25¢ a day

That's right, 25¢. That's how much Dad earned for each day of his 287 days of qualifying overseas service with the RCAF. That's a whopping $71.75. Add to this supplement another $397.50 earned for his total of 1609 days in the Air Force. This 26-year-old veteran returned to Canada with $509.87. (Actually, these staggering riches were paid out in five installments of $101.97 monthly.)

Dad labelled this photo "At home." No doubt that's No. 6 Repair Depot, RCAF Trenton, where Dad spent three and a half years.

Dad earned $7.50 for each period of 30 days with the RCAF, and an additional 25 cents per diem for overseas service.

Dad enlisted in the RCAF on April 25, 1941. His Statement of War Service Gratuity form allows us to calculate that he joined Squadron 426 in Linton-on-Ouse on or about March 18, 1945. The Thunderbirds flew their final bombing operation just weeks later, on April 25, only 13 days before VE (Victory in Europe) Day on May 8.

In Trenton, Dad did get the occasional day off to see the sights, like nearby Niagara Falls.

Dad rarely spoke of his wartime service (although he did tell Myrna that his RCAF barrack-mates were smelly). He admitted that the war was an honourable route off the farm. The training he received launched his successful career in aerospace. It was a natural fit for his mechanical, engineering mind. 

Like these fellows, Dad celebrated VE Day with a pint at the local pub in York. He later discovered his bicycle had been stolen, but that day he didn't really mind.

I recall being in Pilot Mound with Dad a few years ago, when they were holding a memorial service for local servicemen lost in the two wars. It was an annual event Dad recalled from his own school days. Veterans would march from the Legion Hall on Railway Street a block or two to the cairn in their memorial park.

Clare Geddes, standing straight and proud in his Legion blazer, urged Dad to join the procession. Dad resisted, and needed prodding, relenting only when Clare pleaded, "But you're one of the few who can still march!"

Dad with fellow RCAF veteran Clare Geddes and his wife Dorothy

I was surprised how shy and reluctant Dad was to join in. When I admired Clare's CVSM medal, he pointed out that Dad was eligible for this, too, and should contact Veterans Affairs if he didn't have one. Again, Dad was not inclined to do so.

Pilot Mound appreciates its veterans.

Dad's humility was not surprising, but I was prompted to learn more about his RCAF service. Luckily, he was a packrat, and the story can be gleaned from the papers he kept.

Most of Dad's war years were spent safely in Canada, and as an airframe mechanic overseas he never experienced the terror and danger his airborne squadron mates faced. Indeed, the war was over within weeks of his arrival at Linton-on-Ouse, and he spent the rest of 1945 waiting to return home.

July 1, 1945. Yorkminster choirboys pose with a touring Murray Fraser. Photo by Clare Geddes. 

Cpl. Fraser, R.101661, arrived back in Canada early in January, 1946. Before returning to civilian life, the RCAF gave its servicemen an exit interview of sorts, recorded on R.C.A.F. form  R307 H.Q.885-R-307, below:

Dad's post-service intentions were to attend university and pursue a career in aero engineering.

The War Service Badge 

Illegally wearing a Service Badge can earn you six months in jail.

Dad was issued the Canadian War Service Badge on February 7, 1946, when he was "honourably released and transferred to the Reserve, General Section, Class E." The badge was established in 1940 "for members of the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who have declared their willingness, or who have engaged, to serve in any of the said forces on active service beyond Canada and Overseas, and who have been honourably ceased to serve on active service."

Dad returned home on the RMS Mauretania. Not long after her maiden voyage in June 1939, the Cunard luxury liner was requisitioned by the British Government as a troop ship, and was armed and painted grey. During the war she travelled 540,000 miles and carried over 340,000 troops.

Dad's certification of active service notes that he was awarded the "C.V.S.M. & Clasp." This is the award Clare wore proudly and urged Dad to wear.

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was established on October 22, 1943 and is granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and completed 18 months (540 days) total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947. A silver bar (often called a clasp) featuring a maple leaf was awarded for 60 days service outside Canada. The medal itself is of .925 fine silver, 1.42 inches in diameter. One side depicts seven marching service personnel, the other the coat of arms of Canada. The ribbon was issued during the war; the medal after the war.

CVSM and clasp (Photo: Veterans Affairs Canada)

The Government of Canada announced the Bomber Command Bar in April of 2013. They were criticized for being so late. Indeed, the application form included a checkbox to identify whether the veteran was deceased or living; those still alive were given priority. Dad certainly qualified for the award, and we did receive his Bomber Command Bar in the spring of 2014.

The government's announcement of the new award reads as follows:

Second World War Veterans who served with Bomber Command or their next of kin can apply for a new honour. The Bomber Command Bar recognizes the contributions and bravery of those who served in the air campaign that played such an important role for the Allied victory in the Second World War.

This bar honours the Canadian airmen who fought for peace, freedom and democracy through their service in Bomber Command, and in particular the approximately 10,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice. The bar can be attached to the ribbon of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM). It was unveiled by the Government of Canada in April 2013.

All Canadian Veterans, regardless of rank, who were awarded the CVSM and served a minimum of one day with Bomber Command are eligible for the Bomber Command Bar. Family members of a deceased Veteran who served in Bomber Command and received the CVSM may also apply to receive this bar.

The Bomber Command Bar, to be worn on the CVSM ribbon.

Sadly, Dad never lived long enough to learn of the Bomber Command Bar. He might have been too humble to display his CVSM medal and clasps, but he would have liked the bomber design. He often wore a gold Lancaster lapel pin, and a Lockheed L-1011 tie clip.

On wings of fire

That's a frightening image for any RCAF airman in World War II. But it's actually the motto of RCAF Squadron No. 426, known as the Thunderbird Squadron. 426 was part of No. 6 Bomber Command at Linton-on-Ouse, where Dad was stationed in 1945.

Crest of RCAF Squadron 426

According to the squadron's history, "The thunderbird is a mythical bird, the sign of which is supposed to cause havoc and death to those who perceive it. It was the name given by some North American Indians to the first aeroplane they saw. The thunderbird signified disaster to those on the ground who incurred its displeasure."

The RAF had readied Bomber Command in conjunction with Fighter Command and Coastal Command. RAF Linton-on-Ouse was one of some fifty RAF stations constructed between 1934 and 1937 as part of the rapid expansion of the RAF in response to German re-armament.

Squadron 426 was initially formed in October 1942 in Dishforth, Yorkshire, as part of No. 4 Group, and in January 1943 it joined No. 6 (RCAF) Group at Linton-on-Ouse. Fuselage markings of "OW" identified aircraft of that squadron.

Linton-on-Ouse is about 220 miles north of London, and 220 miles SSE of Edinborough.

The RCAF assigned more squadrons to Bomber Command than it did to Fighter Command or to Coastal Command. Fifteen squadrons were formed within Bomber Command in Great Britain. By 1945 the group controlled 11 air bases in Yorkshire, including Linton-on-Ouse, home to Squadrons 426, 405 and 408. One-third of all Bomber Command aircrew were Canadians.

In its first year, 6 Group grew from 8 to 13 squadrons, flew 7,355 missions and dropped 13,630 tons of bombs. According to www.junobeach.org, "the efficiency of ground crews and the quality of their maintenance work were considered outstanding."

After the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Allies assumed the offensive and launched bombing raids against Germany. As Prime Minister Winston Churchill noted at the time, "The Navy can lose us the war, but only the Air Force can win it. Therefore our supreme effort must be to gain overwhelming mastery in the air. The fighters are our salvation, but the bombers alone provide the means of victory."

"the means of victory" - ground crews ready a Lancaster bomber (source: Wikimedia)

Early bombing raids were conducted during the day, and were almost suicidal. Bombers were easy prey for the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt fighters, so the RAF switched to night bombing.

Air raids deep into German territory involved large numbers of aircraft, at times more than a thousand bombers at high altitude in successive waves during the night.

During the first 14 months of its existence, No. 6 Group was engaged in the strategic bombing of German industrial centres that manufactured U-boats, tanks, aircraft, munitions, fuel, and other war equipment. Between 1943 and February 1944 over 100 major night operations were conducted against such targets.

In March 1944 Bomber Command added preparations for the landings in Normandy to their operations. Between March 1 and D-Day on June 6, the Canadian groups made 53 attacks: 14 against German targets, and the others in Belgium and northern France. Bomber support for the D-Day operations included targeting radar stations and military camps, rail communications, airfields and supply depots. Bombers also targeted Nazi sites that launched their new V-1 flying bombs.

In August 1944 the Canadian heavy bomber squadrons flew 21,869 hours on 3,704 sorties and dropped 13,274 tons of bombs.

Much credit is given to the ground crews for their role in Bomber Command. Brooke Claxton, Canada's Minister of National Defence, noted this in his 1949 book The R.C.A.F. Overseas: 

In all these aerial operations the personnel on the ground had a vital, though seldom-recognized, role. Without their preliminary work in all the varied tasks involved in planning and preparing for a heavy bomber operation, the Group's achievements would never have been possible. The calibre of their conscientious and arduous service is reflected in the percentages of aircraft serviceability and operational failures. Maintenance personnel knew well the "ardua" even though it was not their lot to soar "ad astra."

Bomber Command aircraft included the Vickers Wellington, the Avro Lancaster, and the Handley-Page Halifax.

Over 11,000 two-engine Wellingtons were built. In 1942 Wellingtons made up over half of the three 1,000-bomber raids flown in May and June.

The Vickers Wellington

As noted on the Canadian Wings website:

The Vickers Wellington, affectionately known as the "Wimpy", (after J. Wellington Wimpy, Popeye's friend) ... could carry a 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) bomb load. Its slow speed, limited ceiling, and a small bomb load soon made the Wellington obsolete, although one significant design advantage was famed designer, Sir Barnes-Wallace's geodetic lattice-work fuselage construction. This made the Wimpy extremely tough, and it often survived battle damage which would have destroyed other aircraft. Its other nickname "The Flying Cigar" alluded to the shape of the fuselage as seen from the profile perspective.

The Wellington's geodetic latticework gave it tremendous strength.

A medium bomber of great range, the Wellington was used in reconnaissance operations on the first day of the war. Its last operation was a raid to Northern Italy in April 1945. Wellingtons were the primary aircraft at Bomber Command Operational Training Units, were used as night fighters, for convoy protection, and the detection and exploding of magnetic mines.

The Lancaster was the most successful bomber used by the RCAF and RAF in World War II. The four-engined Lanc had unmatched speed, ceiling, and lifting power. Weighing over 36,900 pounds empty, the Lanc could carry an additional 33,100 pounds of fuel and bombs.

Squadron 426 personnel atop a Lancaster bomber

A Lancaster gets "bombed up" at Linton-on-Ouse.

According to www.bombercommandmuseum.ca:

Of the 2500 personnel which were housed on a wartime Bomber Command airfield, only ten percent were aircrew. Dozens of others were required to prepare each Lancaster for flight and the ground crew were most appreciated by the aircrew. Generally working outside, the conditions especially in the winter were often windswept, wet and cold. Their contributions to the successes of the effort cannot be overemphasized. The ground crew which were associated with each aircraft took immense pride in "their" aircraft and would joke that they were only "loaning" the bomber for a few hours and that the aircrew were "not to break it."

Dad and Myrna gaze at "Vera" -- one of only two flying Lancasters in the world.

Canada's VR-A Lancaster is painted to commemorate RCAF hero Andrew Mynarski. In August of 2014 the bomber was flown to England to join the only other flying Lancaster, and the two headlined several air shows before VR-A returned home to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario.

Canada's Mynarski Lancaster with its bomb bay open. The average lifespan of a Lancaster was 40 hours of airtime. Of the 7,377 Lancasters built (430 in Canada), 3,932 were lost in action. (photo by Kool Shots)

Lancs delivered 64% of the bomb tonnage dropped by the RAF and RCAF. The bomb bay was a massive 33 feet long, in one continuous uninterrupted space. The bomber could carry the 22,000-pound "Grand Slam" bomb designed to penetrate concrete and explode underground, creating an earthquake effect. The Lancaster was immortalized for its role in the Dambusters raid.

The comfort and security of a Lancaster crew of seven was secondary. The bomber had virtually no defensive armour, but featured front, mid-upper, and rear gun turrets fitted with .303 calibre machine guns. Air gunners remained in their cramped posts for the entire flight. At night and at 20,000 feet ("20 angels") temperatures could drop to minus forty. Thus, crews wore sheepskin jackets, silk socks and fur-lined boots to stay warm.

The Handley-Page Halifax was overshadowed by the Avro Lancaster, but also played a vital role in Bomber Command operations.

A Handley-Page Halifax belonging to Squadron 405. (Photo: Canadian Wings website)

The Halifax was the second of the four-engined heavy bombers to enter service with the Royal Air Force. The Stirling was aleady flying, but the Lancaster did not enter service until November 1940.

The Halifax served a variety of roles, including glider towing, maritime patrol and casualty evacuation. Like the later Lancaster, it featured four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, enabling the bomber to provide a heavy bomber role. 6176 Halifax bombers were built for the RAF, in many versions.

In its wartime service, No. 6 Group flew 40,822 missions. A total of 9,919 RCAF airmen died while serving with Bomber Command, whether in 6 Group or some other unit. The figure represents three-quarters of the RCAF's 13,498 WWII casualties.

During its 268 operational missions over 27 months in World War II, 426 Squadron lost 88 aircraft and reported 579 casualties. Of 426 aircrew killed, 112 have no grave, and 314 are buried in 49 cemeteries in seven countries.

The last operational mission for Squadron 426 was on the 25th of April, 1945 when 20 Halifaxes bombed gun batteries on the island of Wangerooge at the eastern end of the Frisian chain of islands. These defences controlled the approaches to the German ports of Bremen and Wilhemshaven. The last bomber returned to base at 20:06 hours, thus ending 27 months of sustained operations as a bomber squadron.

(B) marks Waanderooge, Squadron 426's last operational mission.

The controversy over the tactics employed by RAF Bomber Command during the war meant that an official memorial to the aircrews was delayed for many years. Despite describing bombers as "the means of victory" in 1940, Winston Churchill did not mention Bomber Command in his speech at the end of the war.

The RAF Bomber Command Memorial in London

A memorial was finally opened in 2012 to commemorate the 55,573 aircrew of RAF Bomber Command who died during WWII. Liam O'Connor's bronze sculpture portrays tired crew members who have just returned from a bombing mission.

Aluminum from an RCAF Handley-Page Halifax from No. 426 Squadron which crashed in Belgium in May 1944 was used to build the memorial's roof, designed to evoke the geodetic lattice structure of the Vickers Wellington. When removed from a swamp in 1997, the Halifax had three crew members inside, who were buried with full military honours. Some of the metal from this aircraft was used for the restoration of a Halifax in Trenton, Ontario. The rest was melted down by the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta. 

In May 1945 Squadron 426 transferred to Transport Command and relocated to Tempsford, where it re-equipped with Consolidated Liberators for transport duties. By the middle of June 1945 the Canadian squadrons had left Linton-on-Ouse, and in October 1945 the station was handed back to the RAF and transferred to Transport Command.

In June 1946 Linton was transferred to Fighter Command and eventually became the home to several fighter squadrons. Today RAF Linton-on-Ouse trains jet pilots for the Royal Navy, RAF and Foreign and Commonwealth students.

On August 1, 1946 RCAF Squadron 426 re-formed as No. 426 (Transport) Squadron at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. After duties in several other Canadian locales, in August of 1971 the squadron moved to its current home in Trenton, Ontario, where it conducts training on the CC-130 Hercules.

For an excellent documentary on Bomber Command, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujLVIlESNGE .

For more on Winnipeg's Andrew Mynarsky, see www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Mynarski. The VR-A Lancaster that memorializes his heroism is featured on the Canadian Warplace Heritage Museum website: www.warplane.com/vintage-aircraft-collection/aircraft-history.aspx?aircraftID=4.