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Edwards, James F. |
W/C |
DFC, DFM, CD |
1:50 |
The Allies push from El Alamein to Tunisia. Disruption of Axis attempt to
resupply forces. Maintenance in desert and the important role of ground
crews. Flying the Spitfire with #417 RCAF Sqn; CO #274 RCAF Sqn in Italy.
Repatriation to UK; participation in landings in Normandy; conversion to the
Tempest a/c to counteract V1, and offer close ground support to the Army.
Repatriation to Canada and return to UK/Europe as W/C (Flying) with #127
Wing. Post war including: leapfrog 2; conditions at Grostenquin; service
with NORAD (SAGE). |
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RCAF POW Assoc |
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1:45 |
Interview with a dozen of the 775 registrants at the 1989 RCAF POW REUNION.
Interviews varying from 4 to 15 minutes in length were obtained with RCAF,
RAAF, RAF, as well as US personnel serving as Canadian aircrew. The common
bond between the group resides in the fact that all were shot down on ops
and became POWs or evaders. A number were prisoners at Stalag Luft 3, and
able to provide insights into POW lifestyles, as well as the famous escape
from that institution. The Remembrancer Service at the National War Memorial
is presented. |
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Warren, Violet Milstead |
1st O |
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1:03 |
Early involvement with flying (1939) including acquisition of private,
commercial and instructor license. Qualified for latter at RCAF Station
Trenton. Employed as instructor until volunteering and being accepted with
the Air Transport Auxiliary in Apr 43. Organizational structure and training
in the ATA is presented. Importance of ATA Handling and Ferry Pilot Notes to
permit delivery of numerous and varied a/c such as: Hurricanes, Spitfires,
Beaufighters, Mosquitos, etc., from factories and Repair Depots to
operational bases throughout the UK. Post war flying in Northern Ontario. |
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Bannock, Russell |
W/C |
DSO, DFC |
1:11 |
Enrolled 9 Sep 39; graduated first wartime pilots course at Camp Borden.
Trained on Lysanders; assigned CFS Trenton as instructor and Visiting
Flight. CFI #3 FIS Arnprior. UK in Feb 44 to Mosquito OTU. Mosquito a/c
discussed in detail. To #418 Sqn in time for D-Day. Participation in
Intruder role through Flower ops, Night and Day Rangers. Successes gained in
countering V1 threat (19 personally destroyed). Observed initial launch of
V2s. Commanded #418 then assigned to #406 to train and lead in ops. Post war
career with DeHavilland. |
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Pitcher, Paul B. |
W/C |
MID |
0:45 |
Prewar with #115 Aux. Sqn; #1 Fighter Sqn to U. K. May 40 in time for
training and Battle of Britain. Flew Hurricanes. Operational station
described: assessment of German ME 109/ Dean Nesbitt, Gordon McGregor, Dal
Russel, Ernie McNab in #1 Sqn. Conduct of battle and changes in strategy.
Comparison Spitfire vs. Hurricane. Rhubarbs over continent. #417 Sqn to
Middle East. ASO 2 at Western Air Command; "X-Wing" to Aleutians, with
Kittyhawks, flying conditions. Return to UK 1944 as staff officer with #2
TAF. Demobbed Jan/Feb 45. |
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Watts, Jack V. |
BGen |
DSO, DFC & Bar |
1:52 |
Trained as Obs in BCATP; Abington OTU for Ansons, Whitley. Assigned #10 RAF;
op in Whitley to Ostend. Ditching; rescue by Royal Navy; member of Goldfish
Club. Halifax replaces Whitley; comparison and effect on operations. Targets
in France and Germany including Kiel, St. Nazaire, Brest. Briefing for raid
on Tirpitz in Norwegian fjord; conduct of two raids on successive nights.
Opposition encountered; enemy use of smoke generators and fighters.
Debriefing; DFC awarded; invitation to attend investiture received while
serving in North Africa. |
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Watts, Jack V. |
BGen |
DSO, DFC & Bar |
2:01 |
Mods to Hfx a/c. #10 Sqn to North Africa. Ops in desert. Raid on Tobruk;
bailout into Med, evasion and successful return to unit; member caterpillar
and Late Arrivals Clubs. To Canada for leave and Victory Bond Drives. Return
to UK and ops as nav with #109 Sqn. Mosquito a/c and use of Oboe. Problems
encountered with Mosquito. Pathfinder role described. Raid on Essen; FIDO.
#105 Sqn as Sqn Nav Officer. Tour expired after 104 missions. Investitures:
DFC* at Buckingham Palace; DSO at Queens Park, Toronto. |
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Alexander, Lincoln A. |
Col |
CD |
0:23 |
Former Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario recalls his
experiences as a member of the RCAF during the war. Trained as a Radio
Operator under the RCAF during the war. Trained as a Radio Operator under
the BCATP, he served at a number of stations in Western Canada including #7
AOS at Prince Albert, Sask. and Vancouver. Aircrew experience primarily on
Ansons. Postwar experiences as a veteran attending McMaster University.
Attending Cadet Camp as Reviewing Officer and importance of training
obtained through the military. |
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Carr, William, K. |
LGen |
CMM, DFC, CD |
1:37 |
Training under BCATP; ops with #636 Sqn. (photo recce) in Malta, Sicily and
Italy. Flying in Canadian North at end of war. Postwar career in Air
Transport including: #412 Sqn as CO; Commander Cdn Detachment to Congo to
establish internal air supply system; tour with NORAD; integration and
experiences as first Commander of Air Command; initial working relations
with other Commands. Role of Command in OP MORNING LIGHT. Involvement with
Boy Scouts of Canada; hosting of World Jamboree. |
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Garland, David F. |
MGen |
OMM, CD |
1:15 |
Pilot training; instructor; CF-100; pilot on Yukon a/c; acquisition of
Boeing 707. Development of in-flight refueling procedures. CO 437 Sqn, VIP
flights. BCOMD CFB Edmonton; involvement with OP MORNING LIGHT, recovery of
Russian surveillance satellite in NWT Jan 78. Initial organization of force
involved; problems encountered during early search period. The construction
of Camp Garland and the integrated nature of personnel. Potential danger of
radioactive materials; precautions. NATO; COMD ATG; DCOMD AIRCOM; NDHQ
REVIEW SERVICES. |
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Keane, Hank R. |
W/C |
DFC, DFM |
1:23 |
Trained as AG in BCATP. OTU for training on Whitley. Posted to #97 RAF Sqn.
Flew prototype Lanc at Boscombe Down. Ops to Berlin, Essen, Hamburg.
Participated in raid on Augsburg, deep penetration involving 8 1/2 hours
airborne. Completed tour, 37 trips with #97 Sqn. Instructor, joined #619
Sqn. at Woodhill Spa. Fighter affiliation exercises with George Buerling.
Return to Canada for Victory Bond drive. Postwar as ADC to Governor General
Sir Harold Alexander of Tunis; equerry to Queen Elizabeth during 1964 visit
to Canada. |
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Swetman, W.H. |
G/C |
DSO, DFC |
1:57 |
BCATP as pilot, #1ITS, Crumlin, Dunnville. Convoy experience enroute to UK.
Wellington 1C at OTU. Converted to Hfx, extensive ops including first 1000
plane raid on Cologne. Staff Officer at #6 GP HQ. Converted to Lanc 11s
returned to ops with #426 Sqn., first as Flt Comd, then as CO at age 23.
Improvements in nav eqpt, radios, turrets. Battle of Berlin, high loss
rates, morale, unserviceability, turnbacks. Leadership from G/C John
Faucquier and AVM "Black Mike" McEwen. DFC awarded at Buckingham Palace by
George VI. |
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Kennedy, I.F. "Hap" |
S/L |
DFC & Bar |
1:50 |
BCATP grad; flew Whirlwinds with #263 RAF Sqn; engaged in rhubarbs across
channel 1942. Converted to spits #412 Sqn. Volunteer for Middle East and
posted to Malta in Dec. 42. Ops in Malta for 7 months, with #249 Sqn
considerable success in combat. Moved to #111 Sqn on ops in Sicily and
Italy. Role primarily in close ground support of army as it moved up the
Italian peninsula. Posted to #93 Sqn as Flt Comd. Good description of air
war from a fighter pilot's perspective. Comparisons of Spits, ME 109s and FW
190s. |
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Kennedy, I.F. "Hap" |
S/L |
DFC & Bar |
1:37 |
Continuation of ops Italy. Return to UK Dec 43 after two tours in Med.
Discussion of book "Black Crosses on My Wing-tips". Instructor at Gunnery
School during buildup for D-Day. Joined #401 (RCAF) Sqn., operated from
Beny-Sur-Mer in Normandy 18 Jun 1944. Conduct of ops described as well as
composition of pilots, many with considerable success in other theatres. Air
war in support of breakout from Normandy described; high loss rate.
Appointed CO, shot down 26 Jul 44, evaded, carnage at Falaise described;
return to UK; repat Oct. 1944. |
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Finley, H. |
S/L |
DFC |
1:50 |
Joined Aug 40 from McGill Univ.; BCATP; CFS for instructor trg. UK, #416
Sqn, ditched in Channel on return from 1st op. Involved in dive bombing
operations against buzz bomb sites. D-Day participant, extensive patrols
over battle zone from Bazenville, France, before completion of first tour.
Involved in intensive trials of MK XXI Spit at FDU, Bascombe Down. Amassed
582 hours on various MKs of Spits. Second tour on ops with #403 Sqn at
Petit-Brogel, Belgium. Transferred as FL COMD then CO of #443 Sqn; shot down
May 2, 1945; evaded; RTU. |
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