James Dean "Red" Somerville

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Canadian Fliers Down Hun Planes in France

London, Feb, 14 1944 - Canadian and Allied planes today continued the almost daily bombardment of Nazi installations in Northern France while R.A.F. Typhoons struck an enemy airfield and other military targets and United States fighter bombers raided the Gilze-Rijen airdrome in the Netherlands.
All the bombers and the American fighters returned without loss, but the R.A.F. lost four fighters in the day's operations.
The raid on the Nazi Northern France installations by R.A.F., R.C.A.F. and Allied Bostons, Mitchells and Mosquito bombers was the 42nd daylight pounding given them in 56 days. Spitfires provided the escort.
FO. R. K. Hayward of St. John's, Nfld., destroyed a Messerschmitt 210 today during a sweep by R.C.A.F. Spitfires over Northern France in support of Mosquito bombers. Hayward found the enemy close to the ground, dived and destroyed the plane with a short burst. "I saw two Germans jump out, but their parachutes did not open," Hayward said. Canadian planes made the sweeps without loss.
Canadians flying R.A.F. Mitchells said the bombing of the Pas-de-Calais area targets was deadly despite heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire. There was no fighter opposition. Flt. Sgt. Stew Weaver of Melfort, Sask., said he thought the squadron with which he flew "really did a job."
Vichy radio said 25,000 persons had been evacuated from the area to another department of France.
The Gilze-Rijen base is used by the Germans to launch interceptors against Allied fleets bound for Germany, a task for which Hitler is apparently saving his fighter force. It was the 15th blow in 18 days by the United States strategic air force, and the second attack in five days on Gilze-Rijen, last on Feb. 10.
British fighters bagged at least four German planes during offensive patrols off France and over Northern France, one falling to two Spitfires that chased the German around church spires and over rooftops.

Canadians Down Raiders
German planes poured a heavy rain of incendiary and explosive bombs on the London area and parts of Southeast England Sunday night, and Berlin claimed "several hundred Planes" made "another concentrated attack" on the center, of London., British officials estimated 80 planes came over, with 15 penetrating to the capital. Six were reported downed, two by R.C.A.F. Mosquitos, all of which returned safely to their bases.
One of the raiders was shot down by Sqdn. Ldr. J. D. Somerville of Parry Sound. His observer was FO. D.G. Robinson of Transcona, Man. The other fell to FO. Rayne Dennis Schultz of Bashaw, Alta., who has as observer Flt. Lt. V.A. Williams of 132 Cavell Ave., Hamilton, Ont. The Schultz-Williams victory was their fifth as a night fighter team. They destroyed a Junkers S8 after a six-minute battle. Their aircraft was riddled and the engine and gasoline tanks holed before the enemy craft plunged in flames to the sea.
Schultz said the enemy pilot "was evidently dead before the enemy machine started its final dive but the gunner poured withering fire into us."
"I could actually see the gunner swinging in his turret, firing at us." Williams added.
Schultz and Williams each received the D.F.C. last December after shooting down three aircraft in one night. They have been flying as a team for more than a year.

Downed One, Damaged Another
Somerville, who is 33, and his observer were on their first operational flight together. They sighted an enemy plane at 18,000 feet over the sea. After being severely hit, the enemy disintegrated in midair. Later, the pair damaged another enemy plane with a short burst of fire.
Another Canadian, WO. I. E. Nelson of North Battleford shared a destruction of a Messerschmitt 109 during a fighter sweep over France early today. The enemy plane was brought down jointly by Nelson and an English flight sergeant after a chase inland.
Two churches, a school and many houses in one thickly populated residential area were burned out in London as a result of the Nazi Incendiaries. An East Anglian town suffered what was termed probably its heaviest loss of the war. Stores, two hotels and a theatre were hit.

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GETS FIFTH HUN BOMBER IN FIGHT ABOVE ENGLAND

Flight-Lieut. V. A. Williams Adds to Score in Grim Duel With Enemy Raider
In an Associated Press story from London comes light on another thrilling incident in the already exciting and successful career of Flt.-Lieut V. A. Williams, D.F.C., 232 Cavell Avenue, Hamilton, who figured in the shooting down of one of six German planes downed over the London and south-east England area on Sunday night.
For more than a year the Hamilton man, who is an observer, has been with F.O. Rayne D. Schultz, of Bashaw, Alta., and this team has now five planes downed as a night fighter team.
Two of the German aircraft shot down Sunday night fell to R.C.A.F. Mosquito planes, one by F.O. Schultz and Flt.-Lieut Williams, and the other by Sqdn-Ldr. J. D. Somerville, of Parry Sound, Ont., and his observer, F.O. D. G. Robinson, Transcona, Man.
The victim of the Hamilton man and his pilot was a German Junkers-88 and was shot down in a grim six-minute battle which Schultz said later "seemed like an eternity."

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15 CANADIANS NAMED IN LIST FOR AIR HONORS

Ottawa, Oct. 19, 1944 (CP).—Air Force headquarters announced tonight 15 awards to members of the RCAF serving overseas, including one Distinguished Service Order, 11 Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Distinguished Flying Medals and one British Empire Medal, Ontario winners of the DSO and DFM are named in the following list of recipients:

DSO
Wing Cmdr. G. C. Keefer, DFC and Bar, Charlottetown.
DFC
Sqdn. Ldr. G. D. Robertson, 3 Lamport Ave., Toronto.
Sqdn. Ldr. J. D. Somerville, Parry Sound.
Flt. Lt. G. Johnson, 102 Beechwood Ave., Hamilton.
Flt. Lt. G. E. Mott, Sarnia.
FO. B. W. Prange, Kitchener.
PO. S. A. Simmons, Copper Cliff.
DFM
PO, H. W. Robinson, Fenelon Falls.
BEM (MILITARY DIVISION)
PO. E, S. Neill, 347 Campbell Ave., Windsor.

Wing Cmdr. Keefer received the DSO for outstanding work on operations since receiving his Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross. Under his leadership 40 aircraft have been destroyed, eight of which he accounted for personally.
PO. Neill received the British Empire Medal for "exceptional coolness and courage" while rescuing his comrades after their aircraft had crashed on landing and burst into flames. On the same occasion he rescued two women and two children trapped in a nearby house set on fire by the crash.

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SOMERVILLE, S/L James Dean (C1999) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.410 Sq.
Award effective 20 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944.

As pilot and observer respectively, these officers have completed very many sorties. They have displayed the highest standard of skill and determination, qualities which were well illustrated in their first (not really -ed) sortie when they destroyed a Junkers 88. Since then they have shot down another three enemy aircraft at night.

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SOMERVILLE, W/C James Dean, DFC (C1999) - DSO - No.409 Squadron
Award effective 16 March 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 625/45 dated 13 April 1945.

This officer has displayed outstanding efficiency, great courage and determination, qualities which have been well reflected in the fine fighting spirit of the squadron he commands. He has completed very many sorties and has destroyed seven enemy aircraft at night. He has set a fine example of loyal and devoted service.

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Photos:
PL-28994 (Robinson and Somerville),
PL-36168 (studio portrait, 1944) and 
PL-95232 (portrait, 1957).                

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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