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CANADIAN PILOTS IN LEADING ROLE BLASTING ROMMEL
Dominion Airmen Battering at Supply Lines Constantly, Strafe Troops
The following dispatch has been received from Flight
Lieutenant Kenneth MacGillivray, public relations officer, R.C.A.F., in
the Middle East, and former Hamilton newspaperman.
At an R.A.F. Airport Beyond Tripoli, Jan. 28, 1943 — (Delayed) —
(BUP) — Battering at enemy supply columns and transport whenever
they show themselves, Canadian pilots in R.A.F. fighter squadrons are
maintaining the strafing operations which played such an important part
in Rommel's exodus from Tripolitania.
Leading his flight in daily patrols over enemy territory, Flight-Lieut.
Gordon Troke, of Wolfville, N.S., has destroyed an estimated 31 enemy
lorries and five grounded aircraft, while his aerial combat claims total
four shot down and as many damaged. Flight-Lieut. Troke has been involved
in 56 "dog fights," in the air.
Another Canadian fighter pilot, Flying Officer Neil Russell,
2339 Dow avenue, New Westminster, B.C.; had a narrow escape a few days
ago in a duel with a Messerschmitt 109 at Kir Dufan. Slightly wounded
in the back of the head, Flying Officer Russell was momentarily stunned.
He fell forward on his stick, which threw the plane into a sharp dive.
All the time, his hand was clenched on the firing button. He recovered
consciousness in time to pull out and inflict damage on the Messerschmitt.
In hospital, surgeons removed seven small pieces of shrapnel from his
scalp. After four days rest, he was back in the air, eager to add to his
score of one enemy aircraft destroyed, several damaged, and several destroyed
on the ground.
Also in the thick of current fighter "strafing" operations is
Warrant Officer Frank Pledge, 103 Morrison Avenue, Toronto. His plane
has been several times damaged by ground firing.
Warrant Officer Hugh O'Brien; 10033 91st avenue, Edmonton, had a close
shave this week when driven off his course by bad weather. He emerged
from a low-hanging cloud to find himself directly over enemy anti-aircraft
guns.
With his plane riddled with "flak" and the controls damaged,
he managed to return to his base without injury.
Other R.C.A.F., fighter pilots in this area of the Middle East include
Sgt. Jack Nichols, of Digby, N.S.; Sgt. Charles Swan, of Chauvin, Alta.,
and Sgt. John Maloney, Cope street, Hamilton, Ont.
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Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, 14 June 1916;
home there or in Wolfeville (grocery clerk, truck
- driver and medical student at Acadia University).
His father was a partial cripple from 1929 owing to war
- wounds so he was a mainstay in the family of five;
enlisted in Halifax, 29 August 1940.
Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 6 January 1941),
No.11 EFTS (graduated 19 February 1941) and
No.8 SFTS (graduated 16 May 1941).
Arrived in Britain, 17 July 1941.
Posted to No.61 OTU, 19 July 1941 and to
No.55 OTU on 28 July 1941. To
No.136 Squadron, 15 September 1941;
to Middle East Wastage Pool, 1 November 1941.
In No.73 Squadron, 15 November to 24 December 1941
in No.250 Squadron, 14 January 1942 to 3 April 1943.
Commissioned 4 July 1942;
On 25 August 1942 he was testing a Kittyhawk
- which had a bearing failure and caught fire;
- Troke crash-landed but could not reach
- extinguisher due to flames; it later blew up.
Flying Officer, 4 January 1943;
Flight Lieutenant, 4 January 1943
-with effect from 22 November 1942.
At No.73 OTU, 3 April to 28 December 1943;
arrived back in Britain, 2 January 1944.
On leave in Canada, 23 February to 4 April 1944;
back in Britain 11 April 1944.
No.443 Squadron, 30 April to 22 October 1944.
Returned to Canada, 27 November 1944.
Various short postings in Maritimes area until
- his release, 18 January 1946.
Postwar he finished pre-medical studies
- but then sold insurance.
Award presented 16 April 1948.
Rejoined RCAF, 18 June 1951.
Killed in flying accident, 24 June 1952
- No.430 Squadron, North Bay; apparently tried
- to force-land a Sabre after engine failure).
Wartime he claimed 167 sorties
(202 hours) in North Africa, and
his second tour was 134 sorties;
total combat time in two tours was
388 hours ten minutes. |
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TROKE, F/L Gordon William (J15777) - Distinguished Flying
Cross - No.250 Sq.
Award effective 11 February 1943 as per London Gazette dated 23 February
1943 and
AFRO 513/43 dated 26 March 1943.
This officer has skilfully led his flight and the squadron
in many sorties. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft, two of which he
shot down on one sortie. He has also assisted in the destruction of two
more enemy aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Troke has invariably displayed
great keenness and devotion to duty.
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Aerial Victories Include :
10 July 1942
17 Nov 1942
19 Nov 1942
01 Aug 1944
29 Sep 1944 |
one Me109E
one
MC202
1/2 He111
one
Me109
1/2 Ju88
1/4 Me109
two Me109s
one
Me109 |
destroyed &
destroyed
destroyed
destroyed &
destroyed
destroyed *
destroyed &
damaged |
* - shared w/ Sharman, Herrell & Wegg
6.25 / 0 / 1
The newspaper article at the top claims he has 4 destroyed "and as many damaged" plus 5 destroyed on the ground. The citation for the DFC agrees with the 4 destroyed although they say it in more detail; 3 and 2 shared. Both of these come from early 1943 and reflect his score while with No.250 squadron in Africa. Apparently damaging planes and destroying them on the ground didn't mean much there. If those additional claims are true then his score would be
6.25 / 0 / 5 plus 5 OTG
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Photo PL-10240 shows him leaning on the tail of a 250 Squadron Kittyhawk.
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--- Canadian Aces ---
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