germans in those days came over Britain at about 12,000 feet, considered the best possible height for defensive fighter activity and anti-aircraft defense.
The R.A.F., when it reversed the picture this summer, swept over the Continent either very high — 33,000 to 35,000 — or very low — 100 to 150 feet.
The R.A.F. undoubtedly will continue it's present offensive against Germany. One airman said, "We will throw more and heavier bombers into each raid until the attacks of 275 or 300 aircraft will be trivial."
The R.A.F. is better equipped to repel an attack on this scale than ever before. A large quantity of fighters and bombers on hand is only half the picture. The other is the number of pilots trained in Canada, under better weather conditions than possible in Britain.

_________________________________________________

FOUR CANADIANS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR GREAT WORK Toronto Pilot Gets D.F.C. For Attacks Deep Into Germany DEEDS OF HEROISM London, 11 September 1942 - (CP Cable) - The air ministry today announced the award of Distinguished Flying Crosses to six members of the Royal Canadian Air Force who have been carrying the air war deep into German-occupied territory. The flyers are: F/O James Elmslie Walker, of Edmonton; F/O John Lefroy McCaul, of Toronto; P/O John William Williams, Chilliwack, B.C.; Acting F/L P.L.I. Archer, native of Bridgetown, Barbados, B.W.I.; F/L Frederick Ernest Green, of Toronto, and S/L John Fee, Calgary, Alta. The citation said Walker destroyed a Nazi plane while serving with the R.A.F. wing in Russia last year and has "shown a keen desire to engage the enemy at all times." Since March he has led his flight continuously on all operations. Bombs Aerodrome McCaul was the navigator of a bomber which attacked a German aerodrome last July, the citation said. He got his bombs on the target despite intense searchlight activity and anti-aircraft fire and his "accurate navigation in the face of great difficulties was of the highest orders." Williams "fought the enemy with great determination," his citation said. "Within a short period he has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft, two of which he shot down in one day. Later his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire but he flew it safely to its base." Walker and P/O David L. Ramsay, of Calgary, were the only Canadians in the R.A.F. wing which fought in Russia. On his return from Russia early this year Walker described flying in the Murmansk area much the same as winter flying in Canada except that they saw action. F/O James Walker DFC

_________________________________________________

WALKER, F/L James Elmslie (J3199) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.81 Squadron
Award effective 24 August 1942 as per London Gazette dated 11 September 1942 and
AFRO 1535/42 dated 25 September 1942.

This officer is a determined and skilful pilot. He has at all times shown a keen desire to engage the enemy. While serving in Russia since March 1942, Flight Lieutenant Walker has led his flight continuously in all its operations.

_________________________________________________

1943

_________________________________________________

Local Flyer, Bill Olmsted, One of Canadians
Who Are Doing a Good job in Tunisia
Increasing Number From Canada Seeing Action on Desert Front

(By Ross Munro, Canadian Press War Correspondent)
With the RAF in North Africa, 25 Feb. 1943 – (CP Cable) – An increasing number of Canadian fighter pilots are in action on the Tunisian front and S/L Jimmy Walker of Edmonton, now commands a Spitfire squadron, the first Canadian-led RAF squadron in North Africa.
Walker has just been awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation reads: “This officer has destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged four others since his arrival in North Africa. His untiring efforts and leadership merit the highest praise. His example has been an inspiration to other pilots in his wing and has contributed greatly to the wing success in the air.”
Flying with Walker at different times during the campaign have been several other Canadians who have been knocking off enemy aircraft.

Toronto Man Promoted
Alan Aikman, of Toronto, has been promoted from the rank of F/O to that of F/L and he now is leading a flight of Spitfires. Aikman flew No. 2 to the famous Irishman, Paddy Finucane, and was with him the day he was shot down off the French coast by anti-aircraft fire. The Torontonian has a score of five enemy planes destroyed in North Africa. Recently he shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 in an air fight over the Mediterranean. The German plane crashed on the shore.
Aikman said Spitfires have been doing a large number of sweeps recently to harry the Germans on the northern sector of the front. "The Jerries don't seem to want to mix it up with us," he said, "Sometimes we get a dozen or 15 in the sky but they sheer off when we get in at them. So life is a little dull at times these days."
Another high-scoring Canadian is P/O Harry (Junior) Fenwick, of Leamington, Ont., who has destroyed five of the enemy and damaged five more, besides having a probable to his credit. He wears the ribbon of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flying in the same squadron as Fenwick are six other Canadians: Sgt. Louis Hamilin, Sgt. Donald Rathwell, and P/O Calvin (Pep) Peppler, all of Winnipeg; F/Sgt. Douglas Husband, of Toronto; F/O Bill Olmsted, of Hamilton, Ont., and Sgt. John Olsen, of Kirkland Lake, Ont.
With another squadron that flies on sweeps with Fenwick and his crowd are P/O Jim Woodill, of Halifax, F/L Glen Lynes, of Montreal, who has just been promoted from the rank of P/O and leading a flight like Aikman, P/O C. F. Sorensen, a Dane from Kingston, and P/O Howard McMinniman, of Fredericton.
Flying with still another R.A.F. squadron that included a half-dozen Canadians is F/O R. W. Robertson, of Sydney, N.S., who has been through a couple of recent scraps over Tunisia. On a dawn patrol he ran into seven Nazi fighters and engaged them immediately. He took on three at first and headed straight at them. At less than 100 yards, he squirted lead at one and saw it break away and dive for the ground, riddled with bullets. Troops on the ground saw it crash and Robertson got the credit for destroying it.
He was not finished, though. He chased after the rest and damaged two before returning to his base in time for breakfast. Robertson flies a Spitfire with the name Bluenose painted on its nose. He has done almost 150 operational hours as a fighter pilot.
A great friend of a large number of Canadian pilots out here is F/Sgt. Tony Jonsson, the only Icelander in the R.A.F., who was recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. His score is three destroyed, one probable and one damaged.

_________________________________________________

WALKER, S/L James Elmslie (J3199) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.243 Squadron
Award effective 19 March 1943 as per London Gazette dated 19 March 1943 &
AFRO 747/43 dated 30 April 1943.

In operations in North Africa, Squadron Leader Walker has destroyed four enemy aircraft. By his great skill, fine leadership and untiring efforts this officer has won praise.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/4951 has recommendation drafted 11 January 1943 by Commanding Officer, No.81 Squadron, in which he was still serving as a Flight Commander in the rank of Flight Lieutenant. It noted he had flown 780 hours of which 226 hours had been on operations. In the previous six months he had flown 175 hours, and most recently he had flown 17 sorties in North Africa:
This officer has destroyed 4 2 Huns and damaged four others in North Africa. Also, he flew 120 hours from 8.11.42 - 31.12.42. His untiring efforts and leadership merit the highest recommendation for the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The same day (11 January 1943) the Wing Commander of No.322 Wing notes:
This officer is very highly recommended for this award. His example has been an inspiration to the other pilots in the Wing and has contributed greatly to the Wing's successes in the air.

_________________________________________________

EDMONTON AIRMAN TRIUMPHS OVER STUKAS

Allied Headquarters, North Africa, 8 April 1943 — (UP) — Squadron-Leader Jimmy Walker, of Edmonton, Alberta, led a group of Spitfire pilots who destroyed nine of 14 German Stukas that tried to attack Medjez-El-Bab at dusk yesterday.
Walker accounted for one Stuka himself as he led the squadron into a "tearing dive." He said he first saw the enemy planes 1,000 feet below him.
"It was too easy," he recalled. "I picked one out and saw strikes all over the aircraft. The next thing the starboard undercarriage was shot away just after the pilot jettisoned his bombs."

_________________________________________________

CANADIANS BAG ENEMY AIRCRAFT IN MIDDLE EAST
Play Share in Big Allied Sorties in Battle of Tunisia
CONSTANT FLYING

An Advanced Tunisian Airfield, 12 April 1943 - (Delayed) - (CP Cable) - Three Axis aircraft have fallen before the guns of Spitfire fighters piloted by Canadians in the last two days of Tunisian air fighting, in which a record number of sorties was made, it was disclosed today.
S/L J. E. Walker, D.F.C. and bar, of Edmonton, veteran of the sky battles of Britain and Russia, raised his North African score to 8.5 by downing a Messerschmitt 109 on April 11 and a dive-bomber today. He was obliged to bail out after downing the dive-bomber, but hitch-hiked back to his base in time for lunch and led another raid the same afternoon.
On April 11, F/L Fred Aikman, D.F.C. of Toronto, destroyed a Messerschmitt 109. At the same time, W/O Raymond Gourdeau, of Quebec City, a member of Walker's squadron, had to bail out when his Spitfire was hit by flak, but he was back with his squadron today with only slight injuries.
Walker destroyed his Messerschmitt during a tangle with five German aircraft and bagged the Stuka when he and other members of his squadron piled into a formation of 14 dive-bombers and concentrated their fire on five of them.
"I saw them get into line abreast and prepare to peel off and dive," Walker said. "I went right through them, giving each one a squirt and definitely scoring strikes on the first. Sometime during the maneuver, my Spit was hit, but I did not realize it at the moment. I gave one last Stuka an extra long burst and down he went, flaming.
"I then realized I had been hit and my kite burst into flames. I decided there was no longer any time, so I dived out and pulled my ripcord. It was some relief when I saw the pilot chute open and then felt a tug which meant the main chute had opened. It was my first jump, and, although it was pleasant, my last, I hope. That chute seems awfully small against the big sky."
He said the funniest thing about the whole day occurred after he had landed and was busy pulling in his chute. Some soldiers ran up to him with fixed bayonets and said disgustedly: "Damn it sir, we thought you were a Hun."
Aikman's proudest possession at the moment is a German Africa Korps cap, and the young Canadian preferred to talk about it, his squadron mates, the new dispersal hut he is helping to build — anything except his own exploits. He is a flight commander and one of the most popular members of Walker's outfit.
Gourdeau, the only French-speaking Canadian pilot serving in this advanced area, joked about his experience and could not decide whether he enjoyed the parachute descent, which qualified him for membership in the Caterpillar Club. He landed in no-man's land with slight injuries and set out afoot for his own lines. When he reached a deep river he hired a horse and an Arab for 1,000 francs and, mounted behind the Arab, rode across the river and into the British, lines. He spent the night with the army and returned to base today.

_________________________________________________

Toronto Fliers Make High Scores in Tunisia

Algiers, 3 May 1943 (CP) — Three days ago S/L George Hill, 24, of Pictou, N.S., became officer commanding a famous R.A.F. fighter squadron in North Africa. That same evening he learned he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Next day he led his squadron into an air battle in which six Messerschmitt 110's and one Me-109 were shot down in a large-scale dogfight. For 15 minutes the R.A.F. fighters slashed at a formation of 15 two-motored, long-range German fighters. Enemy aircraft, in the words of one pilot, were falling "wherever you looked."
Hill, former student at Mount Allison University, Sackville, N.B., has destroyed eight and one-fifth aircraft since coming to North Africa early this year. He has one more "destroyed" to his credit — shot down on the day of the Dieppe raid last August.
He fired his guns on his first flight with the squadron as a flight commander, and they have been blazing away ever since. Yesterday's bag brings his squadron to the top of the list in the fighter group, where competition is keener than any goal-getting race in the National Hockey League.
Hill's first score was shared with Sgt. Reg Gray of Toronto. "The Hun aircraft blew up with a great flash. Stuff smeared up my windscreen, and my starboard ailerons were burned by the blast. Jerry's kite just disappeared in a sheet of flame," Hill said.
The whole squadron saw the enemy plane disintegrate as it flew in to pour lead into the enemy formation. Hill shared another "destroyed" with an English flying officer, and shot down yet another himself, bringing his score for the sortie to two destroyed—two halves and a whole. One of the Germans he engaged fought back and Hill returned with bullet holes in his aircraft.
Earlier in the day he had another "go" at the enemy, when he was one of five pilots to share in the destruction of a Heinkel 111. Bill Draper of 9 Humewood Drive, Toronto, raised his score in this campaign to four and a quarter with a victory over an ME-109.
Draper's job was to tackle the enemy's top "cover" of single-engine fighters, which showed no desire to come down and mix it with the Spitfires. Draper, shooting as he climbed to the attack, saw strikes along the cockpit of the enemy aircraft. Then the German aircraft "spun in."
P/O Ross Whitney of Chapleau, Ont., was another Canadian with the same squadron to fire his guns that day. He shared a "probable" ME-110, and he was disgusted that he could not get a "destroyed" all to himself.
Hill is the second Canadian pilot in North Africa to win leadership of a front-line squadron. S/L Jimmy Walker, D.F.C. and Bar, of Edmonton, leads an R.A.F. Spitfire squadron not far away from Hill's.

_________________________________________________

Canadian Flyers to Fore In North African Victory

(By Flight-Lieut. L. C. Powell) Algiers, 11 May 1943 — (CP) — Many Canadians serving with R.A.F. squadrons "stooged" overhead as victorious elements of the ground forces entered Tunis and Bizerte, the two main objectives in the North African campaign. The greatest air assault any army has ever had to withstand blasted the way for the big Allied push. Day after day, fighters and bombers, struck again and again at enemy positions and troop concentrations, at the same time clearing the sky of all aerial opposition.
R.C.A.F. pilots reported hits on long columns of enemy transport and troops along the densely-packed road leading to Tunis. Among the fighter pilots who have played a brilliant part throughout the campaign are S/L Jimmy Walker, D.F.C. and Bar, Edmonton; S/L George Hill, Pictou, N.S; and Flight-Lt. Fred (Butch) Aikman, Toronto, a youthful veteran of the air war.

Others Seeing Action
Other Canadian fighter pilots who have been in action on this front include F/O George Keith, Taber, Alta.; F/O Bill Draper, Toronto; P/O Harry (Junior) Fenwick, D.F.C., of Sioux Lookout, Ont., and F/S Albert (Tommy) Thomas, Winnipeg.
How many aircraft have fallen to Canadians it is impossible to say at present, but Walker and Hill have shot down 19 between them in this theatre of war. The boys who are on "jobs" these days are always anxious to get back to base and catch up with the general news on what is going on.
Enemy air opposition, waning as the intensity of the final offensive mounted, dropped to new low in recent days. A Canadian pilot with a Boston squadron reported seeing five fighters below him. They showed no desire to join action however, and flew off at low levels.
British soldiers paid high tribute to the work of the air force in the campaign and one young Canadian pilot, referring to the enemy and paraphrasing Prime Minister Winston Churchill, said, "Never was so much pounding taken by so few in so short a time."
Pilots returning from trips over former Axis "hot spots" report encountering no flak at all. After flying over one of these enemy positions a week ago one Winnipegger said jokingly, "Flak was so thick I had to fly on instruments."

_________________________________________________

Tunisia Victors - R.C.A.F. Men Among Aces Topping List

By F/L LES POWELL, R.C.A.F., Algiers, 29 May 1943 - (CP) - Royal Canadian Air Force personnel played a big part in the aerial domination achieved by the Allies during the closing stages of the Battle of Tunisia, for they were — as they are everywhere — plentifully sprinkled among R.A.F. squadrons, and even a United States Army Air Force Mitchell squadron.
They flew Spitfires, Hurricanes Bostons, Beaufighters, Wellingtons, and Hudsons.
Two of the highest scoring fighter pilots in the campaign were Canadians, both leaders of Spitfire squadrons. They are S/Ls Jimmy Walker, D.F.C. and Bar, of Edmonton, and George Hill, D.F.C. of Pictou N.S. They destroyed a score of enemy aircraft between them, plus innumerable probable and damaged, and brilliantly lead their units during the final decisive phase of the battle.
Not far away was another Canadian fighter ace, F/L Fred Alan (Butch) Aikman, D.F.C., of Toronto, while a short distance away, - “cross the waddi and turn left at the second eucalyptus" - was a squadron with five Dominion fliers, including another D.F.C., P/O Harry (Junior) Fenwick of Leamington, Ont.

Listowel Flier a Leader
In addition to carrying out fighter sweeps and ground strafing, these fighter boys acted as protection for bombers, Flying Fortresses, Mitchells and Bostons. They liked especially to escort a particular squadron of Bostons, for the leader, W/C Jimmy Thompson, D.F.C., is a Canadian hailing from Listowel, Ont. whose men include many Canadians.
Providing convoy protection through the Mediterranean was tremendously important work, and there, too, were found Canadians. F/L Ted Bishop of Ottawa leads a flight which includes some of his countrymen. Another Hurricane squadron near by included F/O John (Slim) Wilson of Saint John, N.B.
One of the most successful preludes to victory was the bombing of the docks and harbors of Tunis and Bizerte, which stopped supplies for the Axis. Giant Flying "Forts" for the U.S.A.A.C. went over in daytime, while Wellingtons took over by night. Here again one found R.C.A.F. personnel serving.
There were F. M. (Bill) Rublee, 20-year-old Wimpey pilot from Allan, Sask., a veteran of raids on important Tunisian ports who first learned to fly a Waco 10 he and a pal bought, four years ago back home, and Sgt. Jay Lepine, a wireless operator-air gunner from Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que. There is also Bill Webb, a pilot officer from Windsor, Ont., and the squadron's Navigation officer, F/L O. H. Morgan, of Kamloops, B.C. is a veteran of more than a score of trips over enemy targets.

The Mediterranean Fight
Keeping the Mediterranean clear of submarines is the job of Hudsons of Coastal Command and only recently there was a victory over a large Axis submarine by a crew which included Sgt. Rod Blair, a wireless operator-air gunner from Moose Creek, Ont. Other Canadians with the squadron include Sgt. Doug Berlis and his all-Toronto crew of Sgts. W. L. Allen and W. J. McKeague.
Not only in the air but also on the ground did Canadians serve in North Africa. There are LACs, Roy Corney, Ridgeway, Ont., and Alan Harris of Ottawa, radio mechanics with the fighter squadron commanded by Walker, Cpl. Clary Brown, Mount Forest, Ont., and many others, all doing important jobs — jobs which helped to drive the Axis out of North Africa, except for 100,000 or so we are keeping as "guests."
Now the Canadians are sitting around wondering what's to happen next and hoping that it will happen soon. They are all eager to get on with the job, finish it up completely and get back to Canada.

_________________________________________________

Son Of Padre In Army Gets Three Italian Planes In One Day In N. Africa
Canucks Win 36 D.F.C.s and Five Bars and 21 D.F.M.s - About 260 Killed and Missing

London, 7 July 1943 — Wherever British fighters fought and bombers bombed in North Africa, there were Canadians there as members of Royal Air Force crew.
Into the two massive aerial arms Britain conceived to crush the Axis — the western desert and the Northwest Africa air forces — the Dominion poured her aviators in liberal supply. Official figures place their number in the vicinity of 2,000.
The toll Canada paid has not been finally computed, but 132 were reported killed and missing in the western desert force and the figure in the Northwest Africa group again would probably coincide roughly.
Only one RCAF fighter squadron operated as an entity but few RAF squadrons were without Canadian representation and in some fighter squadrons as high as six of the 12 operational pilots were Canadian
In the air, Dominion crew members fought from El Alamein to Tunis. They scourged the retreating enemy, bombed his bases, joined battle with his bases, carried the war out to sea and harassed his shipping.
They flew the Spitfire, Wellington, Boston, Whitley, Mitchell and Hudson.
From their ranks emerged the inevitable greats, two of them to mature into leaders of RAF Spitfire squadrons in the Tunisian fighting.
These were S/Ls Jimmie Walker, 24-year-old Edmonton bank clerk, and George Hill, from Pictou, N.S., two youngsters who learned how to fly in the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme and now hold the D.F.C. & Bar.
Walker went to Africa with two planes to his credit & shot down 8½ more. Hill had 9½ when Africa fell.

HOCKEYIST STARS
A 26-year-old Listowel athlete who went to Britain in peacetime to play hockey fought the campaign as W/C J. H. Thompson of a Boston bomber squadron.
Supporting the 8th Army, the one RCAF squadron to see action was the City of Windsor squadron under S/L F. B. Foster, of Montreal, which finished the campaign in a crack, front-line fighter wing.
In this western desert force, too, were F/L James Francis Edwards, D.F.C., D.F.M., of North Battleford, who ran his score of destroyed aircraft to ten, and F/L William Lawrence "Red" Chisholm, D.F.C., of Kentville, N.S., who has eight.

GOT THREE IN DAY
In their wake came many another exploit. F/S Michael Askey, of Winnipeg, son of an army padre, ran wild one day and shot down three Italian Macchis. F/O Frank Regan, of Vancouver, destroyed the German ace, Kurt Helmann.
Canadians in this western desert force, exclusive of those in the RAF proper, won 36 D.F.C.s, five Bars and 21 D.F.M.s At the climax of the fight, about 1,000 Canadians were in the air.
Across the thousands of desert miles, the "Erks" labored at their obscure tasks, at times within artillery range of the Germans, maintaining aircraft that might be flown by Scot, Rhodesian, Canadian or South African.
To a one-time mounted policeman, F/L G. W. Slee, was entrusted maintenance of wireless communication in the Tunisian theatre of operations. He enlisted at Winnipeg.
RCAF wireless air gunners turned up in U.S. and South African Air Force bombers.

_________________________________________________

32 of RCAF Decorated, Walker Wins Second Bar

Ottawa, 8 July 1943 - (CP) – S/L James Elmslie Walker of Edmonton has become the first member of the R.C.A.F. serving overseas in this war to win a second bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, R.C.A.F. headquarters announced tonight. This award was one of 32 decorations for R.C.A.F. personnel. Listed tonight in an Air Force statement, S/L Gerald E. Lane, D.F.C., of Victoria, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order — sixth to be won by an R.C.A.F. member. There were awards of 25 Distinguished Flying Crosses and five Distinguished Flying Medals. S/L Walker, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Walker, live in Edmonton, won his D.F.C. in August last year after service as a flight leader in Russia. His first bar was awarded last March when he was cited for destruction of four enemy aircraft. His citation for the second bar states that his fine leadership was responsible for bringing it (his squadron) up to its present very high standard of efficiency." S/L Lane won the D.F.C. last June after completing a tour of operations. The D.S.O. citation states that he has recently participated in raids on Berlin, Stuttgart and Munich. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Lane, live in Victoria. Other Awards Listed. Following are the other awards announced tonight with next of kin: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. … F/O JOHN W. P. DRAPER, Mrs. L. N. Draper (mother), Apt 27, 9 Humewood Drive, Toronto. … Walker sports a motorcycle in front of an American Spitfire in the Desert

_________________________________________________

WALKER, S/L James Elmslie (J3199) - Second Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.243 Squadron
Award effective 1 July 1943 as per London Gazette dated 9 July 1943 &
AFRO 1724/43 dated 27 August 1943.

Squadron Leader Walker assumed command of this squadron at a difficult period and, by his fine leadership and excellent example, was responsible for bringing it to its present very high standard of efficiency. He has been largely instrumental for the many successes achieved by the squadron and has himself destroyed at least four enemy aircraft and damaged others.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/8961 has recommendation from Headquarters, No.324 Wing drafted 24 April 1944 when he had flown 815 hours (384 operational) of which 215 hours had been in previous sis months. He was credited with 162 sorties.

Squadron Leader Walker assumed command of this new squadron before it had attained any success in operations against the enemy, and at a time when its morale was low as a result of serious casualties. He is responsible for bringing the squadron into line with the operational efficiency and successes attained by the most experienced squadrons in the Wing. In the two months since Squadron Leader Walker assumed command, the squadron has destroyed, probably destroyed and damaged a total of over 50 enemy aircraft, of which Squadron Leader Walker himself is responsible for the destruction of four, one probably destroyed and a further seven and one-half damaged.

He was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross for his successes with No.81 Squadron in the early part of this campaign. The award of a second Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross is very strongly recommended.

_________________________________________________

Get There First Is Rule Of Edmonton Flying Ace

By SYDNEY GRUSON, London, July 8, 1943 - (CP) - Jimmy Walker said, "Write it mild or else ..." and, since Jimmy is a young fighter pilot with 10.5 enemy planes to do credit to his unerring eyesight, this story will be as mild as the facts permit. Facts are enough to show that this 24-year-old squadron leader from Edmonton is one of Canada's air fighting aces, and they are enough to show why he was awarded the second bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross, the first Canadian so honored. The announcement of the award was made today.
Walker has just returned from North Africa, his third field of operations, where his R.A.F. squadron of Canadians, Britons, Australians and New Zealanders set up an enviable record.
Before North Africa he had flown out of Britain and, along with his pal, Dave Ramsey of Calgary, served for three months with the R.A.F. fighter wing in Russia, where he got one enemy aircraft to add to his bag of Axis machines.
Impatiently awaiting his next assignment Walker in an interview said - and obviously meant it - that "the only thing I can see is that they're giving me something for what the squadron did."' And the squadron did plenty in the thick of the North African fighting.

Organization First
Walker was placed in charge of his squadron on his arrival in North Africa at the beginning of the invasion. It was composed of new-comers who had not met the enemy. It took a while for the squadron to get organized and primed, but in April and May, when the Allies had the Axis rocking, Walker's men were ready.
"We hadn't any luck at all at first. Suddenly everything went bingo, and in two months, we got 24 destroyed, about 12 probables and damaged 28," he said.
"It was nice," Walker said, recalling, those early days of the campaign when he remembers the squadron facing 70-to-8 odds, "bouncing the Hun occasionally instead of him bouncing us all the time."
Altogether Walker got eight and a half of the squadron's total in Africa and was forced to bail out twice, both times within his own lines.
Walker worked in a bank in Edmonton before the war and had never flown until he joined the R.C.A.F. early in 1940.
He has never changed his tactics of flying and shooting, the simple formula being "Get there first before he gets you and just hope like heck you hit him before he gets you."

Finds Life Healthy
The life of a fighter pilot, he says, "is a damn good healthy life," and a busy life too when action is as hot as it was in North Africa. His squadron usually went out three times a day when the weather was good and stayed aloft on an average of one or two hours. Of his North African experiences, he likes to recall the day "when we knew we had them licked."
"That time we really had our strength out with the sky filled with bombers and Spits. We plastered the Huns properly and after that we had to go look for him. He had been willing to mix with us up to that day."
These are some of the facts in the flying career of James Elmslie Walker, as the records list him. His citations, when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in September, 1942, and First Bar in March, 1943, give some idea of what kind of a fighter he is.
"A determined and skillful pilot (who) at all times has shown a keen desire to engage the enemy," his D.F.C. citation said of him.
"By his great skill, fine leadership and untiring efforts this officer has won high praise ..." It was said on his First Bar citation.

_________________________________________________

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, 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.
Most successful RCAF Spitfire pilot over Malta was F/L Henry Wallace McLeod, DFC and Bar, of Regina, with a score of 13 destroyed at the time he left the island.
F/L F.E. Jones, DFC, of Cloverdale, B.C. destroyed seven over the island, left Malta at the same time as his good friend McLeod.

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
S/L V.C. Woodward of Victoria, B.C., who joined the RAF in 1938, has destroyed 20 enemy aircraft and now holds the DFC and Bar. He commands an RAF fighter squadron in the Mediterranean theatre.
George Hill of Pictou, N.S., fighting in Sicily at the head of an RAF fighter squadron, has a count of 13 destroyed.

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.

W/C James Walker

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.

_________________________________________________

Second Member Of R.C.A.F. Wins  Second Bar To D.F.C.

Ottawa, 27 Sept. 1943 (CP)— S/L George Urquhart Hill of Pictou, N.S., a fighter pilot who has shot down 14 enemy aircraft, one of them at night, has become the second member of the R.C.A.F. to win a second bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross, air force headquarters announced today.
The only other R.C.A.F. flier to win two bars to the Flying Cross is S/L J. E. Walker of Edmonton.
Headquarters also announced today award of the D.F.C. to F/O A.R. Carter of 713 Dufferin St., Toronto, and the Distinguished Flying Medal to Sgt, J.P. Lee of Lucerne Lake, Wash., and Victoria.
The R.C.A.F. later announced award of Distinguished Flying Crosses to four other members of the R.C.A.F. and of the Distinguished Flying Medal to a Canadian serving with the R.A.F. Following are the awards- D.F.C. - F/L J. C. H. Delisle of Montreal; F/L W. S. Day of Aylesford, N.S.; F/O R. T. Brown of Biggar, Sask.; F/O S. T. Smith of Edmonton. D.F.M. - F/S R. F. Lavack of Vancouver

_________________________________________________

1944

_________________________________________________

R.C.A.F. HEAVIES GO FOR A WEEK WITHOUT LOSS

Ottawa, March 10, 1944 - (CP) - R.C.A.F. heavy bombers were out over important targets in France on three nights during the past week as part of Allied attacking forces, the R.C.A.F. reported today in its weekly summery of overseas operations.
No Canadian aircraft were lost in the raids and none were lost in mining operations carried out over enemy waters by R.C.A.F. Halifaxes on two nights. There were no major night bombing attacks by Canadians over Germany during the week.
On the fighter front, Canadian Spitfires were active on several days, supporting United States medium bombers attacking targets in France. Liberators and Flying Fortresses of the United States Army air forces were escorted by R.C.A.F. Spitfires in their attack on Western German targets.

Mediterranean Record From Italy came word that Warrant Officer Charles Mower of Port Dalhousie, Ont. had chalked up his 91st operational trip, believed to be a record for aircrew in the Mediterranean war theatre. Mower flies with an R.A.F. Baltimore medium bomber squadron. Two Canadian squadron leaders received the Distinguished Flying Cross with two bars from the King in an investiture at Buckingham Palace. They are S/Ls G.U. Hill of Pictou, N.S., and James E. Walker of Edmonton. More than half the force which attacked the German aircraft assembly plant at Meulan les Mureaux early last Friday consisted of bombers from the R.C.A.F. bomber group, including Halifaxes of the "Moose," "Iroquois," "Bison," "Bluenose" and "Ghost" squadrons. They met little opposition and the crews which went in at below the cloud level reported a well-concentrated attack. Smash Communications Monday and Tuesday nights the R.C.A.F. provided a major part of the bomber formations which struck at strategic railway yards in France and delivered a crippling blow to German communications. Monday night it was an "obliteration" raid on the Trappes railway yards near Paris. The attack appeared to take the Germans by surprise as little opposition was encountered from either ground defense or night fighters. Tuesday night the R.C.A.F. was gunning for the railway yards at Le Mans, southwest of Paris. Every squadron in the R.C.A.F. group participated. There was considerable light and heavy flak, but all the Canadian bombers returned safely. W/C Bill Swetman, D.F.C., of Kapuskasing, Ont., marked up his 50th operational trip with this raid. Three enemy planes were destroyed by R.C.A.F. fighters. Two Focke-Wulfs were brought down by Spitfires while escorting United States bombers, and the third, another FW-190, was destroyed by a Mosquito on an intruder trip over Southwest France.

S/Ls Hill & Walker after their investiture at Buckingham Palace where the pair received a second Bar to their DFCs

_________________________________________________

Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, 9 May 1944 – The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 878 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing next-of-kin of Ontario men as follows:

Overseas

Killed on Active Service

Walker, James Elmslie, DFC & Two Bars, W/C, Edmonton, Alta.

_________________________________________________

Victories Include :

9.5 / 4 / 13.5

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Thanks go out to

Some content on this site is probably the property of acesofww2.com unless otherwise noted.