Robert George "Bob" Middlemiss

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German Chemical Works At Leverkusen
Are Hit During Night Offensives
Düsseldorf Is Attacked — Five Bombers Lost in Widespread Raids

London, Aug. 23, 1943 — (CP) — R.A.F. and Canadian bombers returned to their crushing attacks on Germany last night after an interval of two nights and the Air Ministry announced that the chemical works at Leverkusen, six miles north of Cologne, were the special target.
The German radio said that Düsseldorf, in the Rhineland, also was attacked and that 11 British fighters and a "number" of bombers were shot down in "random" attacks on other objectives in the western Reich. The Air Ministry described these as intruder patrols over railway targets and airfields.
The Air Ministry said five bombers were lost in the night's activities.

Canadian Plane Missing
R.C.A .F. headquarters announced that one of the missing bombers was Canadian. It said several squadrons of the R.C.A.F. bomber group were out with the R.A.F. and that at the same time R.C.A.F. Mosquitos on intruder patrol attacked railways and airfields in france and Belgium.
Over Leverkusen and other targets, heavy clouds made it difficult to see results, the air communique said.
Leverkusen was bombed twice in 1940 but has not been a specific target since.
Hardly had the night raiders returned than light bombers and fighter sped out by daylight today to resume the assaults.
The night attack ended a lull that had lasted since Thursday night when Mosquitos struck at Berlin.
Spitfires were out in force during the day and RAF medium bombers attacked the St. Omer freight yards. The Air Ministry said the planes were not challenged.
A Canadian Spitfire wing encountered more than 15 Messerschmitt 109s over the Gosnay area in northern France. The English leader, W/C J. E. Johnson, shot down an enemy aircraft to become the second highest scoring pilot still serving with the fighter command, with 23 victims.
The Vichy radio said American planes raided a place in Normandy.
F/O R. S. Middlemiss of Montreal, a member of the R.C.A.F. Wolf Squadron, damaged a Messerschmitt in the Canadian-Nazi scrap over the Gosnay area.
During these night operations, it was learned today, S/L G. W. Northcott, of Minnedosa, Man., was credited with shooting down an enemy aircraft over France.
Enemy raiders scattered bombs in East Anglia and also rumbled over southeast England last night. At least two were shot down. An alarm sounded in London soon after midnight but no incidents were reported.
Late yesterday marauder medium bombers of the United States 8th Air Force attacked an enemy airfield at Beaumont Le Roger in occupied France. Escorting R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. Spitfires and the bombers knocked down nine enemy fighters. One bomber and eight Allied fighters were listed as missing, but all the Canadian aircraft returned safely.
During the operation an unidentified Canadian squadron leader shot down a Focke-Wulf in one of the "great many" combats fought by the R.C.A.F. fighter wing, an R.C.A.F. communique said.
During Sunday, British and Canadian intruders attacked enemy shipping, airfields transport and communications, continuing the Saturday night train-busting expedition that saw R.C.A.F. pilots smash up a number of engines and enemy aircraft.

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"B" Flight 249 Squadron in Malta - early July 1942. From the left -
unknown, unknown, S/L Laddie Lucas, Sgt Paul Brennan, unknown, Bob Middlemiss,
George Beurling, unknown & "Willie the Kid" Williams

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MIDDLEMISS, F/L Robert George (J15958) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.403 Sq.
Award effective 12 May 1944 as per London Gazette dated 19 May 1944 and
AFRO 1380/44 dated 30 June 1944

Public Record Office Air 2/9626 indicates this citation was drafted when he had flown 140 sorties (215 operational hours.

This officer has completed two tours of operational duty and has completed sorties both from Malta and the United Kingdom. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged others. His standard of leadership as a section leader and flight commander has always been high and he has invariably shown outstanding courage.

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Four Canadians Are Decorated

Ottawa, May 20, 1944 - The effective destruction of enemy planes, locomotives and shipping is .reflected in the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to four members of the R.C.A.F. serving overseas, air force headquarters announced last night.
Those decorated are Squadron-Ldr. C. H. Stover, of Sarnia, Ont.; Flight-Lieut. G. W. Burroughs, of Winnipeg; Flight-Lieut. G. A. Muir, of Winnipeg and Flight-Lieut. R. G. Middlemiss, of Montreal.
Stover has participated in operations for almost two years, having made his first sortie during the attack on Dieppe. Burroughs also has taken part in a large number of reconnaissance and ranger sorties, having participated in 28 coastal patrols.
Muir is a veteran of night intruder operations over Rhodes, Cos and Crete, and Middlemiss has completed two tours of operational duty which involved sorties from both Malta and the United Kingdom.

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Middlemiss and Screwball Beurling

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Victories Include :

2.5 / 1 / 3

* - actually an S 84bis of 4 Gruppo BT

(stats from "Those Other Eagles" by Chris Shores)

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421 "Red Indian" Squadron at Chatham - October 1950

Sq. members Howie Tetlock, Ken Thorneycroft and Bill Paisley were absent for this photo

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--- Canadian Aces ---

--- Other Canadian Fighter Pilots ---

--- Canadian Air Gunners ---

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