FLIGHT LIEUTENANT ALAN F. AIKMAN, D.F.C. and Bar, of Toronto, Ontario, served with Nos. 134, 154 and 436 Squadrons. He was wingman to the famous Irish fighter "ace" W/C 'Paddy' Finnucane when the latter was shot down by ground-fire. F/L Aikman participated in a large number of sorties over enemy territory in occupied Europe and North Africa. He was an exceptionally skilled pilot and a fine section leader who destroyed 9 1/2 enemy aircraft, 2 others probably destroyed, and damaged 3 others. He was released from the RCAF on 10 December 1945.
FLYING OFFICER ALLEN BENJAMIN ANGUS, D.F.C., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, joined the RAF as a pupil pilot prior to the war. He was a member of No. 85 Squadron, RAF, until killed in action on 16 May 1940. The citation for his D.F.C. reads, in part: "this officer has shown great determination in taking every opportunity of engaging the enemy and pressing home his attacks. He took part in an inconclusive attack on a Ju.88 which resulted in serious damage to the enemy aircraft. His own aircraft was hit and as a result he had to force land in Belgium. Acting on his own initiative he rejoined the squadron in a few hours. Earlier in the month while on patrol, he intercepted and shot down in flames a Heinkel III, and on the same patrol took part in shooting down a second aircraft of the same type." F/0 Angus had a score of 5 victories.
SQUADRON LEADER PHILLIP L.I. ARCHER, D.F.C., of Bridgetown, Barbados, British West Indies, enlisted in the RCAF and on completion of pilot training was sent overseas where he served with Nos. 92 and 416 Squadrons. S/L Archer was designated to lead No. 402 Squadron but was killed in action on 17 June 1943 while attached to No. 421 Squadron before he could assume his command. S/L Archer's final score was 5 enemy aircraft destroyed and one other damaged.
PILOT OFFICER MICHAEL WILLIAM HAMILTON ASKEY of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, flew with both Nos. 165 and 412 Squadrons. He was posted to the Middle East where he joined No. 92 Squadron and served with that squadron until killed in action on 28 October 1943, but not before he had accounted for 5 enemy aircraft.
COMMANDER W.H.I. ATKINSON, D.S.C., of Minnedosa, Manitoba, was the only Canadian naval fighter pilot to become an 'ace'. He was one of the many Canucks who flew with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. In 1944 he was posted to No. 1844 Squadron and flew Hellcats from the deck of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. 'In domitable'. On 25 July 1944 Cdr. Atkinson shot down three Japanese 'Grace' dive-bombers. He finished his tour with the FAA in the South Pacific and at war's end had 5 aircraft to his credit.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT RICHARD JOSEPH AUDET, D.F.C. and Bar, of Lethbridge, Alberta, not only flew with Nos. 421 and 691 Squadrons but joined No. 411 Squadron on 14 September 1944. F/L Audet was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 3 March 1945, while carrying out an attack on a railway centre in the Munster area. His body was never recovered and his name is recorded on the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, England – "For those who have no known grave."
F/L Audet's score was 11 1/2 enemy aircraft destroyed and damage to one other. The citation for his D.F.C. reads, in part: "this officer has proved himself to be a highly skilled and courageous fighter. On 29 December 1944, while leading an armed reconnaissance patrol of Spitfire IX's in the Rheine/Osnabruk area, Audet sighted twelve Luftwaffe fighter aircraft. In a most spirited action, Audet achieved outstanding success by destroying five enemy aircraft. This feat is a splendid tribute to his brilliant shooting, great gallantry, and tenacity." An achievement that was never equaled by an Allied pilot.
FLYING OFFICER JAMES HAMILTON BALLANTYNE, DFM, of Toronto, Ontario, served in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Malta with Nos. 222, 229, 213, 603, and 403 Squadrons. He had a score of 5 enemy aircraft to his credit before being shot down by intense anti-aircraft fire near St. Aurore de I'Eure on 8 March 1944, while flying with No. 403 Squadron.
One day in July 1942 Ballantyne became separated from his section but with courage and determination attacked three Me.109's, destroying one. Some days later he was leading his section when the squadron attacked a formation of enemy heavy bombers. The bombers were successfully intercepted and pursued to within ten miles of the Sicilian coast. On yet another occasion Ballantyne attacked two Ju.88's and then while separated from his squadron was attacked by four enemy fighters. By skilful maneuvering and great tenacity, he fought off the hostile aircraft and returned to base and landed safely.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT WILFRED JOHN BANKS, D.F.C. and Bar, of Hazenmere, Saskatchewan, flew with No. 412 Squadron. He had a score of 9 enemy aircraft destroyed, 3 probably destroyed, and damaged one other.
In September 1944, he participated in the Arnheim paratroop landings and in one combat against a superior force he destroyed two enemy aircraft. On the following day F/L Banks destroyed another two of the Luftwaffe aircraft in aerial combat. On still another occasion the propeller of his aircraft was hit by fire from enemy defences and half of one blade knocked off, with great skill Banks brought his Spitfire safely back to base.
F/L Banks was released from the RCAF at war's end and at writing was living in Ottawa, Ontario.
WING COMMANDER RUSS BANNOCK, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, of Edmonton, Alberta, was the leading night-fighter ace of the RCAF with a score of 11 enemy aircraft and 19 1/2 V-1's destroyed, 4 other aircraft damaged. In addition, 4 locomotives and 11 motor vehicles destroyed or damaged.
W/C Bannock began his tour of operations with No. 418 Squadron and during the period June 20 to August 13, 1944, he and his navigator, F/0 Bob Bruce, shot down 19 1/2 "buzz-bombs".
One night in September 1944, during an attack on an airfield far in enemy territory, Bannock shot down two enemy aircraft while over the target. In the second of the fights his own aircraft was damaged by flying debris. One engine failed but he flew his aircraft several hundred miles back to base where he carried out a safe landing.
W/C Bannock became commander of No. 406 Squadron and under his inspiring leadership this squadron obtained a fine record of successes and reached a high standard of operational efficiency. W/C Bannock on discharge from the RCAF joined the staff of deHavilland (Canada) Ltd. In 1967 he formed his own aviation consulting firm.
SERGEANT JOHN F. "TEX" BARRICK, D.F.M., of Sweetwater, Texas, served with Nos. 133 and 17 Squadrons. During the Burma campaign, Sgt. Barrick displayed exceptional keenness to engage the enemy. On one occasion, he shot down a hostile aircraft which was closing in on one of his fellow pilots. Sgt. Barrick himself was attacked by two fighters during the combat, his engine failed and he was compelled to make a forced landing. Although blinded by oil covering his windscreen, he succeeded in his purpose without the assistance of flaps to reduce his landing speed. The enemy continued to fire at him whilst he was on the ground. Although suffering from shrapnel splinters and the effects of hot oil on his face, chest and arms, Sgt. Barrick walked for two hours through the jungle until he reached some Chinese troops who escorted him to safety. Sgt. Barrick's final tally was 5 enemy aircraft destroyed.
WING COMMANDER ROBERT ALEXANDER 'BUTCH' BARTON, O.B.E., D.F.C. and Bar, of Kamloops, B.C., joined the RAF as a pupil pilot on 27 January 1936. A Flying Officer with No. 249 Squadron when war broke out, he fought in it through the Battle of Britain and in Malta, leading it from December 1940 until he left 249 on 8 December 1941. He held staff positions thereafter until the end of the war.
W/C Barton ran up the imposing score of 11 1/2 enemy aircraft destroyed, 4 1/2 probably destroyed, and damaged 9 others while serving with Nos. 249 and 41 Squadrons.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GEORGE FREDERICK "BUZZ" BEURLING, D.S.O., D.F.C., D.F.M. and Bar, of Westmount, Quebec, was one of the most amazing fighter pilots of World War II. He was the leading "ace" during the air battles over Malta. That tiny island, half way between Sicily and Tunisia, was an important air and naval base which was used to strike at ships carrying supplies to the German and Italian forces in North Africa. Its advanced position made it difficult for the British to maintain, and so Malta was in a stage of more-or-less continual siege for 2 1/2 years. Only the magnificent efforts of men like "Buzz" Beurling prevented it from being overwhelmed by enemy air attacks.
In 1940 he enlisted in the RAF in England, and won his wings on 9 December 1941 as a sergeant. Beurling served as a Spitfire pilot for a time in England until being posted to No. 249 Squadron, Malta, in June 1942. There began an amazing private war between Beurling and the German and Italian air forces.
Beurling was a crack shot as well as being an excellent pilot. In October 1942, he fought his last aerial battles on Malta. The story of these are best described in the citation to his last award, the Distinguished Service Order, which reads, in part: "During a sortie on 13 October 1942, he shot down a Ju.88 and two Me. 109s. The following day, in a head-on attack on enemy bombers, he destroyed one of them before he observed his leader being attacked by an enemy fighter. Although wounded, Beurling destroyed the fighter, then, climbing again, in spite of his aircraft being hit by enemy fire, he shot down another fighter before his own aircraft was so damaged that he was forced to abandon it. He descended safely onto the sea and was rescued."
After recovering from his wounds, Beurling was posted as an instructor to an RAF base in the United Kingdom. On 1 September 1943, he was transferred to the RCAF, first serving with No. 403 Squadron and later with No. 412 Squadron where he received his promotion to Flight Lieutenant. In the spring of 1944 he was returned to Canada and subsequently released from the RCAF. "Buzz" Beurling was Canada's top-ranking fighter pilot with a score of 31 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 probables, and 9 others damaged.
Following the war, Beurling continued to fly. In May 1948, upon declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, he enlisted in that government's air force. The policy at that time was to fly volunteer American and Canadian aircrew to Rome as most of the aircraft purchased by Israel were being assembled at the airport of Urbe (near Rome). Norseman aircraft were included, and pilots who had no previous experience on this type of machine were given some conversion flying before taking-off for Israel.
On May 20th a Norseman took-off with Lionel Cohen (ex-RAF) as the instructor to give Beurling a "checkout", that is, make a few take-offs and landings or in aviation parlance, "circuits and bumps". When on the second circuit at about 1,500 feet, according to eye witnesses, an explosion was heard and the aircraft began emitting smoke and losing height very rapidly. At approximately 700 feet, the machine burst into flames despite the pilot's valiant effort to control it, crashed into the ground at a steep angle and was completely destroyed by fire.
Thus ended the career of the greatest fighter ace produced by Canada during World War II. The circumstances surrounding the crash that caused his death is still a matter of conjecture as no definite report of any investigation, made or completed by the proper authorities, has ever been made public. According to reliable sources an attempt was made on Beurling's life prior to his leaving Canada for Rome. He was in a country with whom only a few short years before he was carrying-on a one-man war and had accounted for a great many of its airmen. Also, he turned down a much higher offer to fly for the enemies of the State of Israel.
"Buzz" Beurling's remains were interred near Rome and later taken to Israel and laid to rest near Haifa. Another Canadian hero buried on foreign soil.
WING COMMANDER HOWARD PETER "COWBOY" BLATCHFORD, D.F.C., of Edmonton, Alberta, enlisted in the RAF as a pupil pilot on 3 February 1936. When the war broke out he was a Flying Officer with No. 41 Squadron and subsequently served with Nos. 212 and 257 Squadrons. He commanded No. 257 Squadron from 6 July 1941 until he was promoted to Wing Commander (Flying) for Station Digby on 8 September 1941. W/C Blatchford was killed in action on 3 May 1943 while on flying duties with Station Coltishall.
Known as "Cowboy" Blatchford, he accounted for 6 enemy aircraft destroyed 3 probables and two others damaged.
The citation for his D.F.C. reads, in part: "In November 1940, this officer was the leader of a squadron which destroyed eight and damaged a further five enemy aircraft in one day. In the course of the combat he rammed and damaged a hostile fighter when his ammunition was expended, and then made two determined head-on feint attacks on enemy fighters which drove them off."
WING COMMANDER F.H. "FOSS" BOULTON, D.F.C., of Coleman, Alberta, served with both Nos. 416 and 402 Squadrons. On 13 May 1943 while escorting a flight of USAAF Flying Fortresses near Amiens, his aircraft was hit by flak. W/C Boulton was wounded in the left arm, back, and head. He was forced to bail out of his aircraft over enemy territory and was a guest of the Nazis at Stalag Luft III until 28 May 1944, when he was repatriated to the United Kingdom.
W/C Boulton took part in a great number of low-level attacks in northern France. In addition, accounting for 5 enemy aircraft destroyed, one probable, and damaged 4 others.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT RUSSELL REGINALD "RUSS" BOUSKILL, D.F.C., of Trout Creek, Ontario, served with No. 401 Squadron. He destroyed 5 enemy aircraft and damaged 3 others before being killed in action on 2 October 1944 F/L Bouskill set a fine example for skill and courage. He displayed the greatest keenness for air operations and his successes included the destruction of 5 enemy aircraft.
FLYING OFFICER H.W. "BUD" BOWKER, D.F.C., of Grandby, Quebec while serving with No. 412 Squadron shot down 5 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed another, and damaged one other. On 12 November 1943, he was on a 'rhubarb' with F/0. E.C. Likeness, shooting up five trains and two Me.109s in spite of heavy flak. A 20-mm. shell exploded behind the cockpit knocking out his radio and instruments but he was able to stay with his No. 2 and returned to his base at Biggin Hill. F/0 Bowker was killed in action on 2 July 1944, he was last seen diving into a cloud-bank pursuing a long-nosed FW.190.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JOHN JOSEPH BOYLE, D.F.C., of Toronto, Ontario, ran up an enviable record of enemy aircraft - 7 1/2 destroyed and 2 others damaged, as well as destroying 10 locomotives - while flying with Nos. 125, 402 and 411 Squadrons.
F/L Boyle gave outstanding service as a flight commander of a fighter squadron. He took part in fighter patrols, armed reconnaissance and dive-bombing missions. He destroyed many ground targets including 40 mechanical transport vehicles and 6 barges.
SQUADRON LEADER T.A. "TOMMY" BRANNAGAN, D.F.C., was born in Scotland and brought to Canada when a very young lad by his parents. He served with Nos. 403 and 441 Squadrons. S/L Brannagan destroyed 6 enemy aircraft and damaged one other before being shot down by flak and captured by the Germans on 15 August 1944, thereby spending the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft III. In addition, he destroyed several enemy locomotives and ground installations.
FLYING OFFICER WILLIAM RANSOM BREITHAUPT, D.F.C., of Toronto, Ontario, served with Nos. 488, 409 and 239 Squadrons. His score was 5 enemy aircraft destroyed. On the night of 12 September 1944, F/0 Breithaupt and his observer, F/0 J.A. Kennedy, D.F.C., were killed in action. Their Mosquito was shot down by an Me.110 which in turn was shot down by the R.A.F. aircraft before the latter crashed. The German crew bailed out and confirmed they had been shot down.
Both F.O.'s Breithaupt and F/0 J.A. Kennedy, D.F.C., were cited - "As pilot and observer respectively F/Os Breithaupt and Kennedy have completed numerous sorties. They have displayed a high degree of skill, excellent cooperation and a fine fighting spirit."
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT RALPH ISAAC EDWARD BRITTEN, D.F.C., of D'Cousse, Nova Scotia, was a school teacher before enlisting in the RCAF. While flying Mosquitoes with Nos. 604 and 409 Squadrons, Britten and his observer, F/L R.E. Fownes, destroyed 5 enemy aircraft as well as damaging one other.
F/L Britten completed a large number of sorties and displayed outstanding airmanship, courage and devotion to duty. However hazardous the circumstances, he never failed to show great initiative and resourcefulness.
WING COMMANDER MARK HENRY BROWN, D.F.C. and Bar, M.C. (Czech.), of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, enlisted in the RAF as a pupil pilot prior to the war. He was killed at Gela, Sicily, on 12 November 1944 while leading No. 249 Squadron on an offensive sweep.
W/C Brown was the first Canadian to become an 'ace' with 7 1/2 enemy destroyed, 5 1/2 probables, and 3 others damaged. He scored most of these victories while serving with the AASF in France in 1940 with No. 1 Squadron, RAF.
WING COMMANDER R.A. "RAM" BUCKHAM, D.F.C. and Bar, D.F.C. (U.S.), of Golden, B.C., had a score of 6 1/2 enemy aircraft destroyed and damaged 3 others. He flew a total of 250 operational sorties while fly- ing with Nos. 416, 421 and 403 Squadrons. W/C Buckham was killed in a flying accident on 30 September 1947, at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.