NO. 5 Service Flying Training School Brantford: (R/110964) Ian Campbell Thomson

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

(R/110964) Ian Campbell Thomson - Course 49

(Photo: Ian Thomson flips through his pilot’s log, a photo of the Halifax Bomber her flew in the bottom right corner. Phil Hossack Winnipeg Free Press) Ian Thomson flew a Halifax Bomber 44 times over enemy territory during the Second World War, and 44 times he flew back. Many weren’t as fortunate as Lucky Thomson, who saw planes flown by his brothers in arms blown up in the skies around him. There were many crews that never returned to England. (Born 1922 - Died 2018)

No comments:

Contact Information

Copyright - No part of this material (unless credited to another source - Crown Copyright, RCAF, IWM, AWM, Library and Archives Canada, London Gazette, etc.) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author. Some excerpts on this site are from the book, Immigrants of War.

Every reasonable effort has been made to locate copyright owners. Contact me if you identify yourself as the copyright owner of material on this website and object to its continued availability online.

I welcome any photos and information about No. 5 Service Flying Training School, Brantford.

Please contact:

wpf13or14@gmail.com

Station Personnel

Bertram Frederick Johnson, Officer Commanding November 1940 - February 1942; Robert Brock Scripture (photo unit)

(34092) Richard Henry Waterhouse, Chief Instructor

P.E. Sorensen, Chief Ground Instructor

S/L G.V. Priestley, O.C. No. 2 Squadron

(2112) L.J. Kinsella

WDs: Grace Lestrange telephone operator, Cpl. May Cunningham and her sister, Yvonne, First Nations Alberta

begin J/12463

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/001060/f4/1940/cgc_p1-2_v077_n019_t000_000_19430508_p00105_z01939.gif

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canada-gazette/001060-100.03-e.php

Flying Instructors

(C1277) R.W. Goodwin CFI; (C1498) Charles Frederick Bridges Stevens OC Nav Flt. - DFC 430 Sqn., Montreal; (J/6710) Wilfred Davis; (C/1278) Ralph MacLaren Christie (DSO - 407 Sqn.); (C1351) William Donovan Swanzey Ferris (DFC); +(C/1748) John Frederick Acer; +(J/11303) James Gilmer Heath - (Co. 46 6SF) killed in flying accident September 16, 1942 5 SF; (J/14113) George Howard Veldboom, Herschel Elmo Sanner; +(J/27864) Ernest William Watson - 420 Sqn.; (R/68201) James Douglas McKnight; +(J/27864) Ernest William Watson - 420 Sqn.; Clifford Donald Cross - 411 Sqn., Toronto; (C/1336) Charles Duncan Bremner Green; (C/1628) Roy Hall Hyndman - AFC 5 SFTS, Ottawa; +(J/14137) Eugene Herbert Barbet (3 SF)- 487 (NZ) Sqn., Calgary; (J/4886) Wallace Angus Grayton McLeish, Hamilton; John R. Veit; +(R/67547 - J/11560) Robert Wilgar Offler - KIA 21 Sqn.; (R/61331 - J/11557) H. Guest; +(R/78804 - J/23074) James Henry Bringloe - KIA 180 Sqn.. Cornwall; (R/67736) W.J. Hurley; (J/3107) H.E. Smith; (R/63999) C.D. Cross; (R/51829) W.A. Taylor; (R/63900) W.W. Ames (Nav.); (RAF748503) R.L. Hammill; (J/7339) D.C. Laird (15 SF) Montreal; +(J/4105) Gordon Ward Mason, Toronto - KIFA 60 OTU (3 SF Co. 14); J.J. Stephen; A.H. Sims; (J/4900 - R/77033) Robert Frederick Gill, Verdun, Que.; +(J/4815 - R/71612) William Ernest Culcheth (Co. 19); +(C/1457) Ernest Edward Creed; (J/4104) H.J. Galen (3 SF Co. 14); (C4002) D.K. McKay; (J/7614) Henry (Gordon) Barnes - 415 Sqn.; (R/63746) William Wright Godby; +(J/9562) John Alexander MacTavish McLeish - 438 Sqn., Hamilton; (J/8791) D.R. Smith; (J/9395) Denys William Goss, Ancaster (Co. 39 14 SF); (J/5326) Robert Emerson Church - (Co. 22 5 SF) - 418 Sqn., Renfrew; (J/6830) Phillip Warren Graham (2 SF); (J/10582) Eugene Mathew Harvey; (J/6640) Earle Frederick MacDonald - (Co. 29 5 SF); George Reade; (J/7889) D.G. Harkness; E.C. Haight; +(J/6935) William Cosmo Allan - 455 Sqn., Toronto; (J/7592) M. Hetherington; (J/7068) W.J. Whittaker; (J/11026) E.A. Cawker - (14 SF); (J/11027) W.J. Dotten; (J/11295) D.M. Bull; (J/11287) K.A. Blair; (J/11146) Bert Courtney Carpenter; (J/11140) Frank Joseph Bitz; (J/11133) Bertram Hamilton Pringle; (J/11137) Brian Allen Jerred; (J/11141) Norris Alfred Hardy; (J/11196) D.K. Burke; (J/3101) George Wilson Wanless; (J/5765) Howard Douglas 'Howie' Cleveland - DFC 418 Sqn.; (J/12761) D.J. Brown; (J/12816) H.G. Edwards; (J/12832) R. VanAdel; (J/12861) Lawrence W. Love (Co. 52 16 SF); (J/12847) R.T. Collett; +(J/11351) Thomas Edward Gallivan - 44 Sqn., Sydney, N.S.; (J/13018) Frederick Alexander Baldwin - (Co. 53 5 SF) PoW; (J/13045) William Eugene Lamb (Co. 53 10 SF); (J/13047) Ialo Dewitt Stephens (Co. 53 10 SF); (R/109192) Sgt. F.H. Cameron; +(J/13694) Roger Harrop Galbraith - (Co. 55 5 SF) 426 Sqn., Milton, Ont.; (J/13689) W.E.T. Thomson - (Co. 55 5 SF), Toronto; (R/105099 - J/10150) William Combrinck-Graham - (Co. 41 2 SF); +(J/10954) Allan Blake Fyfe - (Co. 3 1 SF) 405 Sqn.; (J/10950) Jack Bertram Gould; (J/8789) Walter Franklin Jackes (8 SF); (J/10978) A.W. Lockhart AFC; (J/8791) Donald Roderick Smith (8 SF); (J/14144) E.W. Brooks; R.M. McKenzie; (J/14098) Alexander Hamilton Walsh (Co. 56 16 SF); (J/14419) R.H. Olberg; (J/3523) Donald Savigny Paterson (Co. 9 2 SF) - DFC 57/630 Sqns., Ft. William; +(J/6209) Frederick Grant Jackson - 273 Sqn.; +(J/3489) Edwin Alfred Hayes (Co. 5 4 SF) - 432 Sqn.; (J/12038) Albert Ernest Winmill (Co. 49 9 SF) - DFC 415 Sqn.; (J/12041) L.W. McFarlane (Co. 49 9 SF); (J/12348) A.M. Jamieson (Co. 51 9 SF); (J/5040) Walter H. Lind (Co. 19 2 SF); (J/11766) William F. 'Bill' Bender - evader 21 Sqn., Kitchener; (J/10991) Thomas Dunn Dailey (Co. 43 9 SF) - 420 Sqn., Brockville; (J/9491) Robert Miller (Co. 39 9 SF); (J/9747) Percival Ronald Crapper Co. 40 16 SF, Stoufville; (J/25216) R.E. Roy; +(J/11317) Robert Melne McKenzie (Co. 46 6 SF) - 438 Sqn., Belle River; (J/23695) T.M. Findlay; (J/23703) R.A. Hanson; (J/23275) W.J. Jackson; (J/22351) G.W.J.W. Thompson; (R/74144 - J/13477) W.T. Beal Co. 17 5 SF; (J/23783) N. Polichek; (C23498) H.C. Poole; (C11382) R.M. Nickles; (J/24387) J.R. Cunningham; (J/24392) G.A. Machan; (J/24281) G.H. Studd; (J/24308) P.R. Mawhinney; (J/5052) W.W.L. Beatty; (J/20679) A.C.J. Skinner; +(J/24463) George Ross (Co. 67 5 SF), Burnaby, B.C.; (J/24478) G.K. Farrell (Co. 67 5 SF), Niagara Falls; (J/24460) D.F. Turnbull (Co. 67 5 SF); (J/20574) D.A. Lamb; (J/20603) W.M. Wroth; (J/20678) A.L. Spearman; (J/20679) A.C.J. Skinner; (J/14897) W. Weissbuch; (J/14899) H.G. Koller; (J/23037) S.B. Scott; (J/9655) E. McArthur; (J/13315) L. Stott; (J/21761?) D.J. Brown; (AUS410224) David Norman Fairy; (J/31689) W.E. Thomson; (C11834) J. Worrall Nav. Off; (R/52328) C. Smernoes; (J/24947) S.R. Lang; (J/24086) R.E. Curtis; (J/25175) Fred A. Maxwell 9 SF; (C1300) A.T. Wilson; (J/27054) M. Ages; (C2440) Leonard Gerald Fitton; (J/25165) William S. Brims 9 SF; (J/25176) Jack Francois Lacroix 9 SF; (J/25167) R.H. Sammons 9 SF, Coniston; (J/23069) W.J. Perkins; (J/21196) Ken F. Bundy 9 SF; (J/21383) T.E. Elden (Co. 62 4 SF) - 8 Sqn.; (J/21434) K.J. Halnan (Co. 62 16 SF); (J/21444) Brant Eric Bergstrome (Co. 62 16 SF) (MD), Melville, Sask.; (J/20567) G. Panasis; +(J/24463) George Ross KIFA (Co. 67 5 SF), Burnaby, B.C.; (J/9654) G.P. Scott; (J/25967) C.R. Wilkins; (J/25100) R.J.R. Kerr (Co. 70 8 SF); (J/25907) G.R. Matheson; (J/26486) W. Borthwick; (NZ421094) D.A. Stott; (J/15081) Alfred Thomas Hastey; (J/26794) G.D. Waye; (J/26821) T.C. Campbell; (J/26772) G.C. McDonald; (J/23069) W.J. Perkins; (J/29235) Daniel Walter Bradley (Co. 51 12 SF); (J/29236) William Robert Brennan - DFC 166 Sqn.; (J/13476) A.H. Reynolds; (C26203) R.B. Thomson; (J/6215) Alfred Herbert Rutledge - 8 OTU; (J/27185) K.C. McKay; (J/14409) Emory Herbert Bowser (MiD), Co. 57 14 SF) Sussex, N.B.; (J/14402) Edward William Elliott (Co. 57 14 SF), St. Catharines; (J/27186) W.H. Walker (Nav); (J/29756) J.T. Finucan; (J/27702 - R/143112) Frederick Benjamin Brisco; (J/27713) G.M. Longley; (J/27710) W.K. Townsley; (J/27700) P.J. Wright; +(AUS410117) Neville George Gilmour - 464 Sqn.; (J/23290) E. Keith Fallis (Co. 65 5 SF), Blackstock; (J/27627) C.W. Larson; (J5980) William Perry Woodward (11 SF); Adam Mills (Co. 12); (C26549) J.J. Fitzpatrick;

A Flight: F/L D.K. McKay; (C.1181) Joseph Hector Lucien LeComte - (1 SF - 425/415 Sqns.); Sgt. Reynolds (Co. 17); (J/8211) W.S. Robertson; (J/7592) M. Hetherington

B Flight: F/L D.C.S. MacDonald; (J/6273) W.H. Morton (Co. 27); (J/9746) Alfred Wray Heath; (J/7068) W.J. Whittaker

C Flight: (C1402) F/L C.E. Clark; +(J/9562) John Alexander MacTavish McLeish - 438 Sqn., Hamilton; (J/9492) R.A. Davis (Co. 39 9 SF)

D Flight: +(J/6935) William Cosmo Allan (Co. 30 4 SF) - 455 Sqn., Toronto

E Flight: F/L L.H.J. LeComte; (J/7551) R.J. McFadden (Co. 34 8 SF)

F Flight: +(C1635) F/L Alexander Campbell Mair - DFC 408 Sqn.; (J/4533) John Sully McKeown; (J/8789) Walter Franklin Jackes; +(J/9270 - R/93111) Alexander Gordon Dickie - KIA 100 Sqn., Toronto (6 SF Co. 38); (J/6644) Thomas Roche Lee, (5 SF Co. 29) DFC - 357 Sqn. - editor of "Sky Line" station newsletter

G Flight - (Co. 37) No. 2 Squadron: F/L M.M. Foss O.C.; (C.1669) R.J. Richards; (C1621) John Morrow Godfrey O.C.; (J/3723) Henry Francis Davis - (Co. 12 4 SF) PoW 428 Sqn., Ottawa; (J/4896 - R/71698) George Johnstone Laird - DFC 427 Sqn., Toronto; (J/4893 - R/72343) Henry Robinson Dow - DFC PoW 431 Sqn., Toronto; (J/3107) H.E. Smith O.C.; (J/6273) W.H. Morton (Co. 27 5 SF)

H Flight: F/L J.L. Kennedy

Navigation Flight: (J/10819) L.L. Jupe; (J/6680) E.C. Haight; (J/12819) L. Grieve; (J/28183) G.P. Houlgrave

June 9, 1941: F/L Ewing, F/O's Quint, James, Sims and Hendershott posted to No. 14 SFTS Aylmer

July 17, 1941: F/O's G.V. Stevens, Boyes, J. Reid, McMahon and P/O Mendez posted to No. 14 SFTS Aylmer

September 16, 1942: At 1530 hours, P/O (J/11303) James Gilmer Heath - (Co. 46 6SF) and (GB1391771) LAC D.J. Johnson took off in Anson 7070 to carry out a familiarization flight. While over Lynedoch, near Delhi, aircraft struck trees, pilot lost control and aircraft hit ground. Both pilot and pupil were killed.

Misc. Pilot Trainees

Marvin Siegel, William Frank Smith, William Arthur Sprinkle, Phillip Compton Stiles, David Allan Strenz (3 EF), Norman Henry Survis (12 EF), Robert Frank Swanner (12 EF), Ronald Edwin Tubbs (12 EF), John William Vaughan, (R/126937) Charles Vernon Shreve, Edgar Ralph Sayenga, Charles Sawyer, Howard Fenley Sabin, Kenneth Leon Rector, John Graham Ringgenberg (20 EF); John Henry Roberts, Joseph Porter Roberts, +(J/28758) Walter Bigelow Rosen - 158 Sqn., (R/123405) Harold Lewis Ruff, Frank Russo, Charles Merle Willingham; Alan and Donald Cameron (twins) Co. 67?

Course 12: First Graduates January 27, 1941

Wing Commander Bertram Frederick Johnson presented wings to the first class - 38 graduates. Ceremony was held in the drill hall at 2000 hours.

As each airman's name was called he marched forward and stood at attention before Wing Commander Johnson. The Wing Commander shook each graduating student's hand warmly and pinned his wings upon the breast of his tunic. Wing Commander Johnson then addressed the graduates.

"This is not a decoration. It is an emblem of qualification.

"Service flying is like a game of golf. A novice learns to play a half decent game under a capable instructor and then goes on his own to become expert through his own experience.

"Some of you will go to England to meet a hard enemy. and some of you will remain in Canada as instructors."

Flight Lieutenant H. Carnegie, station adjutant, called the name of each graduate in turn. to step forward, salute the C.O., receive a handshake, and have his wings pinned on his breast.

13 trainees appointed to the rank of Pilot Officer

(J/3725) H.F. Davis (FI); (J/3726 - R/65777) Lonsdale 'Dale' Cowperthwaite - 407 Sqn., Toronto; (J/3727 - R/69578) A. Hugh M. Laidlaw, Toronto; (J/3728) John R. Veit, Ottawa (FI); (J/3729 - R/69573) Adam Francis Hirst 'Frank' Mills - POW 18 Sqn., Toronto; (J/3730 - R/56141) D. Stephen Pelton Jr. (FI), Montreal; (J/3731 R/64349) Colin (John) Evans - 418 Sqn., Hamilton; +(J/3732 - R/56196) Paul Edward Snyder - 51 Sqn., Waterloo; (J/3733 R/60849) Guy Everett Moore - AFC 3 SF, Beaver Lodge, Alta.; +(J/3734 - R/56083) Lloyd Henry Cameron - 434 Sqn., Perth, +(J/3735 - R/69634) Norman Duncan MacLennan - 53 Sqn., Toronto, (J/3736 - R/69690) R.G. Edwards, Toronto; (J/3737) Robert Wilson Wadds - 407 Sqn., Toronto

(R/54690) Norman Frank Rettie - 414 Sqn., Montreal; (R/54051) Norman Edward Hahn; (R64360) S.L. Elliott, Hamilton; (R54054) Alfred Thomas Hastey, Ottawa; (R59522 - J/22418) James Reid Gordon - PoW, Islington; (R69541 - J/15232) Christopher Edwin Lawrence Hare - DFC 150/103/37/458 Sqns. - KIFA 1960, Toronto; (R69560 - J/23449) Herbert James 'Bert' Coles - 110/14 Sqns., Toronto, (R69544) John S. Paton, Toronto; (R/56708) Lloyd Freeman Elford, all of Toronto; +(R54291) Frederick (Lloyd) Butcher - 21/113 Sqns., Solsgirth, MB; (R56126) D.A. Ross, Sherbrooke; (R59295) R.O. Docking, Minnedosa, MB; R.H. Laidlaw, Ottawa; (R56145) J.G. Keating, Three Rivers, Que.; F.E. Mitton, Moncton; (R69517) J.A. Cover, Toronto; (R67510) F.S. Boroski, Windsor; (R59287) R.F. Epps, Winnipeg; (R69571) A.B. Wahlroth; (R69619) T.A. Sherman; +(R69580) Donald Moss - 407 Sqn., Toronto; (R66037) H.S. McNeill; (R56145) J.O. Keating; (R56091) N.L. Johnston; (R59267) S. Marcus; (R64360) S.L. Elliott; (R5282A) W.H. Durnin; (R69517) J. Cover

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS, Malton:

No. 10 EFTS, Mt. Hope: Hahn, Hare, Coles

Edmonton Aero Club: Moore

Brantford Norfolk Aero Club: Pelton

Course 15: December 11, 1940 - March 8, 1941

Saturday evening wings parade was carried out in the drill hall at the station before a large audience of interested friends and relatives of the students.

Before making the presentations Group Captain Johnson addressed the 54 graduates.

"These wings are not a decoration. They are an emblem of qualification, and it is up to you to keep yourselves up to the mark so that you will always merit wearing them.

"Some of you are going overseas. Some will go into service with squadrons in Canada. Some will go to Central Flying School at Trenton to become instructors.

"Remember this: All of us cannot go overseas, much as we would like to go. And those chosen to stay behind have just as important a job to do. On them rests the operation of this great training plan.

"The service must always come first, for only by concerted effort will you be able to overcome the Nazi menace.

"And now I wish you all the best of luck and godspeed."

The airmen were drawn up on three sides of a square, the graduating class occupying the middle side. The men on the outer two sides were the men who will graduate next. The presentations of the wings took place on the fourth side of the square directly in front of the audience, where all could obtain a fine view as each graduating student came forward to receive his valued token of qualification.

As the men were called forward, each saluted Group Captain Johnson, shook hands with him, received his wings, saluted and marched smartly and proudly back to his position in the class.

Following the ceremony the graduating class marched past Group Captain Johnson, who took the salute as the men went by. The men were then dismissed and allowed to mix with their friends and relatives and to receive the congratulations of the well-wishers. Graduates had to report to the station Sunday to be cleared.

+(J/4324) John Ryan "Jack" McCulloch - 407 Sqn.; (J/4325) Danile Boyle; (J/4326) Colin Constable Rous - 433 Sqn., Montreal; +(J/4327) Roland Edison Dann - 407 Sqn., Portage la Prairie, MB; (J/4330) Harold Stanley Lisson (DFC), +(J/4331) Edward Pattern Harling, (J/4332) Arthur William Speed, (J/4333) William Fulton Cameron, (J/4334) Jacques Louis Francine, (J/4335) R.H. Burroughs; (J/4336) J.F. Major; (J/4337) Lambert John Rogers; (J/4338) James Clayton Snyder (AFC), +(J/4339) Leonard Almquist, +(J/4340) Donald Patrick Kelly; (J/4341) R.N. Nesbitt - 423 Sqn., Estevan, Sask.; (J/4342) James Kent Blair Purves MD - DFC 113/21 Sqns., Halifax

+Thomas Anthony Sherman, John Paul Hodge, +(R/67572) James Lennox Scott Dunlop, Lambert J. 'Red' Rogers, Hamilton, Donald Alfred Macauley, Brantford; Franklin B. Morgan, London; (R/68201) James Douglas McKnight; (J/15385) G.H. Bryan, Orangeville, Ont.; +(J/15074) Franklin Benedict Morgan - 38 Sqn. DAF, London, Ont.; A. Lehn, Saskatoon; J. MacGillivray, Rossshire, Scotland; R.G. Driver, Toronto; T. Copeland, Winnipeg; E.P. Harling; +(R/64750) Paul Alexander Gaudet - KIFA 13 SF, PEI

Four members of the class were married later that afternoon. (J/4326) Colin Constable Rous, Toronto; F. Mennear, Toronto; A.J. Rutledge, Grimsby and Robert Harold Burroughs, Swift Current, SK

Royal Air Force: +(1152502) Michael Sedgwick Duder - 12 Sqn., Ambleside, Westmorland; +(67609) John MacGillivray - 500 Sqn., Rosshire, Scotland

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: McKnight

No. 9 EFTS St. Catharines (Co. 8): Kelly, Lisson, Purves, McCulloch, Gaudet

Course 17: January 6 - March 14, 1941

Thirty-seven graduates - C and G Flights

+(J/4890 - R/56274) Frank Richard Wellings - 209 Sqn. Course Senior

(J/4891 - R/74566) Albert Cobb Persons; (J/4892 - R/61011) Charles Robert Thompson - FI 7 SF, Edmonton; (J/4893 - R/72343) Henry Robinson Dow - (FI 5 SF) DFC PoW 431 Sqn., Toronto; +(J/4894 - R/77003) John Muir Candlish; (J/4895 - R/58485) Roland John Harvey (AFC); (J/4896 - R/71698) George Johnstone Laird - (FI 5 SF) DFC 427 Sqn., Toronto; (J/4897 - R/73776) J.F.C. Kennedy, Westmount, Que.; (J/4898 - R/71249) Howard Allan Morrison - FI 3 SFTS DSO, DFC 405 Sqn., Winnipeg; (J/4899 - R/56374) Vivian Evelyn Camacho - DFC 59 Sqn., British Guiana; (J/4900 - R/77033) Robert Frederick Gill, Verdun, Que. (FI 5 SF); Reynolds (FI 5 SF)

+(R/74011) Carl Alexis Bergsten; (R/71260) Donald Martin - 413 Sqn.; +(R/74127 - J/15310) Edmund David Giradot - 407 Sqn.; +(R54207) Herbert Irwin Wolf - 109 Sqn. ECM det. DAF , Ottawa; (R/74144 - J/13477) W.T. Beal FI 5 SF; +(R/73427 - J/16744) Harold Francis Burt-Gerrans - 422 Sqn., Winnipeg; (R/74028) David Macoubray Croskery; (R/74128) J.D.A. Foley; (R/70392) F.T. James; (R/70048) R. Long; (R/10158A) R. Wright; +(R/54288) Donald Stuart Mather - 407 Sqn.; +(R/65223) Gerald Waldo Gates - 4 OTU, Port Williams, N.S.

RAF: (1167390 - 158321) Richard William Boon; (1183692 - 102060) William Ernest John Groves; +(1283040) James Walter Pilling - 202 Sqn. Malta; (932301) C.S. Rowland - 172 Sqn.; (1259468 - 102061) William Knowles - DFC 220 Sqn.; +(1260382) William Timothy Udale - 86 Sqn.

Posted in from

No. 3 EFTS Crumlin (Co. 11): Camacho, Gates

No. 9 EFTS St. Catharines: Harvey, Laird

No. 10 EFTS Mt. Hope (Co. 15): Kennedy, Gill, Morrison, Thompson, Dow, Wolf, Mather

Course 19: January 28 - April 7, 1941

A and B Flights

Group Captain B.F. Johnson presented wings to the graduates in the station drill hall Monday evening.

"You are members now of a great team, about to take part in the greatest game the world has ever seen.

"You have received the best individual coaching for your positions that is possible to give.

"But now the days of individual coaching are past. From now on you will be playing on the team, on your own responsibility. But there are still coaches on the sidelines to watch you and correct your mistakes.

"But remember: From now on team play is the thing with the world as your audience. It's the team that counts. Only by teamwork will we be able to win.

"And remember too that you will be playing against an opponent who will not hesistate to use every possible kind of mean and dirty trick in order to defeat you.

"You must learn to meet and beat him at his own game. Do not hesistate to use his own methods and when you get him, make sure he will never rise to fight again. Make sure you get him beyond all possibility of error.

"You have done excellently here. I wish you all the best of luck."

Course Senior: +(J/4813 - R/74286) Arthur (Brian) Wheeler - 226 Sqn. Dieppe - DFC KIA 88 Sqn. Feb. 15, 44, Argentina/Marton, Wellington, NZ

+(J/4814 - R/74293) John Frederick Kelly Sandys, Argentina; +(J/4815 - R/71612) William Ernest Culcheth (FI 5 SF); (J/4816 - R/74290) Richard Campbell Lindsell - DFC 60 Sqn., Argentina; (J/4817) Douglas John Draper; +(J/4818 - 10033A) Fred William Ward - 421 Sqn., Hamilton; (J/4819 - R/74491) George Pryce Hughes - 105 Sqn., Argentina; +(J/4820 - R/54659) George Edwin Coldrey, (J/4821 - R/74282) James Frank MacDonald Bell (DFC); (J/4822 - R/74285) Gerald Cowes Pryor; (J/4823) Gerald Cowes Pryor; +(J/4824) Douglas Stuart King, Argentina; +(J/4825 - R/74489) Richard Pryce Hughes - 10 Sqn., Argentina; (J/4826) Walter Ross Austin

(R/71077) D.J. Draper; (R/78197) W.R. Austin; (R/74281) D.D.R. Joyce; (R/74284) D.S. King; +(R/74248) Cyril Roland Hall, (R/70114) John Harold Jewitt; (R/67236) Clyde Homer Edward 'Ted' Cook - 423 Sqn., +(R/54498) Henry Winterknight Garvin - 40 Sqn.; +(R/72124) George Randal Woollatt, +(J15131) William Reid Suggitt (DFC - 428 Sqn. KIA 617 Sqn.), +(R/78250) Russell Hamilton - 608 Sqn.; (R/77202) E. Davies, +(R/71689) Alan John Knight - 405 Sqn. and (R/71779) Simon S. Shapiro (POW - 10 Sqn.), all of Toronto; (R/54476) W.J.D. Maclaren, of Ottawa; (R/71601) R.J. Wilson, Huntsville; (J/21549 - R/52742) Duncan R. Duffy, Kingsville; (R/73753) James Cameron Bredin (POW - 40 Sqn.), Cornwall; +(R/78304) Archibald Grant Geddes - 104 Sqn.; (R/68202) William H. Dixon - 148 Sqn., London; +(R/71720) Thomas Lorne Kirk, Tamworth, Ont.; +(R/69860) Howard Bevan Clark - 51 Sqn.; +(R78203) Charles Lorne Bray DFM - 103 Sqn.; J.A. Cook, Toronto; +(R/77476) Hiram Wolf, Ottawa, (R/66150) Hubert Fortescue Watlington (DFM - 39 Sqn.), Hamilton, Bermuda; (R77202) Ed Davies Cheshire, England; (R/72124) G.R. Woollatt; (R/78244) J.A. Cook

12 graduates from Argentina: +(R74491) George Pryce Hughes; +(R74284) Douglas Stuart King; (R74290) Richard Campbell Lindsell; (R74285) Gerald Cowes Pryor; +(R74293) J.F.K. Sandys; (R74292) N.E.B. Weitzel; (R74287) C. J. Wyllie and +(J/4922?) David Dudley Plaister Joyce - 10 Sqn.

RAF: (914955) H. Harrington; (973539) J.H.S. Jones

Posted in from

No. 10 EFTS Mt. Hope (Co. 15): Lindsell, Hughes, Hughes

That morning of the wings parade, (R/71686) LAC Albert Ivan Smith who would have ordinarily received his Wings at the Wings Parade that evening, was foolish enough to fly over a gang of section men on the C.N.R. near Copetown and, in doing so, struck a load of ties on a hand car doing considerable damage to the aircraft, being Anson 6139. A piece of wing having been torn off, struck one of the section men but, fortunately, he was not injured badly. Smith managed to flying the damaged Anson back to the Station and was put under arrest.

Smith was convicted by District Court Martial and sentenced to a 42 day detention. He was presented with his Wings with members of Course 25.

Course 22: March 6 - May 12, 1941

Course 22 were presented with their wings by Group Captain B.F. Johnson at a Wings Parade held in the Drill Hall at 2000 hours. 51 graduates - LAC Stark.

(J/5324) Osman Peter Marland; (J/5325) Hans Siguid Neilson, Plaster Rock, New Brunswick; (J/5326) Robert Emerson Church (FI 5 SF) - 418 Sqn., Renfrew; +(J/5327) Tom Thornley Braithwaite Stoker - 42 Sqn., Montreal; (J/5328) Malcolm MacMurray Hay - AFC 3 OTU, Saint John, N.B.;

(J/43220) Herbert Christopher Andreae, Toronto; (R/71687) T. Wex Hurley, Toronto; +(R/78172) Alexander George Batchen - 19 OTU; +(J/14026) James Ivan McIntyre, Aberfoyle; +(R/71744) Jack Oliver Waltenbury - 104 Sqn., Midland; W.R. Davies, Peterborough; +(R/71577) Dudley Newlove - 58 Sqn., Islington; Bob Fleming; +(R/67791) John Alexander 'Jack' Bissett, Campbellton, N.B. r. MI; +(R77043 - J.15520) Charles Rae Barr - 102 Sqn., Verdun, Que.

Posted in from

No. 2 EFTS (Co. 17): Hay, Bissett, Barr

No. 3 EFTS Crumlin: Andreae, Hurley, Batchen, Waltenbury, Neilson

Sgt. Pilot Bedford, class senior, was presented with a wrist watch by the pupils of Course 22. Sgt. Pilot A.J. Clarke was presented with a pen and pencil set by the O.C. of No. 2 Squadron, for having the neatest log book ever seen on the Station.

Course 25: April 10 - June 16, 1941

Wings parade was held Monday evening in the Drill Hall before a record crowd of spectators.

Group Captain B. F. Johnson, commanding officer of the school, who presented the wings, told the 50 graduates that getting wings didn't wind up their training as fliers.

"You have a difficult task ahead of you and I know you will measure up to it. It will be well to remember that there is much to learn after graduation. There is much you must know if you are to carry on your job successfully. Carry on and the best of luck."

Following the ceremony the airmen marched past at eyes right, with Group Captain Johnson taking the salute. Dismissal followed and the men were allowed to mix with friends and relatives to receive their congratulations and good wishes.

(J/5706) Winston Lamont Bremer (top in class), Winnipeg

(J/5698) Henry Gordon Lyon - AFC, Toronto; (J/5699) Hugh Richard Ford Dyer - DFC 419 Sqn.; +(J/5700 - R76532) Aubrey Abram Adams - 404 Sqn.; (J/5701) Harry Frederick Heather - 14 (F) Sqn./58 Sqn., Toronto; (J/5702) David Gilmore Baldwin - DFC 5 Sqn.; +(J/5703) Harold William Clark - 408 Sqn., Winnipeg; (J/5704) Leonard Alvin Draper - DFC 113 (BR) Sqn., Toronto; +(J/5705) Evan Campbell Devine - 422 Sqn., Orillia; (J/5706) Winston Bremer; +(J/5707) John David Armstrong - 128 Sqn., Victoria, B.C.; (J/5708) Roy Austin Colwell, Medicine Hat, Alberta; (J/5709) Leonard Alvin Draper; +(J/5710 - R/78110) James Roy Loggie

Carl Hargreaves, Toronto; +Frederick Duggan Roddy, S. B. Scott, Toronto; Donald Halbertson McSporran, +Hugh Edwin Donson, (J20372) Jack Henry Hilton, Toronto; +Harold Reuben Millichamp, W. C. Drum, Toronto; (J/15254) Lloyd Fisher Austin - DFC & Bar 57/105 Sqns., W. F. Sellers, Toronto; +Robert Bruce Reid, Arthur E. Harwood, J.A. McCallum, Hamilton; J.D.L. Campbell, Cobourg; L.J. Rathwell, Smith's Falls; W.B. Kaiser, South Porcupine; J.M. Hemstock, Chatsworth; Elihu Paul Acree, Rainy River; (J/15203) Albert Ivan Smith - DFC 272 Sqn., C.W.A. Coop, Kitchener; J.F. Cox, Kingston; +(R/68709) Francis Joseph Menshek - 12 Sqn.; +Warren Thomas Ramey, Russell, George Russell Allen, +(R/76598) Stuart Laban Innes, William Gordon Baldwin DFC; +(R/56344) Donald Kyle Kibbe - 102 Sqn.; (J/87463) Ruggles Wilson Barton - 58/405 Sqns., Ottawa

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton (Co. 19): Menshek

No. 7 EFTS Windsor: Baldwin, Hilton

No. 9 EFTS St. Catharines (Co. 19): Kibbe, Barton, Lyon, Ramey

No. 10 EFTS Mt. Hope (Co. 19): Draper, Loggie, Adams

No. 12 EFTS Goderich:

June 27, 1942: A Bremen bound Halifax bomber, flown by Flight Sergeant R. W. Barton of Ottawa, staged a circus performance Saturday night that ended only when the airman stood on the pilot's seat and exerted herculean strength to pull the twenty-five-ton machine out of a screaming 300-mile-an-hour dive. The impetus was so great the Halifax shot 3,000 feet into the air before it levelled off, after coming out of its dive. The bomber went through its wild act and escaped unscathed, although there was flak all around and the loose articles inside the plane rocketed around and occasionally struck members of the crew.

It was Barton's thirteenth operational flight and he confessed afterward: "I'm glad it's over."

Barton, who also took part in Thursday night's 1,000-plane attack on Bremen, was twenty-five miles from his target Saturday night, flying at 10,000 feet, when two Messerschmitts were sighted on either side of the bomber. Both were heading in its direction.

"It looked bad," Barton said. "I put the kite into a violent evasive action and we lost the fighters. I don't know where they went, but the kite rolled over on her back and went into a spin.

"There was nothing to do but pull back on the throttle and try a dive, 'so I shoved the stick down hard, and we dived all right. Everything flew around inside. I got the navigator's ruler in my face, and the navigator was hit on the head by the wireless operator's tea flask. The thermos broke and poured all over the place.

"It was one heck of a mess. I had to stand on the seat to try and get the stick back to pull out of the dive, and even then I couldn't do it. Finally I managed to trim her, and she came out, and we immediately shot up 3,000 feet. I thought we were going over on our backs again, but I managed to level her off.

"We were about twenty-five miles from Bremen when all this happened. When it was over we went ahead and bombed the target.

"It was some trip."

It was Barton's third operational trip with 405 Squadron.

Barton's wireless operator, Flight Sergeant Bob Hexter (later KIA) of London, Ont., said the anti-aircraft fire was heavier than on Thursday night's raid.

"We got a good bouncing around, but were not hit," he summed up.

Course 27: May 4 - July 14, 1941

Group Captain B.F. Johnson addressed the 31 graduates before presenting them with their wings.

"Because of the great aid the U.S. has been able to give us in planes, we are able to strike at the enemy with ever increasing force. To those of you who are going overseas, let me say that you will find planes larger, faster and more powerful than anyhting we have had heretofore or anything that the enemy possess. We are superior.

"You must be as good as the craft your fly. Your wings are not a decoration, but an emblem of qualification. You must now grow a few feathers in your wings and before you have become full-fledged pilots you must grow many more, and you can only do that by much practice and study.”

The ceremony took place on the parade ground of the station in front of the large drill hall. On three sides of the area were planes of the type used by the graduates in there training here and these were open to inspection following the wings parade. Two other classes of airmen, who will be the next to graduate, stood at ease on the parade ground as their “comrades of the air” received their coveted emblems.

Jim Gerwick had served for four years in the American Navy before he entered the RCAF. Robert Davis’ mother, father and sister came all the way from Memphis to see him get his wings.

“It was a grant sight,” his mother said. “We’re proud he’s with such a fine bunch of young Canadians.”

+(J/6267) Kenneth George Schaefer (top in class) - 10 Sqn., Hanover; (J/6268) Philip Anthony Stock; (J/6271) Percy Gilbert Chipman - PoW 426 Sqn., Truro, N.S.; +(J/6272) Robert Lyall Mercer - 4 OTU, Freeman, Ont.; (J/6273) W.H. Morton - (FI 5 SF), Toronto; (J/6274) W.D. Grice; (J/6275) James Harold Sanderson - DFC 10 (BR) Sqn., Dresden, Ont.; +(J/6276) Robert Geoffrey Cook - DFC 431 Sqn.

(J/15826) Donald Ashton Beresford - DFC 269 Sqn., Aylmer, Que. (died May 16, 2015 in his 104th year) ; +(R/60552) Joseph Mervyn Dutton - 419 Sqn., Calgary; Robert Thurston Davis, +(R/77370) George James Peck - 214 Sqn., Brooklyn; James Alexander Gerwick, +(J/15656) Jan David Butler Ulrichsen - 422 Sqn.; A.C. Mackay, W.E. Wilson, D.S. Wauchope, H.H. Sheppard, Niagara Falls; A.N. Holland, Port Arthur; W.F. Brown, Hepworth; John Ernest Vallance, Atwood - (brother Lloyd KIA); +(R/80520) Charles Melville Shannon - 419 Sqn., Toronto; Walter R.L. Mercer, Hamilton; W.B. Lancaster, Rodney; +(R/67252) Howard Andrew Sharpe - 248 Sqn., Kingston; Enrique Cuetara, son of a former Spanish Consul to Canada.

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: Beresford

No. 2 EFTS Ft. William (Co. 21): Peck

No. 10 EFTS Mt. Hope: Dutton

No. 12 EFTS (Co.23): Lancaster, Vallance, Mercer, Sanderson, Gerwick, Chipman, Stock, Brown

LAC Peck was presented with a pen by W/C Waterhouse in recognition of his keeping the neatest log book in Course 27.

Course 29: May 28 - August 8, 1941

Wings parade was held Monday evening in outdoor ceremony on the parade ground.

Group Captain Johnson addressed the 44 graduates.

“This ceremony tonight is for you the culmination of a long and perhaps arduous course of training. These wings which you are receiving are not a decoration, but a symbol of qualification.

“You don’t know all about flying, but from now on it is up to you to make the most of the instruction you have received.

“Some of you will go overseas and encounter a fanatic foe who will give you no quarter. Some of you will remain at home as instructors and you will be playing just as important a part for a steady supply of reserves is essential.

“When you leave this school you take your place with added responsibilities, and I ask you not to take them lightly. God-speed, and all kinds of good luck as you leave to take over new duties.”

(J/6640) Earle Frederick MacDonald - (FI 5 SF); (J/6641) Dennis Alfred Newman - POW 148 Sqn.; (J/6642) John Herbert Cooper - FI 11 SF, DFC - POW 432 Sqn., Qu'appelle, SK; +(J6643) John Allardyce Allen - 432 Sqn.; (J/6644) Thomas Roche Lee - (FI 5 SF), DFC - 357 Sqn., Toronto; +(J/6645) Robert Sinclair Clements - KIA 57 Sqn.; (J/6646) Leslie Irvin Armstrong - FI 5 SF

(J/14063) Arthur Abel Aisne Chote; (J/14064) Harold Cameron Hemenway - AFC 7 SFTS, Bala

+(J/15531) Stanley Julian Cybulski - DFC 420/156 Sqn., Pembroke; (J/21667) Francis Victor 'Frank' Pilon - AFC FI 7 SF, Vankleek Hill; Howard Joseph Copeman - PoW 408 Sqn., Toronto; J.B. Ashbourne, Toronto; (J/18509) E.W. Markus; all of Toronto; +(R/75622 - J/18707) Ernest Sutton Smith - 419 Sqn., Brantford; Burpee M. Palmer - 10 (BR) Sqn., Ottawa; +(R/67511) Herbert Arthur Leopold, Windsor; +(R/67875) Sidney Allan George Turner - 37 Sqn., Windsor; (R/83874) Merrill George Bailey - PoW 7 Sqn., Eagle Lake; J.L. Barber, Orangeville; +(R/82217) Wilson Draper Burd - 108 Sqn. DAF, Wellington, Ont.; M.G. Mackenzie, Kenora; +(R/83002) Wesley Bethel Croft - 420 Sqn. Walkerville; +(R/76201) Gerald Lewis McKenna - 97 Sqn., Ottawa and Pictou, N.S.; +(R/80234) Hector Thomas Moore Cooper - 101 Sqn., Plumas, Man.; (J/20368) W.V. Allard; +(J/22452) John Lees Darrell Armstrong - 418 Sqn., Westmount, Que.; E.E. Jones, R.W. Scott, D.A. Crawford, J.T. Clinksville, J.A. Clark, William A. Gasco, - 419 Sqn., Montreal; H.W. Munro, C.T. Martin; +(R/77464) Edward Francis Monroe - 419 Sqn.; +(R/67977) Edward Warren Murphy - 218/405 Sqns.; +(R/83139) William Rees Dikeman - 119 (BR) Sqn. hit hill

"When war fell among the British people, it seemed to me there was something to be done about it, so I enlisted," Dennis Newman said.

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: Chote, Copeman, Smith, Cooper, Lee, Armstrong, Davis

No. 7 EFTS Windsor (Co. 25): Cybulski, Pilon, Monroe, Murphy, MacDonald, Dikeman

Dominion Monarch

Course 31: June 21 - September 1, 1941

Wings Parade was held at 1900 hours. Group Captain B.F. Johnson addressed the 49 graduates.

"You are graduating at an important time in world history. It is at a time when aircraft are as they have never been before. It is a time when the production of aircraft is at a peak never before realized. The finest in air equipment will be yours. May your work equal the quality you will find in your craft. You have come a long way and you have done well. Every one here wishes you the best of luck."

+(J/7065) James Russel Moore, Wiarton; (J/7066) A.L. Bell, Toronto; +(J/7067) James Doran Mullins - 9 Sqn., Halifax; (J/7068) W.J. Whittaker - (FI 5 SF), +(J/7070) Albert Robert McCallum - 119 Sqn., Palmerston, Ont.; (J/7071) John Thomas Breen - 116 (BR) Sqn.; +(J/7072) Donald Orlo Felt - 115 Sqn.; +(R/73318 - J/7073) Warren Alvin Duffy - DFC 214/57/617 Sqns., Wolfeville, N.S.; (J/7074) Hubert Joseph Esch - 221 Sqn. Malta, 407 Sqn., Edmonton; +(J/7075) John Gordon Kee - 4 (BR), Niagara Falls; +(J/7076) Kenneth Henry Taylor - 408 Sqn.; +(J/7077) Thomas Lindsay Wright - 119 Sqn., Ravenna, Ont.; (J/7078) W.S. Forbes; +(J/7079) William Henry Newton Pearce - 20 Sqn., Pt. Arthur; (J/7080) John Brock Higham - DFC 419 Sqn., Assiniboia, SK

W.M. Benson, +(R/85669) Bruce Wallace McClennan; W.J. McKnight, William John Argue; +(R/80935) Robert Marr Lount, Toronto; +(J/16565) James Edward Bunt - 97 Sqn., Toronto; (J/23061) Leslie Waterfield - DFC 160 Sqn., Toronto; +(R/73224) Frederick Newman Smith - 502 Sqn., Portland, ME; +(R/84099) Robert Wishart - 408 Sqn., Hamilton; R.E.M. Bean, Waterloo

RAAF: LAC Murdoch was the first Aussie to graduate from the Station.

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: 20 trainees - Breen, Waterfield, F.N. Smith

No. 3 EFTS Crumlin (Co. 27): 24 trainees - Duffy, Esch, Moore

No. 12 EFTS: Higham

Course 33

Back Row: 1. (J7590) Gerald Marr 2. +Douglas Gordon May 3. Maurice William Pettit 4. G.D. Pick 5. S.J. Pearce 6. B.H. Pattenick 7. +Harold Edwin Phillips 8. T.A. Porter 9. C. Robertson 10. +Clinton Richard Ryerse 11. Charles M. Rice 12. (J7595) James Renwick Shaw 13. John Cornelius 'Jack' van Nostrand

1. J.F. Hardwick 2. S.L. Hyde 3. S.H. Hopkinson 4. Leslie Harold John Iddon 5. B. Jepson 6. A.H. Jackson 7. M.E. Knight 8. Oram Knarr 9. William Walker 'Ross' Kimmerly 10. (J7596) Robert Bruce King 11. G.R. Landridge 12. J.C. Lloyd 13. J.M. McDonnell

1. D.R. Grant 2. (J7591) Reginald Jack Gordon 3. H.W. Gaskell 4. +(J22309) Abram Hildebrand - 162 Sqn. 5. (J7569) Roger Mills Hines 6. +(J7594) David Ernest Hornell 7. H.A. Hamilton 8. C.E. Hobbs 9. Barnard Augustus Hawkins 10. Y.H. Hennell 11. (J7592) Malcolm Hetherington

Front Row: 1. N. Armin 2. J. Austin 3. J. Baker 4. P.E. Biggin 5. J.V. Burke 6. Brady, A.H.M. Clark 7. E.R.F. Cooke 8. J.W. Cowan 9. W.R. Davidson 10. E. Dorland 11. J.A. Fawcett

RAF: +(1025619) Stephen Holroyd Hopkinson - 149 Sqn., Leeds, Yorks.; (946955 - 135764) Leslie Harold John Iddon - 180 Sqn.

Course 33: July 15 - September 22, 1941

Wings Parade held at 1700 hours. G/C Johnson presented Wings to 43 graduates.

(J/7589) Rodger Mills Hines MD; (J/7590) Gerald Marr; (J/7591) Reginald Jack Gordon; (J/7592) Malcolm Hetherington; (J/7593 - R/66355) Barnard Augustus Hawkins; +(J/7594) David Ernest Hornell; (J/7595) James Renwick Shaw; (J/7596) Robert Bruce King DFC 160 Sqn., Dunnville, Ont.

(J/16060) Maurice William Pettit - DFC & Bar, 218/432 Sqns., (R/84110) Charles Rice, William Walker 'Ross' Kimmerly, (J/26078) Oran Knarr - FI 12 SF, Kitchener; +(R/84160) Harold Edwin Phillips - 7 (BR) Sqn.; LAC Burke; +(R84069 - J19445) Clinton Richard Ryerse - 267 Sqn.

+(R/69408) Leading Aircraftman Douglas Gordon May died from injuries received August 26, 1941, when he walked into a propeller.

+(R/86395) Leading Aircraftman Kenneth Frederick Davis, Des Moines, Iowa, killed in flying accident August 27, 1941, in Anson 6190

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton (Co. 29): 21 trainees - Phillips

No. 12 EFTS (Co. 29): 29 trainees - King, Hornell, Knarr, Ryerse

August 26, 1941: (R/69408) Leading Aircraftman Douglas Gordon May, of Oshawa, was instantly killed when he walked into a revolving propeller. He was a very popular member of "B" Flight.

Course 35: August 8 - October 17, 1941

The C.O.'s brother, Air Vice-Marshal G.O. Johnson, M.C., Croix de Guerre, officiated at the Wings Parade and after a general salute and an appropriate speech, he presented wings at 1700 hours.

"Those of you who will be fighter pilots will have greater opportunity for gallantry, but bravery without knowledge is sometimes a dangerous thing, and that is why you have been given a training second to none. Yours is a great tradition, and you have become trustees of a fine heritage, which can be brought higher but must be smashed."

+(J/8419 - R/79096) Paul Albert Hartman - DFC 69 Sqn. AFC 6 OTU, top in course

(J/8420 - R/93220) Warren Waugh Sutton - DFC 69 Sqn.; (J/8421) John Aldridge Reynolds - DFC & Bar 69/489 Sqns., Winnipeg; (J/8422) Charles Clinch Parish, Sault Ste. Marie; (J/8423) Norman Fred McAuley, Orangeville; (J/8424) William Hooker Mathews - DFC 69 Sqn.; (J/8425) Eric Duff Finley - AFC 14 SF, Ottawa - remustered explosives expert; (J/8426) Ronald James Sweeney - AFC 10 SF, Winnipeg; (J/8427) Oscar Lalant Ellison, Tottenham, Ont.; (J/8428) Ira Morley Stevenson; (J/8429) John Harlan Stickell - DSO, DFC 7 Sqn. ; +(J/8430 - R/71607) Leslie Bramah Sceales - KIFA 5 AOS, Calgary remustered signals officer

+(R/77477 - J/16635) Bernard Henry Labarge, R. S. Johnson, L.A.; +(R/79096) Paul Hartman, John Lindsay Swift; +(R/79185) Burt Chester McNall Jr. - 69 Sqn.; +(J/16064) Alexander Carruthers - 214 Sqn.; (R/93348) Richard Butler; Robert Simpson; Alex G. Milne; +(R/84321) Gordon Howard Ramey - 57 Sqn.; (J/14873) James Robert Feir Johnson - DFC AFC 418 Sqn., Omemee - remustered from Midland Regiment; S. Cruickshank, Toronto; G.R. Wright, Toronto; (J/38574) Bruce Davidson McEwan - DFC 128 Sqn., Toronto; D.T. Gray, Toronto; +(J/16500) Bertram Emmerson - 430 Sqn., Dorchester, N.B.; +(R/76460) Ralph Patrick Campbell - 101 Sqn., St. Peters, N.S.; J.A. Reynolds, Winnipeg; +(R/70907) Gordon MacLeod Dunn, Regina; Harry Hamilton, Springfield; (R/93183) Vincent Wallace 'Wally' McCabe - PoW 418 Sqn., Owen Sound; M. Stevenson, Mt. Forest; (J/19811) J.T. Hesson, Sault Ste, Marie; +(R/90509) Alan Lionel Keith - 221 Sqn., Sault Ste, Marie; +(J/16635) Bernard Henry Labarge - 405 Sqn., Ottawa; (R/97135) James Frank Lowrey; +(R/82282 - J.16162) William Lysle Buchanan - 418 Sqn., b. OH r. Ottawa

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton (Co. 31): Sutton, Stickell, Hartman, Finley, Davis, Buchanan

No. 3 EFTS Crumlin: Swift, Hartman, Sweeney, Emmerson, McEwan, Reynolds, Mathews

No. 7 EFTS Windsor (Co. 15): J.F. Johnson

No. 19 EFTS Virden:

August 27, 1941: At 1050 hours, two Ansons collided in mid-air as they were approaching No. 3 runway. Both aircraft crashed into the ground killing (R/86395) LAC Kenneth Frederick Davis of Des Moines, Iowa in Anson 6190 and (R/95519) LAC Alexander Frederick Switzer of Pembroke, Ontario flying Anson 6154. A Funeral Party was provided from the Station. Davis' casket bore the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack.

Course 37: September 1 - November 17, 1941

Wings Parade was held Monday evening in the Drill Hall. Group Captain Bertram Johnson, station C.O., presented wings and addressed the 46 graduates.

"You are leaving at a very important time. It is important because we are now numerically on par with the enemy, due to the efforts of the countries of the British Commonwealth and the United States.

+(J/8938) Julian Frederic Sweet – 150 Sqn.; (J/8939) Warren Russell Austin – DFC 408 Sqn., Hamilton; +(J/8940) Ronald Henry Penalagan – 424 Sqn., London; (J/8941 – R/98336) Lewis Jerome 'Jerry' Biel

+(J/17464) Murray Quinn Moffatt – 102 Sqn., Toronto; Richard H. Plewman, Toronto; W.T. or F.G. Oliver, Toronto; +(R/93321) Norman Raitblat – 425 Sqn., Toronto; Victor Macdonald Gaskin – 428 Sqn., Windsor; +(R/89530) Lawrence Edward McGee – 415 Sqn., Hamilton; Benjamin Yanover, Hamilton; R.O. Gibson, Kenora; Harold L. Lancaster, Rodney; (J/21296) Carl Cooper Puterbough – DFC 214 Sqn., Norland; Richard Seymour Clinton, (R/79119) Charles Thomas Carolan; Robert Christopher Stevens, Erieau; Kirk M.C. Strachan, St. Marys; (R/79115) Francis Joseph Reardon; (R/79087) Watson Edward Wordsworth; +(R/79092) Frank Goheen Nelson - KIFA 9 Sqn., Lancaster ED481; +(R/100297 - J/14875) James Arthur Studer - 419 Sqn.

RAF: Class senior: E. Speller, Guildford, Surrey, W.E. Hayter, Essex; J.F. or J.E. Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland; +(1380301) Herman Joseph Michael McDonnell – 129 Sqn.

Posted in from

No. 9 EFTS (Co. 32): Plewman, Nelson

No. 10 EFTS Mt. Hope (Co. 32): Austin, Studer

G Flight

Group Captain B.F. Johnson presented wings and addressed the graduates during the Thursday evening wings parade held at 2000 hours.

"You have been given the finest instruction possible and now it is up to you to make the most of it. You have much to learn yet, and it will come through your own experience.

"Many of you will be going overseas immediately, and you must have no illusions of what you will be facing. You will be faced by a powerful, unscrupulous enemy - make no mistake about it, the Germans are mean, dirty fighters. You will be provided with planes equal to and superior to those of the enemy. You will need all of your skill.

"This great training scheme may very well be the vital factor in the whole war. You have all done very well, and I am proud of you."

Ten graduates who were granted commissions were so advised by the C.O. at noon and immediately afterwards were taken to the Officers' Mess for dinner.

5th Row: 1. +(J/9334) Lorne Oliver Armstrong - 13 Sqn., Toronto 2. (J/16110) Norwood S. 'Norm' Babcock, St. Thomas 3. +(R/102088 - J/17340) Robert Angus Hugh Bell - 419 Sqn. (28 ops), Regina, SK 4. Douglas S. Berlis, Toronto 5. Donald Joseph Curtin 6. +(R/95452) Wilfrid Phelps Comrie - 102 Sqn. 7. +(J/18408) Robert Kelly Clements - 57 Sqn., Montague, P.E.I. 8. (J/9331) William Clark - DFC 279 Sqn., Weyburn, Sask. 9. +(J/9336 - R/88797) Albert Edgar David - KIFA 2 FIS Montrose, Toronto 10. F.F. Eyre 11. (R93824) John Harvey Gillmore, DFM - 101 Sqn, DFC 635 Sqn., Picardville, Alberta

4th Row: 1. +(J/9337) Robert Hodgson Perry Gamble - 408 Sqn., Toronto 2. +(R/93493) David William Gordon - 427 Sqn., Toronto 3. (R/97129) Warren Elliott Graff, Toronto 4. +(J/85451) Robert Roy Haw - 431 Sqn., Toronto 5. (R/95451) Howard Lee Goodman 6. C.E.S. Hamlyn-Lovis 7. C.M. Hay 8. A.E. Hayes 9. +(R/104769) Harold Edward Heath - 142 Sqn. 10. Thomas Canada Hartzell 11. (R/101669) Arthur Reginald Hales - DFC 49 Sqn., Virden, Man.

3rd Row: Asa Milton Harradence, Prince Albert, Sask. 2. +(R100416) George Kenneth Irwin - KIFA 15 (P) AFU 3. +(J/9342) James John Jupp - 8 (C) OTU, Toronto 4. D.W. Jones 5. D.E. Johnson, Toronto 6. R.C. King 7. +(R/93340) Perry King - 458 Sqn., Aurora, Ont. 8. J.P. Kelley 9. W.F.D. Keys 10. C.C. McKay 11. (R/96074) Joseph Charles McCarthy 12. (J/17415) John Henry McBeath - 202 Sqn., Ingersoll, Ont.

2nd Row: Walter Scott McGill 2. J.G. Marshall 3. +(R/90309) Stuart Bruce Moffitt - KIFA 60 OTU, London, Ont. 4. +(J/17208) Henry Charles Monnier - 158 Sqn., Norwood, Man. 5. (R/96117) Winship Nunnally 6. R.K. Newton 7. (R/95724) Howard John O'Connor - DFM 15 Sqn., Kingston, Ont. 8. D.J. Patterson 9. (J/18630) Allan Eaton Patterson - DFC 429 Sqn., Orillia, Ont. 10. A.E. Persons 11. Allan F. Pottruff, Hamilton 12. G.B. Robinson

1st Row: 1. +(R/93360) Samuel Rogow - KIFA 11 EFTS 2. (J16137) Walter Scott Sherk - DFC & bar 35 Sqn., Ridgeway, Ont. 3. (J/9343) William Arthur Sprinkle 4. H.M. Ritchie, Toronto 5. (R/82804) Nicholas Demetrius Sintetos 6. J.S. Stewart 7. D.H. Stewart 8. +(R/100109) Ralph Cecil Specht 9. (R/95756) John Bull Stirling 10. +Lawrence Bruce Thistle (CT), Nfld. 11. +(R/100536) Heber Harris Thompson 12. (J/18651) William Verne Tobias - DFC 432 Sqn., Morden, Man. 13. F.E. Vance 14. (R100111) Wesley Corlose Woods

(R88191) Lawrence Bruce Thistle (CT)

RNZAF: (412791) Thompson Merrilees, Wellington, N.Z. first New Zealander to train at the Station.

(J/9331) William Clark - DFC 279 Sqn., Weyburn, Sask.; (J/9333 - R/100536) Heber Harris Thompson; +(J/9334) Lorne Oliver Armstrong - 13 Sqn., Toronto; (J/9335) Cameron McDonald Hay; +(J/9336) Albert Edgar David, Toronto; +(J/9337) Robert Hodgson Perry Gamble - 408 Sqn., Toronto; (J/9338) John Bull Stirling; (J/9339) Walter Scott McGill; +(J/9340) Donald Joseph Curtin; (J/9341) Freddie Elberta Vance; +(J/9342) James John Jupp - 8 (C) OTU, Toronto; (J/9343) William Arthur Sprinkle; (J/9344) Ralph Cecil Specht; (J/9345 - R/96117) Winship Nunnally; (J/9346) Joseph Charles McCarthy

(J/16110) Norwood S. 'Norm' Babcock, St. Thomas; Robert Angus Hugh Bell; (J/18395) Douglas S. Berlis, Toronto; +(R/95452) Wilfrid Phelps Comrie - 102 Sqn.; +(J/18408) Robert Kelly Clements - 57 Sqn., Montague, P.E.I.; F.F. Eyre; (R93824) John Harvey Gillmore, DFM - 101 Sqn, DFC 635 Sqn., Picardville, Alberta; +(R/93493) David William Gordon - 427 Sqn., Toronto; (R/97129) Warren Elliott Graff, Toronto; +(J/85451) Robert Roy Haw - 431 Sqn., Toronto; (R/95451) Howard Lee Goodman; +(J/17655) Charles Ernest Sleeman Hamlyn-Lovis - 406 Sqn., Estevan, SK; C.M. Hay; A.E. Hayes; +(R/104769) Harold Edward Heath - 142 Sqn.; Thomas Canada Hartzell; (R/101669) Arthur Reginald Hales - DFC 49 Sqn., Virden, Man.; Asa Milton Harradence, Prince Albert, Sask.; +(R100416) George Kenneth Irwin; D.W. Jones; D.E. Johnson, Toronto; R.C. King; +(R/93340) Perry King - 458 Sqn., Aurora, Ont.; J.P. Kelley; W.F.D. Keys; C.C. McKay; (R/96074) Joseph Charles McCarthy; (J/17415) John Henry McBeath - 202 Sqn., Ingersoll, Ont.; Walter Scott McGill; J.G. Marshall; +(R/90309) Stuart Bruce Moffitt - 60 OTU, Wroxeter, Ont.; +(J/17208) Henry Charles Monnier - 158 Sqn., Norwood, Man.; R.K. Newton; (R/95724) Howard John O'Connor - DFM 15 Sqn., Kingston, Ont.; D.J. Patterson; (J/18630) Allan Eaton Patterson - DFC 429 Sqn., Orillia, Ont.; A.E. Persons; Allan F. Pottruff, Hamilton; G.B. Robinson; +(R/93360) Samuel Rogow; (J16137) Walter Scott Sherk - DFC & bar 35 Sqn., Ridgeway, Ont.; William Arthur Sprinkle; H.M. Ritchie, Toronto; (R/82804) Nicholas Demetrius Sintetos; J.S. Stewart; D.H. Stewart; +(R/100109) Ralph Cecil Specht; (R/95756) John Bull Stirling; +Lawrence Bruce Thistle (CT), Nfld.; (J/18651) William Verne Tobias - DFC 432 Sqn., Morden, Man.; F.E. Vance; (R100111) Wesley Corlose Woods

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton (Co. 35): McBeath, Pottruff, Bell, David, Irwin, Sintetos

No. 19 EFTS Virden:

No. 7 EFTS Windsor:

No. 12 EFTS Goderich (Co. 35): 25 trainees Patterson

Course 41: October 26, 1941 - January 15, 1942

Group Captain Johnson:

"You must keep the organization going as trained reserves are essential if we are to win.

"If you do your work conscientiously you will gain an added advantage for the time when it will be your turn to go overseas."

Wings parade was held in the drill hall.

(J/10099) D.D. Feaver, West Hill; (J/10100) R. A. Graham, Vancouver; (J/10101) H.C. MacGregor; (J/10102) Carl William Pratt - 428 Sqn., Mt. Forest; (J/10103) James Libby Fling

William Townley Swann, Hebron, Nova Scotia; (R/110671) John W. Templeton, +(R/106525) Orville (Norman) Elwell - 11 AFU; +(R/101482) Samuel Hanan; (R/90805) Sydney Percival Smith - 115 Sqn., Copper Cliff; +(R/103187) Donald Cameron Plaunt - 97 Sqn., Sudbury; G. J. Marshall, Milton; (J/17211) Fredrick Benjamin Dashper - DFC 61 Sqn., Winnipeg; (J/96116) Kenneth Charles Bonter - POW 16 OTU, Toronto; +(J/16337) Arthur Dickens Chiddenton - 132 Sqn., Toronto; +J/17547) George Wesley Armstrong - 97 Sqn., Hastings; +(R/100154) James William Biggs - KIFA 20 OTU, Ft. William; +(R/103273) James Frederick Irvine - 16 OTU, St. Catharines; N.W. Clark, Vancouver; G.A. Graham, Calgary; R.C. Tovey, Winnipeg

Royal Air Force: Robert Jack Cruttenden, Tenterden, Kent; +(1313990) Godfrey Storian Cooper – 156 Sqn.; +(1314003) Cyril Norman Victor Davey – 249 Sqn., Cosham, Portsmouth; J.E. Beanland; D.H. Eden; F. Hansford; J. Hutton; +(1383428) Richard Judge – 141 Sqn., Colliers Wood; M.E. Lawton; W.C. Lieberman; R.H. MacDonald; +(1383811) Robert Arthur Moore – 103 Sqn., Chelsea, London; H.W. Tape and (1383748) Victor P. Youdell – POW, 156 Sqn.

RCAF trainees posted in from

No. 12 EFTS (Co. 41); Biggs

Course 43: November 22, 1941 - March 13, 1942

Wing Commander R.H. Waterhouse, officer commanding, addressed the 40 graduates before presenting their wings.

"I know you will give the Germans and the Japs all you have in you and that you'll always remember the RCAF motto, Per Arda Ad Astra, Through Hardships to the Stars.

"The British Empire and the United States produce the best aircraft in the world. With proper care and respect, these aircraft will never let you down.

"Go over there and fight the enemy, but leave a few for the rest of us."

Wings were presented in the Drill Hall.

(J/10571) John Meyers led the class

(J/10572) Raymond William Swartz - 428 Sqn.; +(J/10573) Donald Burton Stewart - 53 Sqn., Mt. Albert; (J/10574) Tennant, (J/10575) Lucien Luke Gastineau, (J/10576) Douglas Charles Walter Clark - 511 Sqn., Toronto; (J/10577) Malcolm Van Dyke Martin, (J/10578) G.M.E. Card, Toronto; (J/10580) Terence Canada Hartwell, (J/10582) Eugene Mathew Harvey

Louis Hill, Kitchener; Harris Carlton Dunsmore Veitch, Hanover; R.B. Birkett, Stayner; C.J. Coady, Kenbourne; Ernest Roy Waygood, Guelph; +(R/105312) George Kenneth Alfred Smallwood - 419 Sqn., Toronto; +(R/105321) Frederick Ward - 50 Sqn., Toronto; (R/105255) A.R. Harrison - POW 425 Sqn., Toronto; J.B. or C.J. Dalgleish, Toronto; +(R/105161) Francis Charles Frigerio, Toronto; +(R/78456) James George Grainger - 102 Sqn., Toronto; +(J/17338) Reginald Clifford Harding - 44 Sqn., Kirkland Lake; Darrell Yankee; F.S. Rowe; +(R/104890) Ernest Almon Coleman Jr.; +(R/96247 - J/17499) James Francis Munro - DFC 97 Sqn., Fitzroy Harbour, Ont.; (R/105283) M.C. Birmingham

Posted in from

No. 12 EFTS, Goderich (Co. 39): Coleman, Munro

No. 3 EFTS London (Co. 39): Dalgleish, Stewart

RAF: A. Leslie Steele was the only RAF member of the class. He was an air raid warden in London before remustering to air crew.

"I got tired of being kicked around. I decided to learn to fly so I could kick them around a bit."

Course 45: December 20, 1941 - April 9, 1942

Wing Commander Waterhouse addressed the 42 graduates before presenting the wings in the Station Drill Hall.

"Tonight you have every right to be proud of yourselves.

"The Air Force is the junior service, compared with the Navy and the Army, but it has already built an enviable record. I feel sure that you will add to that record in no uncertain manner. You have the best training possible - the rest is up to you. Go to it and put all you have into it.

"Every one of you, I am certain, will face the future with flying colors and come back with honor attached to your name. Good bye, good hunting and good luck."

(J/11063) Gordon Malcolm McGregor, Toronto; +(J/11064) Frank Lorne Burston - 82 OTU - brother Glen, Navigator, killed also, London; (J/11065) John Edward Jordon; (J/11066) Douglas Clark Brooks; (J/11067 - R108956) Archie Melville Compton - DFC 424 Sqn.; (J/11068) Murray Gordon Marshall - DFC 427 Sqn., Ancaster; - (J/11069) Leonard Alexander Merrifield - DFC 420 Sqn., Stratford; (J/11070) Robert Monroe Grove

+(J/17271) William Ransom Breithaupt - DFC 239 Sqn., Toronto; (R/103435 - J/17037) Kingdon Roger Knapp - DFC 428 Sqn.; Robert Frank Swanner, William Ward Cubbage, James Edward Campbell - USMC, Ronald Edwin Tubbs, +Robert Monroe Grove, W.G. McArthur, +(R/88174) Warren St. Clair Hebb - 97 Sqn. (CT), J.L.G. Jones, Newmarket; D.W. McRae, Owen Sound; Robert Frank Swanner, William Ward Cubbage, J.R. Moody, James Edward Campbell, P.A. McMillan, Ronald Edwin Tubbs, +Robert Monroe Grove, (J/17950) Jack C. Allworth, Windsor; R.A. Barr, Pt. Edward; D.C. Brooks, Pt. Hope; +(J/18232) Thomas Bernard McAneney - 150 Sqn., Toronto; C.M. Crocker, Toronto, H.G. Williams, Ottawa; (R/115291) Andrew G. Carswell - PoW 9 Sqn. Ottawa

Posted in from No. 12 EFTS (Co.41): Grove

RAF: Thomas M. Maxwell, Rochdale, England; +(1450879) Andrew Thewles; (1332919 - 123052) Philip Peter Ratel; +(1316053 - 122749) John Lister Storer - 605 Sqn., Shirehampton, Bristol; (1387285 - 122743) John Henry Shanley - 626 Sqn.; (1345451 - 122742) Joseph Morris Semple; (1236359 - 122738) Arthur Herbert Julian Pyle, Nottingham and (1336200 - 122737) Keith Francis Pullum; A. Stuart, Rutherglen, Scotland married a Canadian while on course, P.M. Thrower, Sevenoaks, Kent

Course 49

The following line appears in the February 1942 edition of the Sky Line, the official publication of No. 5 SFTS:

By one of those "once in a lifetime" coincidence, five men who
grew up together have met again at No. 5. One is the officer commanding the other four. As is the rule on all R.C.A .F . stations, the new group of students was paraded before the officer commanding the squadron and the officers commanding the flights to which they would be, assigned.
Flight-Lieut . J. L. Kennedy, "F" flight, was watching the fledgling pilots enter the office of the officer commanding No. 2 squadron, Squadron Leader G. V. Priestley, when he was delighted to see his former buddy report. A moment
later another entered the room, to be followed by a third and a
fourth . All lived in the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur. The students were all posted to "F" flight and two of them, L,A.C . R, L. Murphy, 25, and L.A.C . W. C. J. Gough, 24, are instructed by the flight lieutenant . The others are L.A .C . J . W. Phillips, 21, and L.A .C . E. E. Edwards, 20. L.A.C . Edwards is the only one from Port Arthur; the others hail from Fort William.

Course 49

Back Row: 1. J.D. Ballard 2. +(R/114549) August Leroy Beckwall 3. John Walter Beckwall 4. (J/28394) W.L. Boland 5. (J/12052) E.H. Collict 6. R. Duncan 7. G.F. Davison 8. E.E. Edwards 9. M.G. Fish 4th Row: 1. Herbert Frudd (posted to Course 51) 2. W.C.J. Gough, Ft. William 3. J.N. Hall 4. (J/12056) G.D. Hewer 5. H.H. Hague RAF 6. J.C. Henderson RAF 7. Thomas John Hawkins 8. I.W. Howard 9. W.C. Judd RAF 10. R.R. John RAF 11. (J/43182) R.J. Kavanagh 3rd Row: 1. A. McQueen RAF 2. (156703) Dennis James Lundy RAF 3. John Allan Lyle, Winnipeg 4. R.L.F. Murphy 5. Eric Burton Lyle 6. J.H. McNair 7. (R/109869) Lloyd George Neblett 8. E.J. Oldershaw 9. J.N. Phillips, Ft. William 10. H.J. Pile 11. A.J. Porter RAF 2nd Row:John Queffurus RAF 2. K. Pearson RAF 3. W.F. Judd RAF 4. R.H. Richardson 5. E.E. Ross 6. J.R. Ravensdale 7. +(J/12051) George Ivan Sheldrick - 418 Sqn., Chatham, Ontario 8. Joseph Stanley Sefton, Melfort, Sask 9.(R/120566) Joel Matthew Stevenson 10. F.M. Smith 11. D. Sims 12. S.F. Smith 13. (132324) Arthur Edward Stocks 1st Row:1. (R/110964) Ian Campbell Thomson – 427 Sqn., Winnipeg 2. A.R. Taylor 3. +(987439/176020) Walter Tonge - 248 Sqn. 4. Lawrence Edward J. Ussell - 644 Sqn. 5. ; Lloyd William Ullyott 6. G.E. Wilson 7. S.D. Witton 8. W.C. Wright 9. (J/35150) John Wagman - DFC 434 Sqn., Regina, Saskatchewan 10. +(132329) John Eric Wood - 270 Sqn., Sheffield 11. Fred Williamson RAF 12. F.B. Wheeler 13. (R/109880) Charles Merle Willingham 14. (J27369) Kenneth William Warner inset: N.A. Moffatt, (132322) John Alan Ross Leask

Course 49: January 31 - June 5, 1942

48 students received their Wings at a Wings Parade ceremony at 1900 hours.

(J/12048) V. Heath; (J/12049) Joseph Stanley Sefton, Melfort, Sask; (J/12050) Ronald Herbert Richardson; +(J/12051) George Ivan Sheldrick - 418 Sqn., Chatham, Ontario; (J/12052) E.H. Collict; (J/12056) G.D. Hewer

Joel Matthew Stevenson; W.C. Judd; (R/109869) Lloyd George Neblett; (R/109880) Charles Merle Willingham; (J27369) Kenneth William Warner; (J/35150) John Wagman - DFC 434 Sqn., Regina, Saskatchewan; J.D. Ballard; +(R/114549) August Leroy Beckwall, Radville, Saskatchewan; R.L.F. Murphy; H.J. Pile; J.H. or J.A. McNair; Lloyd William Ullyott; E.J. Oldershaw; W.C.J. Gough, Ft. William; E.E. Edwards, Ft. William; R. Duncan; M.G. Fish; (J/43182) R.J. Kavanagh; J.W. Phillips, Ft. William; W.C. Wright; S.D. Witton; A.R. Taylor; R.H. Richardson; F.B. Wheeler; F.M. Smith; E.E. Ross; G.E. Wilson; Ian C. Thomson - 427 Sqn., Winnipeg; Thomas John Hawkins; G.F. Davison

The course included brothers +(R/114549) August Leroy Beckwall and John Walter Beckwall, of Radville, Saskatchewan and John Allan Lyle and Edwin Burton Lyle of Winnipeg

Royal Air Force: (132322) John Alan Ross Leask; (132324) Arthur Edward Stocks; (132329) John Eric Wood - 270 Sqn., Sheffield; (1388681/138914) Fred Williamson; +(987439/176020) Walter Tonge - 248 Sqn.; H.H. Hague; J.C. Henderson; R.R. John; A. McQueen; (156703) Dennis James Lundy - DFC 50 Sqn.; A.J. Porter; John Queffurus; K. Pearson; W.C. Judd; Lawrence Edward J. Ussell - 644 Sqn.; T. Williamson

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: 24 students - Hawkins; Lundy

No. 12 EFTS (Co. 43): 33 students Stevenson

When Walter Tonge was shot down in a raid on St Nazaire in June 1944, his colleagues all said he was alive as they'd seen him parachute into the sea. Harold Tonge, his father, could get no news at all from the RAF and he wrote numerous letters. Eventually at the end of the war he was the first non-military
to be admitted into France. With a great deal of questioning people who didn't want to answer he found out eventually that Walter and his navigator were in a small boat when the Germans came out to meet them. When they got close enough they shot his navigator. Walter jumped into the water and attempted to swim away but they caught him and held him under the water until he drowned. They were buried together in Combrit and the villagers took good care of the grave. (Source: Tongue Genealogy website)

Course 51: March 14 - July 2, 1942

Air Marshal W.A. 'Billy' Bishop presented wings and addressed the 31 graduates on the parade ground at 1530 hours.

"This war will be won in the air. This is your hour. You have an important and glorius job. This is your opportunity. Grasp it and make the most of it.

"Remember though, I wear the stripes of the senior ranks, you and other air crews are really senior because it is to you we look to do the job. We will back you up. You are meeting a fiece fighting foe and I don't mean Italians.

"You will meet the enemy with the confidence that you have better training, better equipment and know your job better, and are a better man. You are enetering a great brotherhood and have a great job to do.

"This is a proud moment in your lives and you have every reason to be proud. I think I know what these wings mean to you. This is the first big step in your air career. Other, bigger, are to come. Don't forget the lessons you learned here and remember it is important to get all the experience you can in flying when and where you can. I pay tribute to the men who have taught you and hope you appreciate what an important part they played.

"Keep fit and alert and keep on learning. Good luck my lads."

(J/12463) C.L. Merrill, St. Thomas; (J/12464) Sidney Carroll Coale, (J/12466) Howard Borwick Russell (AFC), (J/12467) Andrew Lincoln Lubold, +(J/12468) William Gerald Schroeder, +(J/12470) Peter Grattan Holt

Herbert Frudd, Raymond Byron Jones, James Henry Leland Mansker, C.E. Breeze, Beamsville; S.E. Collins, Forresters Falls; +(R/115045) Robert Chrysler Ferguson - 149 Sqn., Port Dover; D.A. Jewitt, Shelburne; B.S. McMann, Stratford; W.D. Taylor, Fergus; A.L Tourangey, Windsor; G.J. Zinger, Kitchener; C.H. Faulkner; +(R/10882) Charles Harrison Tidy - 420 Sqn.; (R/126505) James Henry Mansker; Raymond Byron Jones, Eric E. Whitehead, C.W. Pickett, Manilla, (J/47421) R.S.L. Carnegy, Streetsville; C.W. Case, Chatham

May 11, 1942: At 1915 hours, (R/104890) Sgt. E.A. Coleman, captain of Anson 3683, had just taken off the Aerodrome for the purpose of making a test flight. With him were (R/121318) LAC J.P. Planche and (R/118365) LAC Glen Dean Faris, both students of Course 51. When about 1 1/2 miles West of the Aaerodrome, the aircraft nosed down in a turn and the port wing dropped to the ground causing the aircraft to crash. All three occupants were instantly killed.

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton (Co. 45): 19 trainees - Faris, Schroeder

No. 3 EFTS Crumlin: 15 trainees

No. 7 EFTS Windsor: 23 trainees

Wing Commander Waterhouse, A.F.C., Officer Commanding No. 5 SFTS, introduced Group Captain Douglas M. Edwards, Officer Commanding No. 1 SFTS, Camp Borden. Group Captain Edwards presented wings and addressed the 50 graduates. Wings Parade held at 1900 hours.

“This has been a great pleasure for me to come down here to present these wings to you. I have known your C.O. since he first arrived in Canada. He has made many contributions to training in Canada.

“Today you’ve got your wings, but your real training is just beginning. You now have greater responsibility, to your aircraft and your crews. I feel sure that as a result of your training in Canada and at this station you will take that responsibility seriously.

“The uniform you wear has a long and great tradition behind it. Everything you do from now on, both in military and private life, reflects on that uniform and on the wings in which you now wear.

“Those who are going to be posted to duties in Canada should remember that you are just as important here as anywhere else in the Empire.

“If you are made instructors, try and be good instructors. All instructors will soon get a chance at active service in Canada or overseas. If you were a good instructor you will be a good operational pilot.

“I know you will acquit yourselves with credit wherever you go. I wish you the best success and good hunting.”

Back Row: 1. (R/122824) Wayne Wesley Adams 2. +(J/13062) Herman Joseph Adolfae (31 ATG), Independence, MO 3. (J/13058) Frederick Alexander Baldwin - FI 5 SF POW, Ottawa 3. William Burks Britt, KY 5. Ken L. Brown – 422 Sqn., Mt. Forest, Ont. 6. A.W. Callahan 7. W.F. Carter, Toronto 8. R.H. Chadwick 9. (J/29743) H.F. or M.F. Chaplin 10. M. Chepil, Edwin, Man. 11. +(J/13066) John Caskie, Hamilton, Ont. 12. ✡(R/122947) Joseph Samuel Cornfield, Toronto

4th Row: 1. S.J. Dawson, Toronto 2. George S. Dobbins, Pelee, Island, Ont. 3. R.E. Doust 4. J.F. Ellis, Toronto 5. A.T. Goodwin, Moncton, N.B. 6. +(R127884) Lawrence Melville Horahan – 420 Sqn., Toronto 7. V. Hardin 8. R.S. Hayr, Vancouver 9. Jackson Hetherington, St. Thomas, Ont. 10. H.A. “Curly” Holmes, Toronto 11. +(J/13060) Wilfred Sydney Johnson – 422 Sqn., Concord, Ont. 12. W.C. Jones, Fruitland, Ont.

3rd Row: 1. (J/13704) Johnny G. Kacsmaryk, Raleigh, WVA 2. A. Kaufman, Toronto 3. (R/133716) Bernard Breidgam Keeney, Reading, PA (TR) 4. John Everett Monroe (TR) 5. (R/131128) Alden Clinton Kincaid, WVA 6. Edward T. Loveday, Waterford 7. G.J. Labreche 8. (R/129430) William Phillip Lawrence 9. +(R/122558) Leo McClellan Lymburner – 427 Sqn., Fonthill, Ont. 10. L.G. Moncrieff 11. G.K. McCullagh, Ottawa 12. +(R/114405) Roy Alfred Martin, St. Catharines, Ont.

2nd Row: 1. J.E. Mathews 2. Rod W. McLean, Windsor 3. +(J/18332) William Martin – 218 Sqn., Welland 4. D.C. Mahoney, Keswick, Ont. 5. (J/18559) Durward E. Midgely – DFC 15 Sqn., Paris, Ont. 6. +(J/13059) Ross William Naismith, Orillia, Ont. 7. (J/13067) George Emerson Nickerson – DFC 434 Sqn., Kenora 8. +(R/120092) Edward John O’Rourke – 626 Sqn., Quebec 9. G.F. Rosenthal, Toronto 10. W. Richardson, Toronto 11. +(J/17677) Malcolm Crimmins Shaw – 426 Sqn., Amherstburg, Ont. 12. M.M. Stone 13. +(GB657999) John Alexander William Scott – 37 Sqn., Selkirk, Scotland

Front Row: 1. E.E. Secord, Ridgeville 2. +(R/126858) Marvin Siegel (TR) 3. John G. Silcox – 272 Sqn., Woodstock, Ont. 4. (R/126924) Arthur Burnette Tieman, St. Louis, MO 5. W.G. Tomlin, Toronto 6. Alan D. Tomlinson, Toronto 7. +(J/27200) John Lawton Thornton 8. +(J/13065) Charles Ronald Trery – 272 Sqn., Buenos Aires, Argentina 9. G.D. Wallace, Simcoe 10. W.A.C. Wilson, Toronto 11. Peter R. White, Southampton, Eng. 12. William Paul Windell, Ark. (TR)

Not pictured: Richard D. Briggs Newton Hill, MA; (R127907/J17845) Wilfred Lloyd Canter – DFM 408 Sqn., Toronto (J/18986) Charles Martin Coutlee – DFC 419 Sqn., Ottawa; Joseph Porter Roberts; Howard Fenley Sabin, Portland, Maine

(J/13058) Frederick Alexander Baldwin - FI 5 SF PoW, Ottawa; +(J/13059) Ross William Naismith - KIFA 6 SF, Orillia, Ont.; +(J/13060) Wilfred Sydney Johnson – 422 Sqn., Concord, Ont.; (J/13061) G.F. 'Rosie' Rosenthal - 423 Sqn., Toronto; +(J/13062) Herman Joseph Adolfae (31 ATG), Independence, MO; (J/13063) Joseph Porter Roberts - 6 (BR) Sqn., Chattanooga, TN; +(J/13065) Charles Ronald Trery – 272 Sqn., Buenos Aires, Argentina; +(J/13066 - R/124869) John Caskie - KIFA 16 SF, Hamilton, Ont.; (J/13067) George Emerson Nickerson – DFC 434 Sqn., Kenora

(J/29742) Richard Selby Hayr, Vancouver; (J/29743) M.F. Chaplin; (J/29744) D.W.H. McIntosh?

(R/122824) Wayne Wesley Adams; William Burks Britt, KY; Ken L. Brown – 422 Sqn., Mt. Forest, Ont.; A.W. Callahan; W.F. Carter, Toronto; R.H. Chadwick; H.F. Chapin; M. Chepil, Edwin, Man.; ✡(R/122947) Joseph Samuel Cornfield, Toronto; S.J. Dawson, Toronto; George S. Dobbins, Pelee, Island, Ont.; R.E. Doust; J.F. Ellis, Toronto; A.T. Goodwin, Moncton, N.B.; +(R127884) Lawrence Melville Horahan – 420 Sqn., Toronto; V. Hardin; (J/29742) Richard Selby Hayr, Vancouver; Jackson Hetherington, St. Thomas, Ont.; H.A. “Curly” Holmes, Toronto; W.C. Jones, Fruitland, Ont; Johnny G. Kacsmaryk, Raleigh, WVA; A. Kaufman, Toronto; (R/133716) Bernard Breidgam Keeney, Reading, PA (TR); John Everett Monroe; (R/131128) Alden Clinton Kincaid, WVA; Edward T. Loveday, Waterford; G.J. Labreche; (R/129430) William Phillip Lawrence; +(R/122558) Leo McClellan Lymburner – 427 Sqn., Fonthill, Ont.; L.G. Moncrieff; G.K. McCullagh, Ottawa; +(R/114405) Roy Alfred Martin, St. Catharines, Ont.; J.E. Mathews; Rod W. McLean, Windsor; +(J/18332) William Martin – 218 Sqn., Welland; D.C. Mahoney, Keswick, Ont.; (J/18559) Durward E. Midgely – DFC 15 Sqn., Paris, Ont.; +(R/120092) Edward John O’Rourke – 626 Sqn., Quebec; G.F. Rosenthal, Toronto; W. Richardson, Toronto; +(J/17677) Malcolm Crimmins Shaw – 426 Sqn., Amherstburg, Ont.; M.M. Stone; E.E. Secord, Ridgeville; +(R/126858) Marvin Siegel (TR); John G. Silcox – 272 Sqn., Woodstock, Ont.; (R/126924) Arthur Burnette Tieman, St. Louis, MO; W.G. Tomlin, Toronto; Alan D. Tomlinson, Toronto; +(J/27200) John Lawton Thornton; G.D. Wallace, Simcoe; W.A.C. Wilson, Toronto; William Paul Windell, Ark. (TR); Richard D. Briggs Newton Hill, MA; (R127907/J17845) Wilfred Lloyd Canter – DFM 408 Sqn., Toronto (J/18986) Charles Martin Coutlee – DFC 419 Sqn., Ottawa; Howard Fenley Sabin, Portland, Maine

2 RAF: Peter R. White, Southampton, Eng.; +(GB657999) John Alexander William Scott – 37 Sqn., Selkirk, Scotland

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: 5 trainees

No. 3 EFTS Crumlin: 10 trainees

No. 7 EFTS Windsor: 15 trainees

No. 12 EFTS Goderich: 15 trainees

No. 13 EFTS St. Eugene: 5 trainees

No. 21 EFTS Chatham: 5 trainees

No. 22 EFTS Ancienne Lorette, Quebec: 5 trainees

Windell, Siegel, Monroe and Keeney transferred to the USAAF in May 1942 before completing their pilot training.

Course 55: May 11 - August 28, 1942

Wings Parade held at 1900 hours. Wing Commander C.J.M. Holms presented wings to 66 graduates. This was the largest course to graduate since the Station opened.

"In a few moments, you will receive your wings. Some of you must have wondered if the day would ever come. Well here it is.

"Remember what these wings mean and the great tradition behind them. Although the Air Force is a new service, it has already built up a great tradition and we in it are all proud of it.

"Remember you are free men with a background of freedom behind you. You are not forced men as your enemies are and that means a lot.

"The outstanding feature of this wings parade is the presence of the Australians. We are very glad to have the Australians here. I know the Canadians like them. I think it's mutually good for us to get to know a little about our sister dominions.

"I wish you all the very best of luck good hunting. Godspeed and a safe return."

RAAF: +(414043) John Henry Willox Johnstone, Barcaldine, New South Wales, Australia led the class - KIFA 1943.

This was the first group of Aussies to train at No. 5 SFTS.

(412969) Arthur Edward Kell - DFC & Bar 463/467/617 Sqns., Sydney KIFA 1968; (413528) Harold George "Cherry" Carter - DFC 460 Sqn., Sydney; (413161) Leonard Reginald Brennan - 104 Sqn., Kogarah, N.S.W.; +(413321) Cecil Alexander "Red" McPherson, Wagga Wagga; (413227) Robert Charles McColl - PoW 455 Sqn., Cowra, N.S.W.; +(413315) Robert William Maroney - 466 Sqn., Young, N.S.W.; +(409476) Leo Albert Kempson - 455 Sqn., Melbourne

RCAF: (J/13689) Walter Emerson Thomson (FI 5 SF), Toronto; (J/13690) Roy Douglas Anderson, Toronto; (J/13691) John Deryck Bruton, Buenos Aires; +(J/13692) Robert Edward Holness - 421 Sqn., Lakeview, Ont.; (J/13693) Harvey Lloyd Timberlake (FI 16 SF), Toronto; +(J/13694) Roger Harrop Galbraith - (FI 5 SF) 426 Sqn., Milton, Ont.; (J/13695) Arthur Menaul - DFC 404 Sqn., Lindsay, Ont.; (J/13696) John Gordon Walter; +(J/13697) Leonard Gregory Thompson, Chance Harbor, N.B.; (J/13698) Francis Lorne Clark, Harrow; (J/13699) Daniel Bernard Bleser, Manitowoc, WI; (J/13700 - R/137104) William Coe Otwell - 407 Sqn.; (J/13701) Johnny G. Kacsmaryk, Raleigh, WVA; (J/13702) Roy Thomas Daniels

John D. Bruton, Buenos Aires; Harvey L. Timberlake - FI 16 SF, Toronto; J.G. Walter, Goderich; (R/137104) William Coe Otwell - 407 Sqn., Detroit; D.S. MacLellan, Montreal; Johnny G. Kacsmaryk, Raleigh, WVA; (R/125732) Roy Thomas Daniels, Baltimore

(R/126924) Arthur Burnette Tieman; +(R/125898 - J/19862) Leonard Myles McCann - 115 Sqn.; L.G. Moncrieff, Arundel, Quebec; D.S. MacLennan, Montreal; Donald L. Snider, Brantford; William M. Moody, Waco, TX; C.B. McDonald, Kansas City; (J/29758) Richard D. Briggs, Newton Hills, MA; J.A. Ross, Madison, WI; +(R/125758) Francis Raymond Hathaway, Whitney Point, NY; Percy Garland Walker; Jack John McGeehan, Ardmore, PA; Neil Jerome Loder, Chattanooga, TN; N.H. Service, New York; (J/19886) Leslie Richard Lauzon - DFC 432 Sqn., Toronto; J. Pears, Toronto; R.W. Coughlin, Port McNicholl; +(J/39122) Allan Marshall Curry, Orangeville; C.F. Dawson, Waubaushene; Lorne S. Ridley, Beachville; H.C. Schofield, Mimico; W.G. Tilt, Blair, Ont.; D.H.B. Vickers, Hamilton

John D. Bruton, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton: 7 trainees - Menaul

No. 7 EFTS Windsor: 9 trainees

No. 12 EFTS: 13 trainees - Timberlake

No. 13 EFTS St. Eugene: 5 trainees - Lauzon

No. 21 EFTS Chatham (Co. 50): 3 trainees - Hathaway

No. 22 EFTS: 5 trainees: North

Colonel Thomas C. Daniels, U.S. Army, Fort Dix, N.J., along with his wife, were on hand to see their son, (J/13702) Roy Thomas Daniels, "winged."

"He told me he was working on a chance of getting a commission, but a fellow had to be pretty good to get one," Colonel Daniels stated.

"When we had left him after the ceremony and gone back to the hotel, he telephoned and said it was Pilot Officer Daniels speaking. I thought he was kidding at first."

Sgt. Hughie Green, 21 year old English-born stage star, received his pilot wings with members of Course 61 – one year to the day after he opened on Broadway in the play Golden Wings. Sgt. Green went to the United States by special permission of the British government. He was under contract to R.K.O., and when his age class was called up for military service he enlisted in the RCAF. He served in the air force for more than two years, mostly as a Link trainer instructor, but officials gave him special leave time to continue his acting. It was during one of these periods he played in Golden Wings.

Air-Vice Marshal G.O. Johnson, officer commanding No. 1 Training Command pins pilot's flying badge on the tunic of Douglas Bertram Barker. Born in London, England in 1921, Barker’s family immigrated to the United States in 1922. He transferred to the USAAF in 1943, serving with the 449th Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group. During his service with the 9th Air Force, Barker was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters. He completed 65 combat missions over Nazi occupied Europe, for a total wartime record of 105 combat missions.

Course 57: June 6 - September 24, 1942

Wing Commander C.H.J. Holms, officer commanding, pinned wings this afternoon on one of the biggest classes to graduate from No. 5 S.F.T.S., R.C.A.F., here - 56 graduates.

"Remember, you are better trained, have better equipment, a better cause for which to fight and, above all, you are better men than the enemy.

"We need instructors to keep up the steady flow of air crew for overseas and when your turn comes to go over you will be that much better equipped."

Among the graduates was Sergeant A. Robertson 32, Hamilton, New Brunswick, one of the handful of pilots who have already been on operations to come back and get "wings in the R.C.A.F.

For two years, not as a pilot but as an aero-engine mechanic, Sergeant Robertson flew on convoy duty out, of Labrador and Newfoundland on ships bound for Britain with vital war goods left Canada's shores, He saw some of the roughest flying and some action, about which he is not permitted to talk. He was right in the middle of operational flying constantly and ached to do the flying himself.

Before he got in as a mechanic, he said, he had tried, away back in 1939, to enlist as air crew. "They told me I was too old,then," he said. "I waited patiently. They upped the age limit and here I am: It was worth the wait."

+(J/14556 - R/124875) John Hamilton Barrett, Curling, Nfld.; (J/14557) C.R. Hughes, Oshawa; (J/14558) Patrick Joseph McManus - DFC 502 Sqn., Perth, Ont.; (J/14559 - R/137227) Eldon Kreh; (J/14560) D. Murray Wettlaufer - 423 Sqn., Toronto; (J/14561) C.P. Knight?; (J/14562) A.J. MacIntyre, Goderich; (J/14563) J.L. White, Pt. Hope; (J/14565) D.E. Sanders, Richmond Hill; +(J/14566) Edward Northern - DFC 420 Sqn., Toronto; +(J/14567) Cpl. Donald Robert Reid - 14 (P) AFU, Napanee; (J/14568) J.C. Kennedy, Thorold

(J/17765) Stanley Eric McFall - DFC 614 Sqn., Westmount; D. H. Burton, R. P. MacKinnon; C. M. Somerville and S. E. Vass, all of Toronto; +(R/129242) John Martin Batterton - 419 Sqn.,Welland; (J/18164 - R/125752) Gregory Ross Bourdon - 57 Sqn., Ottawa; R.B. McCullough, Pt. Hope; M.C. Shaw, Amherstburg; +(R/125923) John Oswald Munro, Perth; +(J/17662) William Howard Taylor - 432 Sqn., Chatham; J.D. Wilson, Ingersoll; +(J/20701) William Harold Wilson - 431 Sqn., Exeter; James Edward Massey Knox, Toronto; G.C. Nason Jr., N.B.; G.A. Warren, Toronto; +(R/135769 - J/28758) Walter Bigelow Rosen - 158 Sqn.

Posted in from

No. 1 EFTS Malton (Co. 52): McManus, Bourdon, Rosen

No. 21 EFTS: McFall

No. 22 EFTS: Northern, Barrett

Course 59: July 4 - October 23, 1942

Harold Wilson; (R/126818) Richard Milner; Edgar Ralph Sayenga; Grove

(J/14964 - R/137314) Norman Gerow

(J/20078) Bruce Ervin Betcher - DFC, 419 Sqn.; Harold Wilson, A.D. Cooper, Niagara-on-the-Lake; J.K. Lawson, Thorold; P.J. Hom, J.D. Massey, K. Patrick; F.C. Derry; S.M. Kerby, P.A. Muzur, V.G. Merritt, R.J. Cutting, Windsor; W.R. Tait, R.H. Smith, Hamilton; J.A. Watson, J.H. Thornton; (R137445) Lee Emerson North; +(J87299 - R137235) Charles James Erskine O'Neill - 582 Sqn., Windsor

Posted in from

No. 12 EFTS: Betcher

No. 22 EFTS (Co. 54): O'Neill

Large RAAF class: C.F. Parsons; (414470) Donald Shaw Cormack; +(414558) John William Hallas - 434 Sqn., Gatton. Queensland

RNZAF: H.J. Murray, Timaru

Course 61: August 3 - November 20, 1942

Wings Parade held in No. 2 Hangar at 1500 hours. Air Vice Marshal G.O. Johnson, officer commanding No. 1 Training Command pinned wings and addressed the 43 graduates on the school's second anniversary.

"This school has done well. Difficulties have been overcome and the school now makes available for its pupils a course of training second to none.

"The staff and pupils have been fortunate in the co-operation and hospitality received from the city of Brantford and its residents. I wish to express on behalf of the school and the Royal Canadian Air Force our sincere appreciation.

"I hope those of you who have to go to training now will have the opportunity to go on to the fighting field and you will be all the better pilots for the time that you will have spent in the training organization.

"I would like to cite the case of one of the former instructors at this school - Squadron leader Ralph Christie. After his tour as an instructor he went overseas and in a remarkably short time was leading a bomber squadron and exacting a heavy toll on Axis shipping. His brilliant record has earned him the Distinguished Service Order. Let it be your aim to carry on the tradition of Squadron Leader Christie, to stab relentlessly at the heart of the enemy."

+(J/20973) Elton Lascelles Dixon (KIA - 439 Sqn.) of Toronto
was the class leader.

(J/20974) Arthur Parker Teulon; (J/20975) Ernest Harold North; +(J/20976) William John Fisher - 354 Sqn., Armstrong, B.C. - his brother, (J/5821) F/L Robert Frank Fisher was killed in action 13 days later; (J/20977) Denis Allenby Stone FI 9 SF; (J/20978) J.A. Griffin; (J/20979) Douglas Bertram Barker, (J/20980) Christopher Charles Cooling; (J/20981) Hugh Hughes Green; (J/20982) Sgt. Howard Thomas Wilson, Toronto; (J/20983) Kenneth Carlile Sanderson, +(J/20984) John Vallance; (J/20985) Louis Mack Tittle, (J/20986) Walter Franklin Burrows; (J/20987) Robert Boyd Blackler; (J/20988) Norman Adam McHolm; (J/20989)

Charles Wolcott, Lee Emerson North, Henry Malcolm Cole, Hugh Hughes 'Hughie' Green, London, England, Cpl. Norman Adam McHolm; Sgt. S.E. Payne, Kemptville; Douglas Owen Blamey (DFC - 156 Sqn.), Hamilton; J.G.A. Burns, Chapleau; D.R. Burnie, Windsor; N.E. Cook, Toronto; A.R. Fletcher, Hamilton; (J/85446) Harold Osborne Foy (DFC - 428 Sqn.), J.A. Griffith, Brockville; R.H. Hornidge, Toronto; Thomas E. Lesniewich, Preston; W.S.O. Mann, Leamington; H.J. Morris, Windsor; R.H. Snyder, Galt; R.D. Stewart, Cochrane; R.G. Thorburn, Manitoulin Island; (J/86584) George Arthur Boehmer (POW - 408 Sqn.), Kitchener; A.G. Billingsley, J.T.R. Corriveau, Robert Kent Essery (CT - DFC), J.K. Forest, Bernard Frankel (CT - DFC), G.L. Gardiner, J.E. Gladwin, R.H. Jarman, E.T. Jones, J.J. Klotz, J.R.L. Lalonde, W. Middler, P.A. Moore, W.S. Middlemiss, H.D. Mallory, R.L. McCulloch, R.K. Ollis, R.M. Orr, +(R/136052 - J/19660) Freeman Henry 'Jack' Palmer - 419 Sqn., Buffalo; P.G. Puttock, E.J. Richardson, M. Rondeau, A.N. Ragan, (R/70187) Dennis Allenby Stone - (FI 9 SF), Kenora; J.W. Vaughn, C. Valliere, R.T. Welch, A.G. Woodward

Posted in from

No. 2 EFTS Ft. William: 12 trainees

No. 4 EFTS Windsor Mills, Que.: 6 trainees

No. 7 EFTS Windsor: 2 trainees

No. 9 EFTS St. Catharines (Co. 57): 14 trainees. Palmer

No. 10 EFTS Mt. Hope: 6 trainees

No. 11 EFTS Cap De la Madeleine: 10 trainees

No. 13 EFTS: 1 trainee

No. 20 EFTS Oshawa: 10 trainees

Course 65: Sept. 25, 42 - Feb. 4, 1943

Wings Parade was held in No. 2 Hangar at 1900 hours. Wing Commander C.H.J. Holms presented wings to 54 graduates.

Donald Cameron, Oshawa led the class. His twin brother Alan also received a commission

(J/23290) E. Keith Fallis, Blackstock; (J/23296) A.W. Stollery; +(J/23297) Alan Whammond Woolverton - 428 Sqn., London; +(J/23298) William Edward Hampton - 429 Sqn.; +(J/23299) Murray Sonshine; +(J/23301 - R/111206) William Ivan St. Johns Jr. - 22 OTU; William Johnson 'Bill' Stapleton - 418 Sqn., artist Stratford; Chester Havelock Bain; Arthur Wilfred Stollery - horseman; William Alexander Revell, Tamworth

+(R/139333) John Gordon Sullivan; G.H. Baggs; Sgt. L.F. Bateman; R.V. Long, Toronto; B.D. McBride, Toronto; H.H. McElwain, Toronto; G.C. McKay, Toronto; W.D. McKennedy, Toronto; A. MacLennan, Toronto; J.C. James Gordon? McMaster, Toronto; Lloyd Thomas Bentley - 48 Sqn., Sault Ste. Marie; Sgt. R.E. Dunlop, Dresden; (R/70185) Cpl. Hamilton Gordon 'Corkscrew Charlie' McVeigh - DFC 433 Sqn., Pt. Arthur; R.H. Mathews, Preston; A.J. Ray, Hamilton; Bernard Wakeman 'Barney' Rich - 31 Sqn./TCA, St. Catharines

Posted in from

No. 4 EFTS Windsor Mills (Co. 59): Sullivan

No. 20 EFTS Oshawa (Co. 60): St. Johns

Course 67: October 10, 1942 - March 19, 1943

Wings Parade was held in No. 2 Hangar at 1100 hours. Air Commodore Frank McGill, air officer commanding No. 1 Training Command presented wings to 59 graduates.

Carlos Calderon, Mexican Consulate General in Canada, pinned flying badge on the tunic of Ramón Riveroll, the first Mexican to graduate from the RCAF.

"A Mexican graduating from a Canadian training school is something that five years ago would have been unheard of. But it is the beginning of the type of intercourse which, I hope, can be continued to the benefit of both Canada and Mexico," Senor Calderon said.

"If any of you have the opportunity of visiting Mexico, I am sure you will receive a hearty welcome. The graduation of Ramón Riveroll is an event recognized and appreciated fully in Mexico. To him, I extend my personal congratulations. To all of you I extend best wishes and good luck."

(J/24456) A. Kinmond; (J/24457) Charles Haines Finnell; +(J/24458 - R/153538) Paul Bevens Stevens - 1674 HCU; +(J/24459) Norman Owen Smith - 547 Sqn., Hamilton; (J/24460) D.F. Turnbull; (J/24461) E.E. Harker, Millbrook; (J/24462) Sgt. S.J. Cairns; +(J/24463) George Ross, Burnaby, B.C.; (J/24464) Ramón Riveroll; (J/24465) J.N. Hubbard, Niagara Falls; (J/24466) J.A. Davy; (J/24467) Russell Elmer Barr - DFC 578 Sqn.; (J/24468) N.G. Tufford, St. Thomas; (J/24469) W.A. Leslie, Brantford; (J/24470) J.B. Henderson; (J/24471) William John Anderson - DFC, Westport; (J/24472) G.E. Coyne, Kitchener; (J/24473) H. Kaguk - 434 Sqn.; (J/24474) James Allister Weir - DFC 415 Sqn., Windsor; (J/24475) Harold Edward Damgaard - DFC 420 Sqn.; (J/24476) Charles Kenneth Thomas 'Ken' Passmore - DFC 192 Sqn., Hensall; (J/24477) C.O. Bedard, Kirkland Lake; (J/24478) G.K. Farrell, Niagara Falls

(R/138934) William Everett Adams - 630/617 Sqns.; Ramón Riveroll; +Jack Standish Banks - DFM 9 Sqn. - remustered to pilot, later KIFA; J.E. Patton; C.F. Whearon, Toronto; A.D. Curran, Hamilton; F.E. Griffith, Hamilton; A.G. Snyder, Hamilton; G.G. Wilson, Hamilton; G.A. Beemer, Kitchener; Sgt. W.G. Cook, St. Catharines; Sgt. W.L. Engle, Kitchener; F.D. Angus, Waterford; R.E. Blair, Kirkland Lake; J.N. Hubbard, Niagara Falls; Cpl. E.G. Hunt, Stratford; A.A. Moore, Maple; D.E. Pate, Parry Sound; W.W. Tomlinson, Claremont; W.C. Wilson, Galt

Posted in from

No. 7 EFTS Windsor (Co. 62): Stevens

No. 10 EFTS: Finnell

Course 73: May 13, 1943

Wing Commander C.J.H. Holms, officer commanding No. 5 SFTS, awarded wings to airmen graduating.

F/S J.C. Carrothers, Toronto was honor student

C.G. Basman, Toronto; J.H. Crane, Toronto; T.A. Martin, Toronto; D. Rooney, Toronto; W.V. Biron, Sudbury; H.G. Callister, Sarnia; F/S R.A. Floren, Hamilton; E.F.H. Gardner, St. Catharines; J.C. Jewell, Tillsonburg; P.C.M. Kennedy, North Bay; K.C. McClelland, Weston; G.D. Walker, Kingston; H.F. Whitehall, London; R. McGaw, Windsor; G. Morgan, Windsor; W.W. Briggs, Long Branch

Course 75: February 21 - June 10, 1943

Lieutenant Governor Albert Matthews pinned wings and addressed the graduates.

"It has been well said nobody flies a bomber over Germany for personal gain. You young men have made your choice. You go into a fellowship that has achieved great glory in the skies. Good luck and a safe return in good time."

Donald Roy Andrews - DFC Toronto; R.P. Brouse, Toronto; R.E. DeMara, Toronto; H.B. Etsell, Toronto; A.W. Galloway, Toronto; J.C. Henry, Toronto; M.A. Isenberg, Toronto; R.B. Shepard, Toronto; R.W. Spratt, Toronto; H.J. Yarwood, Toronto; J. Hill, Hamilton; N. Irvine, Hamilton; R.L. Nash, Hamilton; H.S. Reinke, Hamilton; C.A. McLaurin, St. Catharines; R.W. Gingrich, Kitchener; G.J. Lauber, Kitchener; E.B. Smith, Kingston; R.B.M. Riley, Vankleek Hill; D. Tilford, Woodstock; J.A. McKenzie, Kerwood; R.B. Maxwell, Galt; J.D. Gilchrist, Shanty Bay; K.J. Ralph, Rochester; G.J. Davis, Perry, MI

Course 77: March 6 - July 8, 1943

Wings Parade held at 1600 hours. 57 graduates.

(J/28135) C.D. Beierl; (J/28136) W.A. VanAtter; (J/28137) A.D. Stewart; (J/28138) G.P. Houlgrave; +(J/28139) William Edward Davies, Toronto; (J/28140) W.R. Fee, Lindsay; (J/28141) Robert Gray Holden - DFC 431 Sqn., b. B.C. r. NYC; William J.A. Lennox, York, Ont.Herbert D. Monteith, Paris; H.J. Webb, London; R.L. Anderson, Guelph; J.L. Andrew; H.J. Webb; G.H. Autterson; E.V. Pokrywka, Kitchener

(J/2833) Robert Wilfred Alexander - DFC 148 Sqn. Norwich, Ont.; (J/2822) John Gellner - DFC 311 (Czech) Sqn. and (J/3117) Warring Laird Jennings -DFC 57 Sqn., Hamilton were the first observers to complete an operational tour to train as pilot with the RCAF.

Charles E. Brockman, Oshawa

Posted in from

No. 7 EFTS Windsor: Holden

No. 20 EFTS Oshawa: Brockman

Guy Gibson

Gibson was interviewed by the local newspaper. He was wearing two wrist watches - explaining that one of them was "attractive" and the other was accurate.

Describing the dams raid, Gibson stated: "You are so highly trained for a job like that, you don't feel anything. When a pilot is on a special mission he thinks only of the success of the mission. Anything he can do to assure that success he does, regardless of personal safety, which he never thinks of at the time, anyway."

"Germany would do anything in her power. to have a nation such as Canada, working for her as you in Canada are working for the Allied cause today, free of bombing attacks and with no need of a black-out."

Gibson also stated that while "the boys" were in the air on their way to enemy targets, they would tell funny stories to pass the time away.

"They are mostly rude," he added.

Course 81: September 2, 1943

W/C Guy Gibson visited with course members in the morning prior to his afternoon departure to pin wings to graduates at Centralia. Group Captain Richards presented wings 46 graduates at 1600 hours.

(J/35320) J.C. Lougheed, Toronto; (J/35322) C.R. 'Chic' Hines, Toronto; (J/35323) A.S. Bidewell, Langford Mills; (J/35324) R.A. Shepherd, Toronto; +(J/35328) Clare Edward Brooks - 101 Sqn., Toronto; +(J/35329) David Bell - DFC 429 Sqn., Winnipeg; (J/35330) Donald C. Cartwright, Brantford; +(J/35331) Gerald Campbell Liggett, Toronto; (J/35332) R.B. Baker, Toronto; +(J/35334) William Stanley Heal, Woodstock; (J/35336) D.E. Embury; (J/35338) F.S. Jones; (J/35339) Edward Charles Steele Wilkinson - 415 Sqn., Kingston

G.C. Craig, Toronto; R.E. Dahmer, Arthur; J.W. Eberle; J.K. Ferguson, Toronto; G.S. Galley, Toronto; A. Gartside, Hamilton; W.S. Heal, Woodstock; C.R. Hinds, Toronto; E.W. Leigh, Hawkestone; G.H. Leslie, Guelph; J.S. Lougheed, Toronto; G.E. McKay, Fenlon Falls; D.B. Mullin, Toronto
3 RAF

15 RAAF

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canada-gazette/001060-119.01-e.php?image_id_nbr=350185&document_id_nbr=9650&f=g&PHPSESSID=8k88d9tlf1s3jtv160tjgrv47i4rsq4bdod2admana1buvje0eu0

November 7, 1944

The last class of R.C .A .F . pilots graduated of whose graduates scores have been decorated for courage and efficiency overseas, including the R.C.A.F's only Victoria Cross winner, Flight-Lieut . David Hornell, of Mimico.

The last graduate to receive his wings at the final ceremony was
R. G. Wilson, Hamilton.

Referring to the posthumous award of the V.C. to Flight-Lieut .
Hornell for heroism in pressing home a successful attack against a German submarine in the North sea, the commanding officer of the station, Wing-Cmdr. H. R. D. Taylor, declared:

"Before and behind L.A.C. Hornell marched three lads who won the D.S.O., 60 who won the D.F.C., six who earned a bar to the D.F.C ., nine who have been awarded the D.F.M., four the A.F.C., five who were mentioned in dispatches and five who have been commended."

The station, which has saw 42 classes "winged" since the opening, November 11, 1940, became as a storage unit.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

(R/110964) Ian Campbell Thomson - Course 49

No comments:

Post a Comment