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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1784.PDF
554 JUNE 20, 1940 SERVICE AVIATION Canadian Appointments IT has been announced in Ottawa that Air Vice-Marshal G. M. Croil, A.F.C., has been a-ppointed Inspector General oi the Royal CanadianAir Force, his place as Chief of Air Staff being taken by Air Commodore L. S. Breadner, D.S.C. Empire Air Training PLANS have been completed for the establish-ment of another seven schools ior the trainingof pilots, air observers and air gunners in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme. ThreeElementary Flying Training Schools are to be started at Regina, Penhold and Edmonton, andtwo Service Flying Training Schools at Dunnville and Medicine Hat. An Air Observers' School willbe, established at St. Hubert Airport, Montreal, and an Air Navigation School at Rivers, Man. Fleet Air Arm YOUNG, well-educated men are required tortraining as pilots and observers in the Fleet- Air Arm. Candidates should be between the agesof 181':* and 20. Details can be obtained from the nearest lecruiting centre. A Woman Instructor MISS HELEN HARRISON, lormerly an in-structor at Johannesburg, and later at Grahamstown, is the first British woman to In-struct military pilots in this war. Miss Harrison is in Canada, the lan.i of her birth, teachingyoung Canadian airmen to fly. She learned to fly military aircraft at Roberts Heights. Vacancies for Pilots A PPLICATIONS are invited for commissions (for-ci- the duration of the war) in the General Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force VolunteerReserve as flying instructors, ferry pilots, and pilots of aircraft employed in training air observers,W/T operators, and air gunners, etc. Applicants must be between the ages jof 28 and 48. have hadat least 200 hours solo flying, including recent ex- perience on modern types of aircraft, and shouldpreferably be holders of class B pilot licences. Members of the Civil Air Guard with these quali-fications are eligible. Appointments will be in the rank of pilotofficer with pay of 14s. 6d. a day, in addition to regulaticn allowances. They may be promoted toflying officer (with pay of 18s. 2d. a day) after 12 months' service as pilot officer, and to flightlieutenant (pay £ 1 Is. 9d. a day) after 12 months' service as flying officer. Application forms may beobtained from the Air Ministry (S.7E(5)), Adastral House, Kingsway, W.C.2. Cooks Wanted THE decision of the Government to suspendholidays this summer will mean that many workers in the catering trades will not be neededfor the usual seasonal work at holiday centres. Opportunities are offered to both men and womencooks to look after ib« fighting men of the Royal Air Force. Skilled men cooks between the ages of 16 and38 are wanted especially. They can join at any combined Recruiting Centre—there is one in mostbig towns-^or application can be made at any local Labour Exchange.Women cooks, from 18 to 47, can join the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. There areW.A.A.F. recruiting centres at Victory House, Kingsway, London, and at Birmingham, Bristol,Cardiff. Glasgow, Newcastle-on-Tyne and.Sheffield, but enrolment forms can be obtained at any com-bined Recruiting Centre or Labour Exchange. Balloon Barrage MEN of intelligence and good physique arewanted for duties with the Balloon Barrage. They should be between the ages of 30 and 45.Suitable recruits will be trained in rigging (scaf- folders), fabiic work (upholsterers) or winch driv-ing (crane operators). All will be taught to drive cars and lorries. The pay is 2s. a day until train-ing is completed; subsequently, from 3s. 6d. a day, with prospects of promotion. Awards THE KING has approved the following awardsin recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy: — COMPANION OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. HUNTER, SQUADRON LEADER PHILIP ATXSERNON. Under the leadership of Sqn. Ldr. Hunter, a squadron shot down thirty-eight enemy aircraft during the course of two patrols. This officer per- sonally destroyed three of that number. His bril- liant leadership as well as his example and courage are of the highest order. LEATHART. ACTING FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JAMES ANTHONY.During May this officer led his squadron on a large number of offensive patrols over NorthernFrance. On one occasion an attack was made on a formation of no fewer than 60 enemy aircraft. Incompany with his squadron ho has shot down 15 Messerschmitts, and possibly one Heinkel III andone Junkers 88, during the period mentioned. Also he flew a trainer aircraft to Calais Marck aero-drome to rescue a squadron commander who had been shot down there but was uninjured. Whilsttaking off, after the rescue, an attack was made by twelve Messerschmitt 109s, but with great cool-ness and skilful evasive tactics Fit. Lt. Leathart succeeded in shaking off the enemy and landingagain without damage. Subsequently, he took off and flew back to England unescorted. This youngofficer has displayed great courage, determination and splendid leadership. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CEOSS. COOKE, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT NICHOLAS GEESHAM. This officer, acting as a Flight Leader, was re- sponsible for shooting down eight enemy aircraft during the course of two patrols. ALLEN, PILOT OFFICER JOHN LAURENCE.This officer was detailed to intercept an enemy raider approaching this country. He proceededas far as Dunkerque and between that place and Calais, on his return journey, he observed thirtyJunkers 86s engaged in bombing Calais. Although alone, he climbed to attack and badly damagedone enemy aircraft, whereupon the remainder of the formation disappeared in the clouds. Twodays later, in company with a second aircrait, he escorted a trainer aircrait to Calais Marck aero-drome, for the purpose of rescuing a squadron Royal Air Force and Official Announcements EDUCATIONAL : AnAirspeed Oxford from one of our many F.T.S.S.The Oxford has two Siddeley Cheetahengines and has proved outstandingly success-ful. commander who had been shotdown there. The trainer aircraft was attacked by twelve Messer-schmitt 109s while taking off after the rescue, but P/O. Alien,in company with the other escorting aircraft, immediatelyengaged these forces. Three of the enemy aircraft were shotdown and a further three Badly damaged. DEERE, PILOT OFFICER ALAN CHRISTOPHER. During May this officer has, in company withhis -squadron, taken part in numerous offensive patrols over Northern France, and has been en-gaged in seven combats often against superior numbers. In these engagements he has personally6hot down five enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of others. On one occasion, in com-pany with a second aircraft, he attacked 12 Mes- serschmitt 109s with the result that three enemyaircraft were shot down and a further three severely damaged. TAIT, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT CHARLES EDWARD RAMSAY. Fit. Lt. Tait successfully attacked an enemymechanised column in the face of intense anti-air- craft and machine-gun fire. He has completedmany missions by day and night, displaying the highest courage, leadership, and determination. FITZGERALD, FLYING OFFICER THOMAS BER-NARD. F/O. Fitzgerald made a successful and daringlew-flying attack against the enemy at Sedan. During a second raid a few days later he wnswounded, but effected a forced landing, saving the lives of his crew. HALLIDAY, FLYING OFFICER DAVID LESLIE RUSSELL.As pilot of an aircraft he successfully carried out a bombing attack in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. His aircraft was attacked by nine Messerschmitt 109s, but in spite of the enemy'ssuperior number F/O. Halliday displayed great skill, and it was entirely due to his determination,skill, and courage that he managed to bring his aircraft safely back to his base. This officer ha»consistently shown the greatest courage and devo- tion to duty. CfJSBY. FLYING OFFICER LESLIE REDFORD (nowreported missing). One day in April this officer was the pilot ofone of three Hurricanes which attacked nine Mes- serschmitt 109s, one of which he shot down. Thefollowing day he destroyed another Messerschraift 109. In May this officer was engaged in six com-bats against the enemy in which he shot down eight ea«my aircraft. F/0. Clisby has displayedgreat courage on all occasions. COLLINS, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT HENRY BERNARD.*This officer undertook a mission involving an exceedingly hazardous flight. Flying a very largeand comparatively slow aircraft, he delivered much needed anti-tank ammunition to the army inFrance. Showing great coolness, determination and tenacity, he succeeded in his mission althoughfaced with hostile action on both the outward and return Sights. RUSSELL, FLYING OFFICER LAN BEDFORD N ESBI n\This officer, who shot down two enemy aircraft in one day in May, has a total of ten enemy air-craft to his credit. A further six also have prob- ably been destroyed by him. After the combatin May, he helped in saving the life of another British pilot by guiding a trawler to an aircraJtwhich had alighted on the sea. McKNIGHT, PILOT OFFICER WILLIAM LIDSTONE.On May 2g this officer destroyed a Messerschmitt 109. On the following day, whilst on patrol •withhis squadron, he shot down three more enemy aircraft. The last one of the three aircraft wasdestroyed after a long chase over enemy territory.
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