Daily Archives: September 21, 2014

Flight Lieutenant George Franklin Mercer

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George Mercier Shorty Warcup

George Franklin Mercer with Shorty Warcup

Collection Georges Nadon

MERCER, F/L George Franklin (J17795)

– Distinguished Flying Cross

– No.411 Squadron

– Award effective 13 January 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 January 1945 and AFRO 471/45 dated 16 March 1945.

Born 5 February 1917 at St.Mary’s, Ontario. Enlisted in Hamilton, 2 January 1941. Attended No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, 2 January to 21 January 1941; at Picton, 22 January to 18 March 1941; No.1 Manning Depot, 19 March to 30 March 1941; No.17 Equipment Depot, Ottawa, 31 March to 26 May 1941; No.1 ITS, Toronto, 10 June to 8 August 1941 (promoted to LAC on latter date); No.3 EFTS, London, 9 August to 25 September 1941; No.14 SFTS, Aylmer, 26 September to 20 December 1941 (promoted to Sergeant, 19 December 1941). Posted to Halifax; arrived in UK, 21 January 1942. Further trained at No.5 (P) AFU, 12 May to 2 June 1942, No.59 OTU, 2 June to 26 August 1942 (promoted to Flight Sergeant, 19 June 1942). Posted to No.610 Squadron (28 August 1942 to 17 January 1943; promoted to WO2, 19 December 1942; claimed his first sortie was 18 August 1942 and that he flew 85 operational hours);

to No.185 Squadron, Malta (17 January to 13 July 1943; commissioned 22 April 1943; claimed he flew 86 sorties, 115 operational hours; forced to bale out 6 May 1943 when engine overheated and glycol fumes filled cockpit, probably from a bird strike in radiator).

 

Returned to England, 1 August 1943. At Station Cranfield, 16 August 1943 to 18 April 1944 (promoted to Flying Officer, 22 October 1943). Posted to Canada on leave, 26 April to 16 June 1944. Returned to UK, 26 June 1944. No.411 Squadron, 18 July to 16 November 1944 (promoted to Flight Lieutenant, 10 October 1944, flew 106 sorties in 125 hours ten minutes of operational flying). Shot down by flak while strafing a train, 16 November 1944; held at Stalag Luft III. Safe in UK, 8 May 1945; returned to Canada, 8 July 1945. Remained in RCAF until 11 November 1947 (mainly at Trenton). Medal presented in UK, 1949. Aerial victories (incomplete) as follows: 9 July 1943, one MC.202 destroyed; 12 August 1944, one Bf.109 destroyed east of Alencon; 27 September 1944, one FW.190 destroyed and one FW.190 damaged east of Nijmegen. Photo PL-31990 shows him examining wreckage of German aircraft.

 

Flight Lieutenant Mercer is now on his second tour of operational duty. During his flying career he has shown exceptional skill and keenness in leading his flight on fighter bombing and armed reconnaissance sorties. He has always displayed a fine fighting spirit, especially in missions against ground targets and has destroyed seventy enemy transport vehicles. He has also destroyed four enemy aircraft.

 

NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9043 has recommendation dated 4 November 1943 when he had flown 166 sorties (210 hours); text does not differ materially from that published.

McArthur and Doyle

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Do you know anything about these two pilots who were stationed in France with 403 Squadron?

Avez-vous des informations sur ces deux pilotes basés en France avec l’escadrille 403?

McArthur & Doyle

Somewhere in France

Collection Georges Nadon

Doyle’s name is mention on this post.

F/O Bob Shannon of the Wolves destroyed an FW.190 at Hagenow just after it had landed and, as aircraft in large numbers were reported parked there and at Schwerin, the squadron visited those two aerodromes later in the day and damaged four enemy aircraft on the ground. S/L Zary claimed an Me.262 and a Ju.88 while F/Ls Reg Morris and E. O. Doyle each damaged an Me.262.

 

In the 403’s ORBS… (source)

Monday, April 23, 1945

A good flying day, with the gang airborne at 0530 hours right through to 2037 hours in the evening, which was a very tiring day for most.  The Squadron has been flying with two pilots short up to today, and when J.7599 F/L C.S. Yarnell and J.11471 F/L E.O. Doyle walked in and reported for duty, they were greeted with open arms.  Both Second tour boys, so they pretty well know what the score is around here, and should be flying their ops very soon.  Fourteen operations flown, all patrols, mainly in the Hamburg- Bremen areas.  Another two victories scored in the Squadron on the early 0530 trip.  F/L H.R. Finley, J.14030 and F/L W.N. Dove, J.11000 each bagged an FW 190, giving F/L Finley a total of three destroyed and one damaged and F/L Dove his first victory.  These last four victories in the Squadron have really put the fellows in strong spirits, and it is no longer a case of who’s going to get up in the morning, as it is quite a scramble with the Huns flying about.  J.19939 F/O A.J. McLaren, not yet returned, made a crashed landing safely, but no word of his safety yet.  1st operation – 4 sorties; 2nd operation – 4 sorties; 3rd operation – 4 sorties; 4th operation – 4 sorties; 5th operation – 4 sorties; 6th operation – 4 sorties; 7th operation – 4 sorties; 8th operation – 4 sorties; 9th operation – 4 sorties; 10th operation – 4 sorties; 11th operation – 4 sorties; 12th operation – 4 sorties; 13th operation – 4 sorties; 14th operation – 4 sorties.

 

Wednesday, April 25, 1945

Another beautiful flying day and the Squadron really went to town on the Hun today, claiming three destroyed and five damaged.  A sure celebration in the mess to-night with these added victories to the Squadron’s credit.  Four operations flown, armed recces in the Stade-Bremen areas.  1st operation – 8 sorties; 2nd operation – 8 sorties; 3rd operation – 8 sorties, 4th operation – 8 sorties.  Word has come that the advance party will be moving off to our new airfield tomorrow.  Victories scored are as follows: Destroyed F/O R.C. Shannon – 1 FW 189; F/L A.E. Fleming – 1 ME 111; F/O D. Leslie – unidentified aircraft believed to be FW 189.  Damaged F/L E.O. Doyle – 1 ME 262; S/L Zary – 1 ME 262; and 1 JU 88; F/L R. Morris – 1 ME 262; F/S J.C. Pickering, F/L F.W. Town and F/O J.R. Baker sharing 1 DO 26.

 

Friday, June 1, 1945

J6718 F/L W.I. Gordon has been posted to the Squadron from No 416 to take over the Flight Commander position, ‘A’ Flight.  ‘Rocky’ is well known to the boys of the Squadron, and a welcome addition to our depleted strength.  After nearly two weeks of practice formation flying, 403 is making some fine efforts in the air, and it’s believed that some important formation fly pasts are coming up in the near future, displaying fighter strength.  A leave centre for a limited number of officers has opened up at Biarritz on the Rivera which, in peacetime, was rated as one of the finest.  The Mollyneux Estate is the name of the buildings taken over, and a few of the fellows are anxious to get down there before the possibility of leaving the Continent.  F/L E.O. Doyle and F/O A.V. ‘Van’ Sainsbury have been recommended as Flight Commanders, both have considerable operational experience.

 

Thursday, June 28, 1945

A Board for the Disposal of Records and Documents and Correspondence for 403 has been formed to examine all such documents prior to disbandment.  Posting advices have been received for the pilots, seven posted to No. 421 Squadron as follows: F/O E.C. Trumble, F/L A.V. Sainsbury, F/O A.A. Roy, F/L W.N. Dove, F/O R. Young, WO Hallett D.H. WO Ryder L.C.  Seven pilots posted to 443 Squadron as follows: F/O J.R. Baker, F/O M. Silver, P/O G.K. Lindsay, WO Arsenault J.A. WO Barbour R.E. WO Pickering J.C. WO Watchorn K.S.  The other pilots have either a very high repatriation priority or volunteered for the Far East and Occupation of Europe.  S/L A.E. Fleming, F/L E.C. Doyle and F/L C.S. Yarnell are the only three shown with high priority for repatriation and are expected to return to Canada.  Twenty other officers and two airmen pilots have been posted to the Squadron and will return to England for sorting out.  No more practice flying.

122 Squadron

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About that RAF Squadron…

History of 122 Squadron:

No. 122 Squadron was formed on 1 January 1918 at Sedgeford as a day bomber unit but did not become operational before disbanding on 17 August 1918. It reformed on 29 October 1918 at Upper Heyford to fly D.H.10s but the Armistice came two weeks later and formation was suspended.

On 1 May 1941, No. 122 reformed at Turnhouse with Spitfires and began flying patrols on 6 June. In March 1942 the Squadron moved to Hornchurch and began flying sweeps over northern France. Joining Second TAF in June 1943, ground attack and bomber escort missions were flown. In February 1944, No. 122 converted to Mustangs and moved to Normandy three weeks after the initial landings. At the end of September 1944, the Squadron returned to the UK to undertake bomber escort missions for the rest of the war. In August 1945, Spitfires replaced Mustangs and were flown in Scotland until the Squadron was renumbered 41 Squadron on 1 April 1946.

Source