SQUADRON LEADER ARTHUR HAZPLTON SAGER, D.F.C., of Hazeiton, B.C., commenced his operational flying duties with No. 421 Squadron in April 1942. While carrying out his second tour of operations with No. 403 Squadron, he was posted to No. 416 Squadron as a Flight Commander. S/L Sager eventually became Commanding Officer of No. 443 Squadron bef ore f inishing his tour. He proved to be a most skiliful and successful leader, combining very good judgernent and sound reasoning with keenness and courage. S/L Sager destroyed 5 enemy aircraft during his operational career.
FLYING OFFICER DALLAS WILBUR SCHMIDT, D.F.C. and Bar, of Wetaskiwin, Alta., served with No. 227 Squadron in the defence of Malta. On his first sortie he shot down an Italian aircraft. In Septernber 1942, he obtained a hit with a heavy bomb on an enemy merchant vessel which subsequently sank. A few days later he attacked a destroyer, in a convoy, with gunfire. In spite of intense opposition he pressed home his attack causing an explosion behind part of the ship's gun positions, which probably indicated hits on a magazine. On another occasion in November 1942, he destroyed two Ju.52s and assisted in the destruction of a Dornier 24. His aircraft was hit in some thirty places by return fire and the port engine was set afire, but he succeeded in extinguishing the flames and flew the damaged aircraft back to base landing it safely in very difficult circumstances. F/O Schmidt's total score was 5 1/2enemy aircraft destroyed.
GROUP CAPTAIN RAYNE DENNIS "JOE" SCHULTZ, D.F.C. and Bar, C.D., of Bashaw, Alberta, flew Beaufighters and Mosquitoes of No. 410 Squadron. During one particular sortie, on the night of 10 December 1943, Schultz and his observer, F/O V.A. Williams, destroyed three Dornier 217s a feat which well illustrated their fine team fighting qualities. G/C Schultz finally accounted for 8 enemy aircraft destroyed.
WING COMMANDER LLOYD GILBERT SCHWAB, D.F.C., of Niagara Fails, Ontario, enlisted in the RAFVR as a pupil pilot prior to the war. He was one of the few Canadians who flew the Gloster Gladiator with No. 112 Squadron in North Africa and in the defence of Greece. The King of the Hellenes conferred the Greek Distinguished Flying Cross on Schwab for his gallantry and devotion to duty. His final score was 11 enemy aircraft destroyed.
SQUADRON LEADER JACKSON EDDIE SHEPPARD, D.F.C., of Vancouver, B.C., took part in rnany varied operational sorties. Including escort to bornbers, fighter offensive and defensive patrols while flying with Nos. 401 and 412 Squadrons. S/L Sheppard was an excellent leader and set a splendid example by his fine fighting spirit in destroying 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
FLYING OFFICER GEORGE LESLIE SINCLAIR, D.F.C., was born in England and his parents emigrated to Canada when he was very young. At the outbreak of war, Sinclair enlisted in the RCAF and served overseas with No. 26 Squadron. F/O Sinclair took part in numerous sorties against the enemy and proved himself to be a resolute and determined fighter pilot by destroying 5 enemy aircraft, one probable, and damaged 2 others.
WING COMMANDER FORGRAVE MARSHALL SMITH, D.F.C., of Edmonton, Alta., was another Canadian who enlisted in the RAFVR as a pupil pilot prior to the war. He completed four tours of operations. His first and second tours were completed during the Battle of Britain and consisted of interception sorties, convoy patrols and day - and night cover over Dunkirk, France and Belgium. His third tour was completed in the Middle East and his fourth in Burma. His final tally of enemy aircraft destroyed while serving with Nos. 72 and 603 Squadrons was 5.
SQUADRON LEADER RODERICK ILLINGWORTH SMITH, D.F.C. and Bar, of Regina, Saskatchewan, served in the defence of Malta with No. 126 Squadron during the latter half of 1942. One day in October of 1942, he led his flight in a determined attack on nine hostile bombers with a large fighter escort, the first raid of the October air battles and, in spite of intense opposition by the fighters, Smith personally destroyed a Ju.88. He was promoted to Squadron Leader and was given command of No. 401 Squadron on 28 Sept. 1944. S/L Smith had the remarkable distinction of destroying 6 enemy aircraft in the space of four days. As squadron commander he led No. 412 Squadron on five missions in three days during which time it destroyed 27 enemy aircraft and damaged 9 others. This was accomplished during the persistent German efforts to destroy bridges in the Arnhern-Nijmegan area which were vital to our ground forces. S/L Smith's final score was 13 1/5 enemy aircraft destroyed.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT ROBERT RUTHERFORD SMITH, D.F.C., of London, Ontario, was a member of a group of Canadians who joined the RAFVR as pupil pilots prior to World War 11. He was a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain, fought over Dunkirk and in the defence of the British Isles that followed. Before being shot down and taken prisoner, F/L Smith destroyed 8 enemy aircraft while serving with Nos. 112 and 229 Squadrons.
GROUP CAPTAIN JAMES DEAN "RED" SOMERVILLE, D.S.O., D.F.C., of Exshaw, Alta., flew with both Nos. 409 and 410 Squadrons. He participated in many sorties and displayed the highest standard of skill and determination. Qualities which were well illustrated on his first trip when he and his observer destroyed a Ju.88. G/C Somerville's final tally was 7 enemy aircraft destroyed plus one damaged. (G.D. Robinson and A. Hardy were teamed up with G/C Somerville at various times as his observers).
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT NOEL KARL STANSFIELD, D.F.C. and Bar, Czech. Medal for Bravery, of Edmonton, Alberta, was another Canadian who enlisted as a pupil pilot in the RAFVR prior to the war. F/L Stansfield fought in the Battle of Britain with No. 242 Squadron. His excellent fighting qualities, initiative and marked powers of leadership were displayed over Dunkirk and England when he destroyed 7 enemy aircraft.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT HUGH NORMAN TAMBLYN, D.F.C., of Watrous,Sask., enlisted as a P.P.O. in the RAFVR as did many other Canadians. He flew Defiants for a while with No. 141 Squadron until being posted to No. 242 Squadron. F/L Tamblyn was killed in action on 3 April 1941 but not before he had accounted for 5 Luftwaffe aircraft.
SQUADRON LEADER HUGH CHARLES TRAINOR, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, of Charlottetown, P.E.i., servedwithbothNos.401 and 411 Squadrons. On many occasions Trainor led his squadron, No.411,on a variety of sorties and displayed excellent tactical ability and great determination. On one occasion a very superior number of enemy fighters were engaged and eight of them were shot down, one of them by Trainor. On 19 Septernber 1944, the engine of Trainor's plane failed and he tried to glide back to friendly lines. After gliding for approximately twenty miles, he was forced to bail out and was captured but not before he had accounted for 8 1/2 enemy aircraft. S/L Trainor was liberated early in September 44 and was repatriated to Canada.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GORDON WILLIAM TROKE, D.F.C., of Sydney, N.S., saw action with No. 250 Squadron in the Western Desert. He flew a second tour of operations with No. 443 Squadron and destroyed 5 1/2 enemy aircraft. F/L Troke was fatally injured during flying operations in a Sabre of No. 430 Fighter Squadron based at North Bay, Ontario, on 24 June 1952.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JOHN HOWARD TURNBULL, D.F.C. and Bar, of St. Thomas, Ontario, was trained as a night-fighter and flew with No. 600 Squadron. F/L Turnbull displayed great qualities of courage and determination in seeking out the enerny. His flying skill and devotion to duty was demonstrated by his destruction of 10 enerny aircraft in aerial cornbat with the assistance of his observer, P/0 Fowler.
GROUP CAPTAIN PERCIVAL STANLEY TURNER, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, War Cross 1939 (Czech.), was born in England and educated in Canada. At the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the RCAF and served with Nos. 242,145, 249 and 417 Squadrons. Turner was "one of the few" referred to by Prime Minister Winston Churchill who fought in the Battle of Britain. On 15 September 1940, Turner shot down one enemy aircraft. His own machine was hit by cannon fire, temporarily out of control, he recovered in time to destroy another hostile plane. He managed to fly his own aircraft back to base and effect a safe landing. Turner took part in all the more important air operations during the invasion of Sicily and Italy and in the Sangio and Anzio battles. G/C Turner's final socre was 14 enerny aircraft destroyed, 2 probables, and 8 others darnaged.