John William "Jack" Neil

_________________________________________________

I recieved this email the other day -

"I'm French, from Paris to be precise, and a couple of days ago, whilst speaking with my grandfather, he told me about this particular story of WW2. He was in Senlis (a French town near Paris) on the 23rd of August 1944, while riding a bicycle, he saw a spitfire put down - by probably a flak canon - and the two pilots ejected from the plane, right in front of him. (I suspect there were 2 Spits involved -ed)

They were both carrying parachutes, but the French milice were there before they could land and shot at them like birds. One of them was killed, the other managed to land without getting hurt. The French milice then disappeared before the Werhmacht arrived (another act of zeal those milice bastards used to do...). Using a "Traction avant Citroên", my grandfather helped the surviving pilot who told him everything about his squadron, plane, name, and so on. But before he could be hidden, the Werhmacht came and made him a POW. He was released later happily safe and sound.

At that time, it was nearly impossible to find a contact, an address of a person whom you only knew the name. But I told him I may find that pilot’s address now, or his children's maybe, in order to also find the second pilot who's been shot dead.

So I've gathered everything my grandfather could tell me and I found that particular pilot on your website : John William Neil.

Everything he told me was in that page, the 421st squadron, the place he was put down, etc.

I'm now looking for a way to find that great man's details : my grandfather, getting old, really wants to write this pilot’s and the other one's families and tell them this story, as he's the last witness. The only thing he knows about the second pilot is that his name was Taylor.

Any help would be bloody amazing, and very much appreciated !"

update - "Taylor" has just been identified as Glen Whitcomb Taylor : click

And, the family of Mr. Neil has been in contact. Thanks for the picture !!

_________________________________________________

NANAIMO FLYER IN 700 SORTIES
20 TO 2 ODDS ALL IN DAY'S WORK
West Van Pilot Fought In England, France, Ceylon and Egypt

LONDON, Sept. 16, 1942 — Stories of feats by Canadians trickle into London from far-flung air fronts of the war. These came from the Middle East where there are at least 2000 airmen from the Dominion scattered in almost every fighter or bomber squadron in operation.
F/S J. Neil has taken on some heavy odds in air battles in the Middle East and he's still fit and ready for more, after more than 700 sorties. Even 10-to-1 odds haven't deterred this young Nanaimo fighter pilot.

SHOT DOWN THREE
"I won't forget my first meet-up with the enemy in the Middle East," he related. "We really ran into a hornet's nest. Two of us were on patrol when we ran into a big formation — 16 Stukas and four ME109's. It was rough and tumble while it lasted, but we got three confirmed destroyed, plus four damaged.
"They were heading for Tobruk with bombs. We were above them and came roaring down to attack, spraying them with machine guns. They broke up, jettisoned their bombs and set for home. It was the best scare of my life — quite a picnic."
Neil, who has been shot down twice, once blasted a Heinkel 126 and two other aircraft on the ground, and since January has destroyed in air combat a JU87 and an ME109 and has as well a probable ME109F to his credit and an Italian Macchi 202.

THREE FRONTS
F/S Donald C. Gordon, 22-year-old fighter pilot from West Vancouver, has fought on three widely separated fronts, England and France, Ceylon and the Middle East.
His first operational work was with a Spitfire squadron in England and he took part in many sweeps over France before heading for a destination he was never to reach—Singapore. That fortress fell before he got there.
"I was in Ceylon in time to take part in the great sky battle on Easter Sunday," said Gordon, recalling the Japanese mass air attack on Colombo which was turned back with heavy loss.
"The Japs bombed the 'drome as we took off, but I was away and managed to gain my height and head for the harbor. I noticed a Jap naval on the tail of a pal of mine. I immediately jumped him, fired a few rounds and he blew up in mid-air."
It was his second victory of the war. Previously he had destroyed an ME109 over France.
Afterwards he was posted to the Middle East and had been with his squadron only a short time before he came to grips with an ME109F on the tail of F/S T. B. Hamilton of Winnipeg. He sent the Jerry crashing to earth. A week later, he damaged a Macchi 202.

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

NEIL, F/O John William (J16638) - Mention in Despatches - No.71 OTU
Award effective 14 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 874/44 dated 21 April 1944.

_________________________________________________

Casualty List

Ottawa, Nov. 10, 1944 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 1,037 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing next of kin of those named from Ontario (in part) : Reported Prisoner of War (Germany)

_________________________________________________

Weston Airman On Honors List

Ottawa, Feb. 1, 1945 - (CP) - Air Force Headquarters announced tonight the award of two Distinguished Flying Crosses and one Distinguished Flying Medal to members of the RCAF overseas. The recipients:

_________________________________________________

NEIL, F/O John William (J16638) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.421 Sq. (now POW)
Award effective 2 February 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 563/45 dated 29 March 1945.

This officer has completed many and varied sorties during which he has displayed commendable skill, courage and determination. He has displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and has destroyed five and damaged several more hostile aircraft; he has also most effectively attacked very many mechanical vehicles.

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

--- Canadian Aces ---

_______________________________________________