Robert Andrew "Bobby" Buckham

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GERMAN GUNNERS SLAIN FROM AIR

Canadian Flyers Make Low Run While Returning From Sweep
London, Jan. 4, 1943 — (CP Cable) — Two members of a Canadian Spitfire squadron shot several German gunners when they damaged a coastal gun post in northern France during the weekend, R.C.A.F. Headquarters announced today. The Canadians also disabled a freight engine near Dieppe.
Flt.-Lt. R. A. Buckham, of Vancouver, and F.O. R. J. Turp, of Kingston, Ont., en route home after a sweep during which they damaged the engine, saw the gun emplacement. The gunners ran out to take up positions. The pilots made a low run with guns blazing and none of the Nazis reached the guns.
The pilots are members of a squadron headed by Sqdn. Ldr. Lloyd Chadburn, of Aurora, Out.

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CANADIAN FLYERS RELENTLESSLY
SEEK OUT TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVES
"Train-Busting" Raids Get Tougher as Enemy
Now Carries Flak Guns on Cars behind Engines

(Written for The Canadian Press by PO. Bob Francis)
London, March 19, 1943 — Striking proof that air attacks on trains and other transportation facilities in German-occupied France are playing havoc with the enemy's movement of troops and war materials is shown in their recent action in placing anti-aircraft or machine-gun posts on the trains themselves.

Increasing Opposition
Fighter pilots returning from low-level attacks on trains and other objectives inside the French coast report increasing opposition from gun posts set up on open cars and drawn by the very locomotive they are attacking.
When "train-busting" was originated, the enemy was taken by surprise. Few if any trains sported protective facilities.
Under those circumstances, fighter pilots often could make a second attack on an engine if their first sweep had not put it out of action.
They found as a rule, however, that one ground-level attack on an engine, involving several seconds of shattering fire from two cannon and four machine-guns, was enough to do the job. Scores of railway engines were put out of action in this manner, seriously hampering the movement facilities throughout the area in which the operations were carried out.

Strike Fast
Pilots of a Canadian fighter wing, flying Spitfire fighters, have a big role in these widespread operations, striking fast and accurately and keeping the enemy constantly on edge. The Canadians combine their sorties against trains with quick jabs at gunposts, barges, army camps, "flak" towers and army road transports.
Flying sometimes singly, sometimes in formation, Canadians in their Spits go in at a selected point over the French coast, seek out railway lines, watching for the telltale plume of white smoke which tells them where there is a locomotive, and go down almost to ground level to attack at tremendous speed.
From the front or side, depending on such factors as the height of the track and the position of buildings and trees adjacent to the engine, the pilot guides his aircraft towards the train.
Then he presses the trigger button and a stream of steel and lead, some explosive, some armor piercing, pours from the six weapons in his wings.
The cumulative effect of a few seconds of such fire smashing into the belly of the engine will often tear out enough machinery and piping to put the machine out of service for several months, if not for good.

Claim Damage Only
But — as in the case of aircraft which they have attacked — pilots are careful about their claims when they return to base and talk over their "do" with the intelligence officer. A claim of having damaged an engine, rather than having destroyed it, is the usual routine after a "train-busting" foray, since a close look to determine the exact condition of the engine is impossible.
One Canadian pilot particularly, PO. L. W. (Pipsqueak) Powell, of Edmonton, who recently was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exploits, has made a name for himself as an exponent on the art of "train-busting."
In a score of low-flying sorties over France he has attacked and damaged many railway engines, as well as numerous gun posts, army lorries and other objectives.
Often he has been shot at — by coastal gun posts as he reached the other side of the Channel, by ground defences as he sought out targets, and by "flak" cars on the trains themselves. He’s come back with bullets in his plane.
Many other Canadians have taken part in the raids, which have come to require more and more skill and care. With guns placed on many trains operating in the area where the attacks are made, pilots have had their difficulties increased but have, nevertheless, continued to exact their toll.
Co-operation between pilots in the single-seater fighters has been the answer to a part of the problem, with engine and gun post attacked simultaneously.
This technique was demonstrated recently during an attack carried out on a number of trains.
As one pilot, Flight-Lieut. R. A. Buckham, of Vancouver, went in on a train, a "flak" post on a car some distance behind the engine prepared to fire on him.
Buckham's squadron leader, F. H. Boulton, of Coleman, Alta., whipped his plane into position several hundred yards from the train and poured a long burst into the gun and its crew, wiping it out as his flight commander took care of the engine.
That is how Canadians are dealing, with enemy transport, relentlessly seeking it out, banging it where they find it, and going on for more.

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R.C.A.F. BLASTS ESSEN PLANTS, DOWN JERRIES
Toronto Fliers Win Many Dogfights While Bombers on Way Home

London, April 4, 1943 - (AP) - Tons of explosives dropped by Canadian airmen blasted the mammoth Krupp armament works Saturday night as the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. proceeded methodically with their plan to wipe out the factories which cover hundreds of acres around Essen and supply the Axis with much vital equipment.
Forming a part of the large force attacking the great German industrial city were three R.C.A.F. Halifax squadrons as well as scores of Canadians in the R.A.F. who fly in such giants as Lancasters. Of 21 bombers lost, five were from the Canadian bomber group.
Saturday night's action by the R.C.A.F, followed afternoon sweeps over Nazi-held France in which a Canadian Spitfire wing destroyed five German fighters and damaged and probably destroyed others. The action, one of the most successful in weeks for the R.C.A.F. pilots, came when the wing supported fighter-bombers on an attack on Abbeville, on the French coast. One Spitfire was lost.
The Canadian squadrons on the Essen raid were led by Wing Commanders W. D. Ferris of Edmonton, A. C. P. Clayton, Vancouver, and M. M. Flemming, Ottawa. Antiaircraft fire and searchlights were plentiful, but only a few Canadians reported sighting night fighters.
Confident, that further extensive damage was inflicted in the 54th raid on Essen, the Canadian airmen told of one particularly large explosion, concentrated fires extending over a large area and dense columns of smoke.
Sgt. A. S. Sutton of 176 Erskine Ave., Toronto, reported a tremendous blast in the heart of the target area and Sgt. T.W. Dimma of Ottawa added facetiously that "I expect Krupps have a lot of stuff that might go off."
"There were two smaller explosions and then right beside them a big one," Sutton said. "Flame poured up and then mushroomed and stayed there in an orange blaze for at least 10 seconds."
Sgt. B. D. Kirkham of Saltcoats, Sask., reported smoke poured up in such great, thick clouds that the fires were blotted out. Twenty-five miles from the target all he could see was the reflected glow.
Pieces of flak glanced off the shoulders of PO. Arnold Rollings of Allenford, Ont., a veteran Canadian bushpilot who was navigator of a Lancaster. Rollings was unhurt.
A motor of the big aircraft cutout over the target and the English pilot dived 11,000 feet toward the searchlights while gunners poured bullets at the lights. Eight flicked out as the bomber swooped to within 400 yards of the ground.
Sgt. Duncan McMillan of Landis, Sask., was a mighty tired airman when he reached base. The elevator trimmers of his aircraft froze en route to Essen and it was a great physical effort to control the bomber. However, it went on to bomb the target although it was unable to weave as searchlights scoured the sky.
Flt. Sgt. Johnny Carrere of Cochrane, celebrated his commissioning – word of which reached him just before the take-off - by bombing Essen.
Other Canadians on the raid included Sgt. C.E. Willis, Peterborough, Ont., and Ken Emmons, Elgin, Ont., whose wife lives at 244 Rushholme Road, Toronto. Also in the big attack were Flt. Sgt. Harold Huether of Kitchener, PO. Bill Hilton, Brantford, and Ross Webb of Glenavon, Sask.
In Saturday afternoon's impressive sweep by the Canadian fighters, four Canadians and their English wing commander each shot down a Focke-Wulf 190, a Toronto sharpshooter damaged another and two British Columbia youths shared a probable. The five pilots who each added a Nazi plane to his total were Sqdn. Ldr. S.L. Ford, D.F.C. and Bar, of Liverpool, N.S.; Flt. Lt. C. M. Magwood of 414 Dovercourt Road, Toronto; FO. H. D. MacDonald of 30 Craydon Avenue, Toronto; Sqdn. Ldr. S. H. Boulton of Coleman, Alta., and Wing Cmdr. J. E. Johnson, D.F.C. and Bar, an Englishman.
FO. J. A. Rae of Toronto damaged one and Flt. Lt. R. A. Buckham of Vancouver and FO. N. A. Keene of White Rock, B.C., shared a probable. Keene was last in the news when he scored hits on a German fighter over France Feb 16.
Johnson said the wing pounced on about 20 enemy fighters which came up after bombs had been dropped on objectives at Abbeville

Jerries Fell in Pieces
"They were about 3,000 feet below us and I think we took them by surprise," he said. "There were a good many combats at about 24,000 feet."
Magwood's victory was the most spectacular. His victim blew up in the air.
"I started firing at about 150 yards,"Magwood said. "The blast lifted my kite with quite a bump." Ford said his victim turned over when shells and bullets struck, then went into a dive with smoke pouring out. Several other squadron pilots reported seeing it in flames at a low level.
MacDonald roared in with guns blazing and saw a wheel of a FW-190 come down, then the cockpit cover blew off and the Nazi pilot bail out.
Boulton attacked a fighter from underneath and observed strikes that blew off pieces from the enemy aircraft.
"The bullets seemed to go into the body of the plane and then I should think into the cockpit and the engine because he started to give out smoke," Boulton said. "Then the enemy machine tipped forward on its nose and went straight down." Both firing, Keene and Buckham attacked their victim from the rear. "We could see chunks flying from the hood and side of the cockpit and he started to go down with smoke coming out," Keene said.
Rae poured a long burst into an enemy fighter from an angle and observed many hits, but "there was another Hun circling, so I did not stop to see what happened."

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British and Canadian Fliers Sweep France, Netherlands

London, May 3, 1943 - (AP) - The R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. made two extensive sweeps over Northern France and Holland today at a cost of 11 bombers and two fighters missing, the heaviest loss in recent daylight raids.
Among the targets attacked was the power station at Ijmuiden, Holland, on which bombs were seen to burst, an Air Ministry communiqué said tonight.
The attack force encountered enemy fighters in considerable numbers. Five were shot down, two by Sqdn. Ldr. F. H. Boulton of Coleman, Alt and Flt. Lt. R. A. Buckham of Vancouver, B.C., members of the R.C.A.F. "City of Oshawa" squadron.
It was the second raid in two days on Ijmuiden, a Netherlands coastal city
Today's heavy loss of aircraft, coupled with other recent announced losses, indicated a tightening of Nazi defenses against both night and day air raids.
R.A.F. fighters and bombers shot their way through strong fighter opposition in raiding Ijmuiden yesterday; knocking down six enemy craft, but lost four of their own fighters. Seven American bombers were lost Saturday night in an attack in force on the Nazi submarine base at St. Nazaire, France.
Thirteen British planes were reported missing after the R.A.F. assault on Essen Friday night.
A 19-year-old R.A.F. pilot who shot down two of three FW190's destroyed in the Ijmuiden raid said: "The Huns pounced on us from behind in great numbers and made for both fighters and bombers. There was fierce scrapping."

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BUCKHAM, F/L Robert Andrew (J15246) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.416 Squadron
Award effective 25 May 1943 as per London Gazette dated 4 June 1943 and
AFRO 1187/43 dated 25 June 1943.

This officer has taken part in a large number of sorties and has proved himself to be a fine fighter and a first class leader. He has destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged five locomotives.

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BUCKHAM, F/L Robert Andrew, DFC (J15246) - DFC (US) - No.416 Squadron
Award effective 17 July 1943 as per London Gazette dated 20 July 1943 and
AFRO 644/44 dated 24 March 1944.
Public Records Office Air 2/ 9599 has USAAF 8th Air Force General Order No.104
dated 16 July 1943 which gives citation.

For extraordinary achievement while escorting bombers of the United States Army Air Force on seven bombing raids over enemy occupied Europe. Flight Lieutenant Buckham has fervently sought out the enemy on each occasion and has destroyed three enemy airplanes in aerial combat. The courage and skilful airmanship displayed by Flight Lieutenant Buckham on all these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of His Majesty's government.

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Beurling Fights Again, Bags Nazi Over France

London, Sept. 24, 1943 - (CP) - Canadian flying aces in some of the most productive aerial fighting since the days of the Battle of Britain three years ago destroyed five enemy fighters today in widespread actions over France.
FO. George (Buzz) Beurling of Verdun, Que., marked his long-sought return to action by shooting down a Focke-Wulf 190 to raise his score of enemy planes to 30.
Maintaining the blistering pace set by R.C.A.F. night Mosquito fliers, the Canadian pilots knocked out of the sky 5 of the 20 enemy planes downed by Fighter Command during the day.
Three of four German fighters shot down Thursday night were victims of Canadian airmen. Flt. Lt. M. W. Beveridge of Montreal destroyed two and FO. J.R.F. Johnson of Omemee, Ont., got one.
Flying with the Wolf Squadron under Sqdn. Ldr. Norman Fowlow of Windsor, N.S., Beurling saw the FW-190 above him. He circled and tore off the enemy's port wing with a single burst.
Wing Cmdr. L. V. Chadburn of Aurora, Ont., and Flt. Lt. J.D. Mitchner of Saskatoon shared one of the day's bag. The others fell to Wing Cmdr. Hugh Godefroy of Toronto, who has just taken over command of a Canadian fighter wing; Flt. T. Robert Buckham of Vancouver, leader of the Red Indian Squadron, and Wing. Cmdr. E.F.J. Charles of Vancouver, who flies with the R.A.F.
Buckham, who also was credited with damaging one plane, blew an FW190 to bits after chasing it from 20,000 feet almost to the ground. It was his second victory in five days.
In one of the sweeps by Godefroy's squadron - he was squadron leader of the Wolf Squadron before his new appointment - PO. William F. Cook of Clinton, Ont., dived his Spitfire to low level to put out of service a French freight engine, although flak from the train broke part of one wing.
Beurling had been yearning to get back into combat flying, ever since he was stationed in Malta, where he ran his score of enemy planes downed from two to 29.
He transferred from the R.A.F. to the R.C.A.F. on Sept 1 to "get back into the air." He had been assigned to an instructor's job in an R.A.F. gunner school after his return to Britain from a leave in Canada.

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BAG 3 NAZIS, 5 LOCOMOTIVES

London, Oct. 24, 1943 - (CP) - R.C.A.F. Spitfire and Mustang squadrons today destroyed at least three Nazi fighters and one reconnaissance aircraft during a busy day escorting bombers, patrolling and sweeping Northern France. Five locomotives were shot up and a number of aircraft were damaged with the loss of one Spitfire.
Sqdn. Ldr. G. W. Northcott of Minnedosa, Man., shot down a Focke-Wulf fighter while his Spitfire squadron was escorting United States medium bombers attacking an air base at Montdidier, France.
FO. J. D. Browne of Forham Park, N.J., flying in a Spitfire wing commanded by Wing Cmdr. Hugh Godefroy of Toronto, destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 and damaged another during a sweep over France. Other members of the wing damaged at least two more.
PO. Gordon Driver, 14 Willowbank Blvd., Toronto, damaged a Focke-Wulf 190 during a melee in which the Canadians were outnumbered nearly 4 - 1. Sqdn. Ldr. Charles Magwood of Toronto, leader of the Red Indian Squadron, also damaged a Focke-Wulf.
From this scrap Sqdn. Ldr. Robert A. Buckham of Vancouver, leader of the Wolf Squadron, returned home with a damaged motor that had been holed by a cannon shell.
Details of other successes were not immediately available.

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R.C.A.F.'S BAG DURING WEEK INCLUDES SUB

Ottawa, Dec. 17, 1943 (CP). — Mosquito pilots of the, R.C.A.F. overseas destroyed one Heinkel 111 and damaged another during the last week, while the two-man crew of another Mosquito shot down three of four bombers destroyed over England last Friday and a Coastal Command Flying Fortress, whose second pilot was a Canadian, sank a U-boat after two depth-charge attacks.
In addition, the R.C.A.F. said in a summary of overseas operations tonight, Spitfire squadrons of the RCAF were active last Monday carrying out sweeps in support of United States Flying Fortresses and Liberators hammering targets in Northwest Germany. Two squadrons later escorted Marauders of the United States Army Air Force in an attack on Schipol airfield in Amsterdam.
Last Tuesday PO. C.B. Witt of Morden, Man., shared in the victory of a Coastal Command Beaufighter squadron off the coast of Norway. Two Beaufighters were patrolling when they saw a Dornier three-engined, long-range flying boat ahead. They immediately attacked it and set it on fire.
Crew of the Fighter Command Mosquito which destroyed three bombers last Friday was FO. R.D. Schultz of Bashaw, Alta., and FO. Vernon Williams of Hamilton, the plane's pilot and navigator respectively.
They took off to intercept enemy bombers attacking England and shot down a Dornier 217, blowing it up in mid-air. They then encountered and destroyed another DO 217; accounting for their third victim after their own aircraft had been damaged and was flying on only one engine.
New Base Effective
The Coastal Command plane which sank the U-boat was captained by an Englishman. The submarine was the first victim to fall to a squadron operating from newly acquired bases in the Azores.
FO. D. Thompson of Westmount, Que., second pilot, described the second attack against the U-boat as "a beautiful straddle."
The Heinkel 111 shot down Sunday was destroyed by Flt. Lt. Robert Kipp of Kamloops, B.C. The second Heinkel was severely damaged by FO. J. Johnson of Omemee. Kipp's navigator was FO. Pete Huletsky of Montreal and Johnson's was FO. J. Gibbons of Vancouver. The combat occurred in daylight over France.
Squadrons commanded by Sqdn. Ldr. E.L. (Jeep) Neal, D.F.C., of Quebec; Sqdn. Ldr. I. G. Ormston, D.F.C., of Montreal; Sqdn. Ldr. George C. Keefer, D.F.C., of Charlottetown; Sqdn. Ldr. R. A. Buckham, D.F.C. (United States), and Sqdn. Ldr. G. M. Magwood, D.F.C., of Toronto carried out sweeps on Monday.
In close escort of United States heavy bombers were squadrons commanded by Sqdn. Ldr. G.W. Northcott, D.F.C., of Minnedosa, Man., and Sqdn. Ldr. F.E. Green, D.F.C, of Toronto.
The squadrons commanded by Buckham and Northcott escorted the American marauders in their attack on Schipol airfield.

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November 1943 - Buck McNair, Bobby Buckham & Hugh Godefroy at Buckinham Palace

Canadian Heroes Honored By King

London, Dec. 20, 1943 — Leaders of two Canadian fighter wings grounded their Spitfires long enough to visit London and receive bars to their DFC's from the King at Buckingham Palace.
They were Wing Cmdrs. R.W. McNair, of North Battleford, Sask., who now holds the equivalent of three D.F.Cs and has destroyed 16 enemy aircraft, and Hugh Godefroy, of Toronto. Also present to have the D.F.C. pinned on his chest and a chat with His Majesty was Sqdn. Ldr. Robert Buckham, of Vancouver, leader of the Canadian Wolfe squadron which flies with Godefroy's wing.

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CITY OF CALGARY ADOPTS VALIANT "WOLF" SQUADRON

London.—(By Mail)—The "Wolf" squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which has just been formally adopted by the City of Calgary, is the top-scoring fighter squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. During 1943 it out-topped all other Spitfire squadrons in Fighter Command with the exception of one Norwegian unit.
The "Wolves," now commanded by Squadron Leader R.A. Buckham of Vancouver, fly with an R.C.A.F. wing commanded by Wing Commander Hugh Godefroy, D.F.C. and bar, of Toronto, who is himself a former Wolf squadron commander. The squadron was the first of a series of winning units to be formed overseas from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and began operations in the early summer of 1941. Its first big victory was on August 19, 1941—one year to the day before the Dieppe battle — when its pilots destroyed four enemy aircraft. On September 27, the same year, it destroyed another three.
When the 1942 "sweeping season" opened, the squadron looked forward to a successful summer, but for several months tragedy stalked it. The English squadron commander went down during a sweep, and two flight commanders were lost at about the same time. A fine job of rebuilding the squadron's spirit and fighting abilities was done by a young New Zealand hero of the Battle of Britain, Squadron Leader A.C. Deere, D.F.C. and bar, whose personal score at the time stood at I8 enemy aircraft destroyed.
Deere worked hard training his pilots but, just as he had got them into first-class fighting trim again, another tragedy overtook them. One morning, during a sweep across the Channel, the squadron was attacked by a greatly superior force of Focke-Wulfs which outnumbered them four to one. Five Spitfires were shot down, and although it was learned some time later that the majority of the pilots concerned were alive and prisoners of war, the squadron was moved to a quiet area where it stayed for some time.
In the Dieppe engagements, on August 19, 1942, it came into its own again. By this time, it was led by a brilliant Nova Scotian, Squadron Leader Leslie Sydney Ford, of Liverpool, who had won the D.F.C. for, among other things, sinking an enemy destroyer while flying Hurri-bombers. Ford led his men over Dieppe, and between them they destroyed six enemy aircraft, of which Ford got two — winning a bar to his D.F.C. A few months later the squadron became part of an R.C.A.F. fighter wing, and during 1943, flying under the leadership of Ford and other commanders who succeeded him, destroyed 59 enemy aircraft.
Ford was eventually promoted to wing commander and given command of another Spitfire wing of the R.C.A.F. Shortly afterwards he was shot down and posted missing during a low-level attack on enemy E-boats in the North Sea. But, in the meanwhile, his squadron had continued in the fine tradition which he had set. It was led successively by Squadron Leader Charles Magwood, D.F.C., Squadron Leader H. C. Godefroy, D.F.C., both of Toronto, and Squadron Leader R. A. Buckham, of Vancouver,
In two days in April, 1943, it destroyed eight enemy aircraft — its best two days of the year — and, month by month, continued to pile up its score. Today, proud of the fact that the City of Calgary has adopted it, it is still in the front line.
The idea for the adoption originated with a young Calgary pilot, Flying Officer W. H. Pentland, who is at this moment in hospital recovering from serious injuries received in a crash during an operational flight.

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RCAF Shoots Down 26 Enemy Planes
in Normandy Between Dawn and Dusk

By P.O. H. R. McDONALD, A Canadian Airfield in France,
June 29, 1944 - (CP). - Canadian fighter planes, in one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the R.C.A.F., shot down 26 out of a total of 34 enemy aircraft destroyed over the Normandy front between dawn and dusk yesterday.
In addition, R.C.A.F. pilots chalked up a number of enemy planes probab1y shot down and a number bf others which were damaged.
Four pilots scored double kills. They were Wing Cmdr. J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, English – born commander of a Canadian fighter wing operating from an R.C.A.F. base in Normandy, and Flt, Lts. H.C. Trainor, Charlottetown; W. T. Klersy, 14 Harcroft Rd., Toronto, and R. K. Hayward. St. John's, Nfld.
Destroys Two, Damages Third
Hayward destroyed two FW-190's and damaged a third, which gave him the highest R.C.A.F. individual score of the day.
Earlier reports indicated the Canadian airmen had downed 18 enemy planes in yesterday's daylight operations.
The complete figures were reached by intelligence officers today after a period of aerial operations which exceeded in intensity anything since the Allied Normandy beachhead was opened June 6.
Besides the toll of enemy planes, which included all fighter types, R.C.A.F. pilots also strafed transport on the roads.
Final claims on two aircraft are being sifted
Among the R.C.A.F. Spitfire pilots contributing to the total with one Hun each were: Flt. Lts. Irving Kennedy, Cumberland, Ont.; G.R. Patterson, Kelowna, B.C.; J. McElroy, Kamloops, B.C.; Henry Zary, New York; R.M. Stayner, Saskatoon; A. F. Halcrow, Penticton, B.C.; G.W. Johnson, 102 Beechwood Ave., Hamilton, Ont.; D.E. Noonan, 146 Willingdon Ave., Kingston, Ont.; J.P. Rainville, Montreal; and Flying Officers W.J. Banks, Leaside, Ont. and G.H. Farquharson, Corbyville, Ont.
Wing Cmdr. Johnson's score of two brought his total of enemy planes downed to 32, equaling the mark set by Group Capt. A.G. (Sailor) Malan, a South African, now on ground duty.
Among the R.C.A.F. fliers scoring probables were FO. A.C. Brandon, Timmins, Ont.; FO. J.B. O'Sullivan, Vancouver; and PO. J.M. Flood, Hearst, Ont.
Nine Others Damaged
At least nine others wire damaged by fliers of the R.C.A.F.
Of the wings comprising Group Capt, W. (Bill) MacBrien's R.C.AF.. sector, the one led by 22-year-old Wing Cmdr, George Keefer, D.F.C. and Bar, Charlottetown, was high scorer of the day with 13 confirmed victories. Johnson's wing was second with seven, in a close race with a unit led by Wing Cmdr. R.A. Buckham, Vancouver.
The margin for Keefer's wing was established in two dusk operations in which seven enemy planes were destroyed and two damaged. In the first action Hayward sighted more than 25 Nazi fighters and led his formation in pursuit. He damaged one.
Later the same Spitfires became embroiled with a dozen FW-190's, and Hayward got two of them. The first fell out of control, and the second burst into flames and crashed after Hayward had followed it down to tree-top height.
"The Huns were like bees,” said WO. Murray Havers, 1 Lloyd St., Hamilton. Ont. "They seemed confused and acted as though they did not know what they were doing."
The Canadian airmen said the Germans did not put up much of a fight despite their numerical advantage.
Other Canadians credited with kills during the day were FO. G.R. Stephen, Montreal; FO. Larry Robillard, Ottawa; FO. W.A. Gilbert, Dartmouth, N.S.; FO. Don Goodwin, Maynooth, Ont.; and FO. Tommy Wheler, 10 Beauford Rd., Toronto.

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ALL-CANUCK FIGHTER WINGS IN BATTLE FOR BEST SCORES

Competition So Intense Airmen Beg For Another Crack at Enemy
London, July 12.—(CP Cable)—-Competition among all-Canadian fighter wings operating from Normandy in support of the Allied invasion reached such a pitch by to-day that pilots are plaguing operations officers to have one more show "laid on" so they can top the score of German planes downed by rival wings.
Excellent Record
A summary of the operations of one Normandy-based fighter wing during four weeks of the invasion period shows that 170 Nazi aircraft have been shot out of the skies. This summary covers the period up to Monday, since when poor weather in the bridgehead area has reduced tactical flights to a minimum.
Since D-day Wing-Cmdr, J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, who holds the D.S.O. and two bars, the D.F.C, and bar, and the American D.F.C., has skyrocketed to new fame as Britain's leading ace with a score of 35 German aircraft downed. Johnson, native of Nottingham, England, now heads a Canadian fighter wing.
Downs 35th Victim
He downed his 35th enemy victim June 30 to top the record of 33 set up by Group Capt. A. G. (Sailor) Malan, from South Africa, who now is on ground duty. At the same time Johnson's wing went on to win a bet made with the late Wing-Cmdr, Lloyd V. Chadburn, of Aurora, Ont., holder of the D.S.O. and bar and the D.F.C., six weeks before D-day.
The two wing-commanders wagered that their respective wings would outscore the other during the month after the invasion was launched. After Chadburn lost his life over France in the early days of the invasion, the wager was taken over by Squadron-Ldr. Walter Conrad, D.F.C. of Richmond, Ont., of the Red Indian Squadron.
Until Johnson's wing scored seven victories in one operation July 5 Chadburn's wing, now led by Wing-Cmdr. R. A. Buckham, D.F.C., of Vancouver, was only two behind. The latest available accounting showed Johnson's wing is in the lead 47 to 40.
Others in Race
Meanwhile however, another Canadian-led wing under Wing-Cmdr. George Keefer, of Charlottetown, although not included in the wager, is just as interested in finishing at the top and in the last reckoning was tied with Johnson's wing with 47 enemy planes destroyed.
Furthermore, Keefer's pilots claimed 23 enemy aircraft damaged against 11 by Johnson's wing. Flt.-Lieut. Charlie Trainor of Charlottetown, who until June 28 was scoreless, entered the ace class by being credited with 7½ victories in the subsequent seven days. This was half a point more than Johnson achieved during the first month of the invasion.
Other Canadian airmen who have achieved notable scores during that period are: Flt.-Lieut Doug Lindsay, Arnprior, Ont., four; Squadron-Ldr. H. W. (Wally) McLeod, D.F.C. and bar, Regina, four; Flt.-Lieut. W. T. (Bill) Klersy, Toronto, four; Flt.-Lieut. Paul Johnson, Bethel, Conn., four.
Typhoons Prominent
These scores brought Lindsay's total kills to six, MacLeod's to 19, Klersy's to five and Johnson's to five also. McLeod became Canada's leading operational pilot with his score of 19.
The Normandy-based Empire fighter plane group to which these Canadian wings are attached is commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Henry Broadhurst, of the R.A.F. Total of 12,000 sorties were flown by British and Canadian members of Air Vice-Marshal Broadhurst's group during the four weeks following D-day.
An all-Canadian Typhoon wing in the sector, commanded by Wing-Cmdr. Paul Davoud, D.S.O., D.F.C., of Kingston, Ont., has achieved a high degree of precision in dive-bombing since assigned to this role in Normandy.
More than 8,000 rockets have been projected by R.A.F. Typhoons from close range at enemy targets within the battle area.

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FOURTEEN FLYERS ARE DECORATED

Ottawa, August 11, 1944 - Air Force headquarters announced last night award of a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross to two members of the RCAF serving overseas. The awards:

BAR TO DISTINGUISHED FLYNG CROSS
S/L W. A. CONRAD, Richmond, Ont.
S/L R. A. BUCKHAM, Vancouver.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
F/L J. C. VAN NES, Saskatoon.
F/L E. W. FOCKLER, Vancouver.
F/L T. B. WINSLOW, St. Agathe, Que.
F/L F. J. SHERLOCK, Calgary.
F/L J. E. PRITCHARD, Middleton, Wis.
F/L A. T. CARLSON, Calgary.
F/L O. M. LINTON, 08 York Mills Rd., Toronto.
F/L V. J. FAUROT, Niagara Falls, .Ont.
F/L D. H. DOVER, 83 Buttonwood Ave., Mount Dennis, Ont.
F/O H. B. DATE, Woodrow Beach, Sarnia.
F/O F. S. SORGE, Pincher Creek, Alta,
F/O N. C. HOWE, 68 Charles St, E., Toronto.

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BUCKHAM, S/L Robert Andrew, DFC (J15246) - Bar to DFC - No.403 Squadron
Award effective 8 August 1944 as per London Gazette dated 11 August 1944 and
AFRO 2101/44 dated 29 September 1944.

During May 1943, this officer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Since then he has flown on a great number of sorties and on many occasions has successfully led his wing, sometimes under very adverse weather conditions. He is a fearless leader and set an inspiring example to those serving under him.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9633 has recommendation drafted about 28 March 1944 when he had flown 167 sorties (327 operational hours), of which 83 sorties (141 hours) had been since his previous award. The text is more detailed than that published.

Since the citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to this officer on May 24th, 1943, he has flown a further 142 hours on operations involving 83 offensive sorties. The types of operations comprise Ramrods, Rodeos, Circus' and Rangers. He has destroyed a further two aircraft and damaged one bringing his total personal score to 6½ destroyed, two probable and two damaged.

He is an outstanding fighter leader who is an inspiration to those serving under him. Absolutely fearless personally, he combines this quality with innate good judgement in the air. He has led the Wing on many occasions, always successfully and sometimes under very adverse weather conditions.

This was favourably endorsed by his Wing Commander (Flying) on 30 March 1944, by an Air Vice-Marshal (appointment not stated) on 11 April 1944, by the Air Officer Commanding, 2nd Tactical Air Force (Air Marshal Coningham) on 24 April 1944, and by the Air Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force (Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory) on 28 May 1944.

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Airmen With Invasion Honors Among 200 From Overseas

Ottawa, Aug. 13, 1944 (CP)—More than 200 Canadian airmen, many of them with decorations earned in action over the Normandy bridgehead climbed today from a repatriation train here to renew acquaintance with a homeland many of them had not seen for as long as three years. Among the repatriates was FO. W. A. Bishop Jr., son of Air Marshal W. A. (Billy) Bishop, Director of recruiting for the R.C.A.F., who was met by his father. Another was Wing Cmdr. G. C. Keefer, D.F.C. and Bar, of Charlottetown, back after two completed tours of operations.
Others returning included Wing Cmdr. J. W. Reid, Kingston, and Flt. J. L. McCauly, D.F.C., Toronto; Sqdn. Ldrs. R. A. Buckham of Mission City, B.C., and Howard Cleveland, D.F.C., of Vancouver, who both ran up impressive scores of enemy aircraft destroyed.
Buckham has a record of six and one-half planes destroyed, two "probables" and two damaged. Cleveland claimed nine destroyed and one damaged in a single tour of operations.
The returning fliers, all happy to be back, plowed hungrily into the ice cream and soft drink offerings of Canadian Legion representatives who met them at the station.
In the group were Sqdn. Ldr. G.W. Conrad, Richmond, and Flt. Lt A. J. Van Rassell, Timmins.

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