THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE JOURNAL VOL. 4 | NO. 2 SPRING 2015 The : A Canadian Timeline By Major William March, CD, MA As with many historical events, there is often a “lively” debate on when the event began or ended, who participated and what actually transpired. For , there is also the question of who was actually a “Canadian” in the days before Newfoundland joined Confederation and had yet to issue its own passport. The timeline and information below have been gleaned from a number of different areas and individuals; it reflects, but does not entirely agree with, many of the contemporary sources.

The “phases” of the Battle of Britain noted below reflect the dates used by the Imperial War Museum in and may not reflect the dates/breakdown of the battle offered by other sources.1

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Up to 1939

21 September 1937 No. 1 Squadron formed at Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Trenton, Ontario, as a fighter unit. It was equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Siskin aircraft. August 1938 No. 1 Squadron moved to Calgary, Alberta, as part of Western Air Command. DND 1939

17 February A detachment from No. 1 Squadron proceeded to Sea Island, British Columbia, to take delivery 31 August of the first new Hawker Siddley Hurricane No. 1 Squadron began to move to its “war fighters. They replaced the obsolescent Siskins. station” at St. Hubert, Quebec. 1 September Germany invaded Poland. 3 September Great Britain declared war on Germany. 4 September Pilot Officer Selby R. Henderson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was the lead navigator with No. 110 Squadron and in the nose of the first aircraft to attack the German battleship Admiral Sheer at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Sergeant Arthur Stanley Prince, age 27, from Montreal, Quebec, was in the second wave and died after his No. 107 Squadron Blenheim aircraft was shot down over the harbour. The first Canadian airman killed in action during DND World War II, he is buried at the Becklingen SGT A. S. PRINCE War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany. 10 September Canada declared war on Germany. 29–30 September Squadron Leader W. I. Clements, attached to No. 53 Squadron, (RAF), made a long-distance, night-reconnaissance flight from Metz, , to the area of Hamm–Hanover, Germany. He was the first member of the RCAF to fly over enemy territory. 30 October The Canadian government, anxious to get “Canadians” into the air war as soon as possible, reached an agreement with British authorities to man a RAF squadron with Canadians serving in the RAF. No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron was formed at Church Fenton, , DND under the command of Squadron Leader F. M. Gobeil, a native of Ottawa, currently on MK1 exchange with the RAF. 5 November No. 1 Squadron moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

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1940

16 February No. 110 (Army Cooperation [AC]) “City of Toronto” Squadron, augmented by personnel 25 February from No. 2 (AC) Squadron, sailed from Halifax. No. 110 (AC) Squadron arrived at , . It was the first RCAF unit overseas. 8 April German forces invaded . 9 April German forces invaded . 10 M ay German forces attacked Holland, , Luxembourg and France. 13–21 May No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron was committed 22 May piecemeal to operations in France. An advance party of No. 112 (AC) “City of Winnipeg” Squadron departed Halifax. 23 May Squadron Leader F. M. Gobeil, an RCAF exchange officer with the RAF, commanding No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron, engaged a Messerschmitt (Me) 109 near Berck, France—the RCAF’s first aerial combat of the war. DND

AIRMEN OF NO. 110 SQN DEPART HALIFAX 25 May Squadron Leader F. M. Gobeil, an RCAF exchange officer with the RAF, commanding No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron, shot down a Me-110 MK1 near Menin, Belgium, the first RCAF victory of the war. 30 May The advance party of No. 112 (AC) Squadron 8 June arrived at Liverpool, England. No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron, augmented primarily by personnel from No. 115 (Fighter) “City of Montreal” Squadron, and the rear party of No. 112 (AC) Squadron departed Halifax for England. 18 JunE No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron returned to England and rebuilt at Coltishall. 20–21 June No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron arrived in the United Kingdom and was stationed at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. Canadian Hurricane aircraft were DND deemed not up to current standards, resulting MEMBERS OF NO. 112 SQN SAIL TO THE U.K. in the squadron being re-equipped with RAF Hurricane Mk I aircraft—assigned “YO” as a 9 July unit code. No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron declared operational.

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Phase 1: 10 July–11 August Although this is the “official” start date of the Battle of Britain, it is difficult to point to a specific day and say “this is when it all began.” Young men on both sides were flying and dying on 9 July, and the carnage only grew worse in the coming weeks. For the first portion of the battle, the concentrated on attacking shipping in the , port cities and coastal facilities as well as defences that might be used to turn back the planned invasion. This period is sometimes referred to as the —Channel Battles. With varying degrees of effort, these attacks would continue throughout the battle. 4 July No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron transferred to Croydon, south of London, for intensive training. 12 July Pilot Officer D. A. Hewitt, from Saint John, New Brunswick, 20 years old and serving with No. 501 Squadron, was shot down while engaging a Dornier 17 that was attacking the Royal Naval Dockyard at , near in Southern England. This was the first Canadian fatality of the battle. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial. DND

HAWKER HURRICANES MKI 19 July Pilot Officer R. A. Howley, age 20, from Victoria, British Columbia, was killed while serving with No. 141 Squadron when his Bolton Paul Defiant aircraft (along with five others) was shot down by German fighters off . He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial. DND

8 August The Luftwaffe began its large-scale assault against England. 11 August Pilot Officer R. R. Wilson, age 20, from Moncton, New Brunswick, was killed in action when his Hurricane aircraft was shot down over

DND , United Kingdom. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the BOLTON PAUL DEFIANTS Runnymede War Memorial.

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Phase 2: 12–23 August This period of the Battle of Britain is characterized by large air battles more inland from the coasts as the Luftwaffe attempted to defeat the RAF through a combination of attrition and direct attacks on its airfields. RAF Fighter Command’s command and control network, including sites, also came under attack. The Germans named this portion of the Battle, Adlerangriff—Eagle Attack. 12 August Pilot Officer R. W. G. Beley, age 20, from Rossland, British Columbia, was killed while serving with 13 August No. 151 Squadron. He is buried in the Margate —Eagle Day—attacks on British radar Cemetery, , United Kingdom. sites signaled a shift in focus by the Luftwaffe as they attempted to destroy the RAF in the 15 August sky or on the ground. In response to heavy losses, the Luftwaffe shifted the focus of its attacks to RAF aerodromes. This day saw the largest number of enemy attacks and a correspondingly high number of casualties on both sides, with 90 German bombers and fighters either destroyed or damaged as compared to 42 RAF fighters either lost or damaged. Pilot Officer J. T. Johnston, age 26, from Brandon, Manitoba, was shot down in a Hurricane fighter over the . He is buried in the Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent, England. Squadron Leader E. A. McNab, while flying with No. 111 Squadron, RAF, to gain operational experience, was credited with one of the three DND enemy aircraft destroyed by the unit that day. 16 August Fifteen enemy aircraft attacked the field at Pilot Officer J. E. P. Larichelière, age 20, from Croydon, causing considerable damage and Montreal, Quebec, was killed while serving destroying No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron’s armament with No. 213 Squadron. He has no known grave and orderly room. Two squadron personnel and is commemorated on the Runnymede War suffered minor wounds. Memorial. He was credited with six enemy aircraft destroyed in the previous three days. DND

17 August No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron was transferred to an airfield at Northolt, northwest of London, and 18 August declared “operational.” Bitter air combat results in the largest number of casualties to both sides during the battle: Luftwaffe, 96 aircraft destroyed or damaged; RAF, 50 aircraft destroyed or damaged.

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Phase 3: 24 August–6 September The Luftwaffe again shifted the main focus of its attention, this time to the airfields and objectives in the south-east of England. The RAF began to feel the growing strain of losses in pilots and aircraft. 24 August Although No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron aircraft had been launched to intercept German aircraft prior to this date, this was the first time that the squadron fired its weapons. Tragically, they mistook a flight of RAF Blenheim bombers for enemy aircraft. Two Blenheims were shot down, with one crash-landing at Thorney Island and the other plunging into the sea. The crew of the latter was killed. 25 August The RAF carried out its first bombing raid on Berlin, an action that enraged Germany and resulted in the diversion of attacking forces from British airfields to London. Two Canadians were among the crews of the 95 aircraft that struck the German capital: Flight Lieutenant D. L. England, from Kingston, Ontario, with No. 61 Squadron and Flying Officer M. M. Fleming from Ottawa, Ontario, with No. 58 Squadron. 26 August No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron ordered to the airfield at North Weald to relieve a hard-pressed RAF unit. On its second sortie of the day, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron met an enemy bomber force over southern England, claiming three destroyed and four damaged for the loss of three Canadian Hurricanes. Flight Lieutenant R. L. Edwards from Cobourg, Ontario, age 28, became the first fatal casualty of the squadron; the other two pilots survived with minor injuries. Edwards is buried at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey, England. 29 August Flight Lieutenant H. R. Hamilton, age 23, from Oak Point, New Brunswick, was killed while flying with No. 85 Squadron. He is buried in Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent, England. 30 August No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron received six replacement pilots from the two Canadian Army Cooperation squadrons that were already in England. Flying Officers Millar, Pattison and Trevena reported from No. 110 (AC) Squadron and Flying Officers Brown, Lochnan and Norris reported from No. 112 (AC) Squadron. Norris Collection National Air Force Museum of Canada (NAFMC) Canada of Museum Force Air National Collection Norris

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31 August First sortie of the day, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron aircraft were “bounced” by German fighters, and three Hurricanes were shot down. All three pilots bailed out; Flying Officer W. P. Sprenger was uninjured, but Flight Lieutenant Corbett and Flying Officer G. G. Hyde suffered burns to their faces, hands and legs. During the second sortie of the day, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron engaged German fighters and bombers, destroying three, claiming one probably destroyed and damaging a further two. Flying Officer J. P. J. Desloges was shot down but survived, albeit with severe burns. 1 September As part of the RAF response to a large German formation, nine Canadians from No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron led by Flight Lieutenant G. R. McGregor destroyed one aircraft and damaged a further five. Flying Officer A. Yuile was shot down but bailed out safely. Flying Officer J. W. Kerwin was also forced to bail out, landing near with burns to his hands and face. Flying Officer E. Beardmore’s Hurricane was badly damaged, but he managed to nurse it back to base. 2 September Flight Lieutenant Corbett and Flying Officers Desloges, Kerwin and Hyde were transferred to No. 112 (AC) Squadron to recover from wounds they had received in combat. 3 September Pilot Officer C. R. Bonseigneur, age 22, from Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, was killed in action while serving with No. 257 Squadron when his Hurricane aircraft was shot down near , United Kingdom. He is buried in the Saffron Walden Cemetery, England. 4 September Flying Officer A. A. G. Trueman, age 26, from Sackville, Nova Scotia, was killed in action while flying a Hurricane with No. 253 Squadron. He is buried in the Whyteleafe Cemetery, Surrey, England. First sortie of the day, and while a group of Canadian journalists were visiting, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron was in the thick of things again, claiming two enemy aircraft destroyed, one probably destroyed and six damaged at no loss to themselves.

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Phase 4:

7 September–31 October Main attacks shifted to London, but airfields, cities and ships within range of German aircraft were sporadically engaged. Losses incurred in large air battles during the mid-September attacks caused the Germans to rethink their plans. Although at times the fighting was heavy, by the end of October, the Battle of Britain was over. 7 September Focus of Luftwaffe main effort shifted to London. Pilot Officer J. Benzie, age 25, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was killed while serving with No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron. A body found in 1981 is believed to be his. He is commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield DND Green, Egham, Surrey, England. 8 September Squadron Leader McNab claimed one Me-109 Sub-Lieutenant (Pilot) J. C. Carpenter, age 21, as probably destroyed. from Toronto, Ontario, was a member of the ’s , serving on His Majesty’s Ship Daedalus, a naval air station. 9 September He was attached to No. 54 Squadron as a Pilot Officer K. M. Sclanders, age 24, from Saint flying officer and was killed in action when his John, New Brunswick, was killed when his Spitfire went missing. He is commemorated Hurricane aircraft was lost while serving with on the Fleet Air Arm Lee-on-Solent Memorial, No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron. He is buried in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Whyteleafe Cemetery, Surrey, England. The RAF scrambles 26 squadrons to intercept a force of between 300 and 350 enemy aircraft attacking London. No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron claimed one Me-109 destroyed and three damaged. Flying Officer O. J. Peterson claimed the sole victory of the day, but his aircraft was damaged and his windscreen shattered by debris from the Me-109. With his face cut and blood obscuring his vision, he managed to regain control of his Hurricane and returned to base. Flying Officer W. B. M. Millar was wounded in the leg and forced to bail out of DND his stricken aircraft, suffering additional burns in the process. 11 September Pilot Officer H. D. Edwards, age 24, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was shot down over Kent while flying with No. 92 Squadron. He is buried at Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent, England. No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron was in action as part of a 19-squadron RAF response to another large German formation attacking London. At approximately 1615 hours, under the leadership of Squadron Leader McNab, they attacked a formation of Heinkel (He) 111s at 14,000 feet [4,267 metres]. Three of the bombers were destroyed and a further two damaged. Flying Officer T. B. Little, though wounded in the leg, successfully bailed out of his damaged

DND Hurricane. Flying Officer P. W. Lochnan was shot down and crash-landed his aircraft near SQUADRON LEADER E. A. MCNAB Romney, walking away without a scratch.

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15 September Two large air assaults against England were met and defeated by Fighter Command. Luftwaffe 17 September losses totaled 80 aircraft destroyed or damaged Hitler officially canceled the planned invasion to the RAF’s 35. The German High Command of England. was shocked and re-evaluated the planned invasion of England. Henceforth, German bombers would mainly attack at night. This day is officially celebrated as “.” No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron was “bounced” by Me-109s over Biggin Hill on their first sortie of the day. One enemy aircraft was shot down by Flying Officer A. D. Nesbitt who was, in turn, shot down. He bailed out of his aircraft, suffering head injuries. In the same engagement, Flying Officer R. Smither from London, Ontario, age 30, was shot down and killed. He is the second fatal casualty from the unit and is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, England. Approximately two and a half hours later, on their second sortie, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron intercepted a formation of 15 to 20 He-111 bombers. Two enemy aircraft were shot down, three were probably destroyed and a further two damaged. Although the Canadians suffered no losses, Flying Officer A. Yuile was wounded 18 September in the shoulder but made it safely back to base. Despite several scrambles during the day, there was little combat as the majority of 24 September enemy aircraft remained above 20,000 feet Pilot Officer J. Bryson, age 27, from Westmount, [6,096 metres] where the performance of Quebec, was killed while flying with No. 92 Squadron. the Hurricane was degraded. Despite this He is buried in North Weald, Basset Churchyard, limitation, Pilot Officer O. J. Peterson engaged England. Me-109s at 27,000 feet [8,230 metres] and claimed one destroyed and one probably destroyed. During one of these events, Flying Officer E. W. B. Beardmore became separated from the unit and found himself flying with No. 229 Squadron. His aircraft was damaged, and he was forced to bail out, suffering minor injuries upon landing. DND

S/L MCNAB WELCOMES A/M BISHOP TO NO. 1 (RCAF) SQN

25 September Air Marshal William “Billy” Bishop, , Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, visited No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron at Northolt. DND

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26 September His Majesty King George VI visited No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron at Northolt. NAFMC

HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI INSPECTS

27 September The Germans made multiple assaults throughout the day, and No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron was in DND almost constant combat, with 12 aircraft sent aloft for the first scramble of the day, 8 for the 28 September second and only 6 for the third. By the end of Flying Officer J. G. Boyle, age 26, from Ottawa, the day, the Canadians claimed four enemy Ontario, was killed while flying with No. 41 Squadron. aircraft destroyed, with the destruction of a He is buried in Lynsted Cemetery, Kent, United further seven shared with other RAF squadrons, Kingdom. one probably destroyed and four damaged. Flying officer O. J. Peterson from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, age 24, was shot down and killed. He is the third and final fatal casualty during the Battle of Britain from No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron. He is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, England. 7 October Pilot Officer H. D. Edwards, age 24, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was killed in action while flying a Spitfire with No. 92 Squadron. He was credited with 3½ enemy aircraft destroyed and 4 probably destroyed. He is buried at Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent, United Kingdom.

8 October Pilot Officer G. H. Corbett, age 20, from Victoria, British Columbia, was killed while serving with No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron. Forced to bail out of his damaged aircraft, he did not survive the descent. He is buried in the St. Mary Churchyard Extension, Upchurch, Kent, England. 9 October No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron, having been in continuous combat for almost two months, was transferred to Prestwick, , to rest and rebuild. DND

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17 October Pilot Officer N. N. Campbell, age 21, from St. Thomas, Ontario, was killed while serving 19 October with No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron. He is buried Flying Officer G. F. McAvity, age 29, from Little in Scottow Cemetery, , England. River, New Brunswick, was killed in action while Pilot Officer H. W. Reilley, age 22, from flying a Hurricane aircraft with No. 3 Squadron. London, Ontario, was killed while serving with No. 66 Squadron. His Spitfire was shot down by Luftwaffe Kommodore (Squadron Commander) Major W. Molder near Westerham, United Kingdom. He is buried in Cemetery, England. 22 October Squadron Leader McNab was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for services as Commanding Officer, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Flight Lieutenant G. R. McGregor and Flying Officer B. D. Russel were each awarded the

Distinguished Flying Cross for their services NAFMC during the Battle of Britain. 26 October No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron transferred to Duxford to rest and rebuild.

Major Bill March, a maritime air combat systems officer, has spent over 38 years in uniform. He is currently a member of the Air Reserve, serving as the RCAF Historian within the Directorate of RCAF History and Heritage. Abbreviations AC Army Cooperation He Heinkel Me Messerschmitt RAF Royal Air Force RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force Sqn squadron Note 1. “The Battle of Britain: Phases,” Imperial War Museum, accessed February 24, 2015, http://archive.iwm. org.uk/upload/package/27/battleofbritain/phase0.htm.

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Phase 1: British Forces Fighter Command HQ Sector Command HQ Fighter base Naval convoy Britain Group 12 Holland Group 10 London Group 11

Belgium

German Forces Bomber raid Raid track Bomber base France Fighter base Target area

Phase 2: British Forces Fighter Command HQ Sector Command HQ Fighter base Naval convoy Britain Group 12 Holland Group 10 London Group 11

Belgium

German Forces Bomber raid Raid track Bomber base France Fighter base Target area

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Phase 3: British Forces Fighter Command HQ Sector Command HQ Fighter base Naval convoy Britain Group 12 Holland Group 10 London Group 11

Belgium

German Forces Bomber raid Raid track Bomber base France Fighter base Target area

Phase 4: British Forces Fighter Command HQ Sector Command HQ Fighter base Britain Group 12 Holland Group 10 London Group 11

Belgium

German Forces Bomber raid Raid track Bomber base France Fighter base Target area

The Battle of Britain: A Canadian Timeline 19 Courtesy of the artist C. J. Thompson Achtung Spitfire! – View of a Spitfire attack on a formation of Heinkel 111 bombers through the forward gunner’s position in the nose of one of the bombers.