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LINDSAY, James Douglas Squadron Leader, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, USAF, 20361 Distinguished Flying Cross (U.S.) CF Postwar Aviation Services
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LINDSAY, Squadron Leader James Douglas, DFC (20361) - Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) - 39th Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing (USAF) - Awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 1 May 1953 and AFRO 284/53 dated 15 May 1953. Home in Arnprior, Ontario; enlisted in Ottawa, 11 February 1941. Trained at No.3 ITS (graduated 3 July 1941), No.21 EFTS (graduated 1 September 1941) and No.9 SFTS (graduated 21 November 1941). Commissioned November 1941. Remained in Canada as an instructor for some time. Overseas with No.403 Squadron (8 October 1943 to 3 August 1944 and again from 2 April 1945 to 20 April 1945; with No.416 Squadron, 20 April 1945 to 15 March 1946. Aerial victories as follows: 7 May 1944 - one Bf.109 destroyed, one FW.190 damaged; 19 May 1944 - one FW.190 destroyed (shared with F/O R.H. Smith); 26 June 1944 - one Bf.109 destroyed; 29 June 1944 - one FW.190 destroyed west of Lisieux; 2 July 1945 - the Bf.109s destroyed; 5 July 1944 - one FW.190 damaged; 3 August 1944 - one Bf.109 destroyed, one Bf.109 damaged; 17 April 1945 - one FW.190 damaged. Awarded DFC, 8 August 1944. Awarded Queen's Coronation Medal, 23 October 1953 while with No.1 (F) Wing. Photos PL-26564 (standing in door); PL-26643 (in Spitfire); PL-5400 (in flying gear, No.413 Squadron, postwar); PL-104986 (studio portrait, 1958). Commanding Officer, No.413 (Fighter) Squadron, 1 August 1951 to 6 March 1953 (with time off for Korean exchange duties). Taken on strength of Korean Special Force, 15 July 1952. Taken on strength of 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 21 July 1952. Struck off strength 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 28 November 1952. Struck of strength Special Force, 3 December 1952. He flew 50 sorties (73 hours 20 minutes in combat) plus five non-combat missions (five hours 55 minutes) on T-33. A form he signed claimed 70 missions (73 hours 20 minutes) but this seems improbable because the RCAF limit at that time was 50 trips, and because 70 sorties would have translated into a much higher combat time count. Claims as follows: two MIG-15s damaged, 5 September 1952; one MIG-15 destroyed, 11 October 1952 (29th mission); one MIG-15 damaged, 25 October 1952. One MIG-15 destroyed, 26 November 1952 (49th mission). Presented at 4 ATAF, Trier, Germany, on or about 10 May 1955. See H.A. Halliday, "In Korean Skies", Roundel, December 1963 and January 1964. Offered USAF Air Medal, 1953 but not authorized due to RCAF policy adopted in 1952 that no more than one American award could be accepted. Squadron Leader James D. Lindsay, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, distinguished himself in aerial combat over North Korea on 11 October 1952. Squadron Leader Lindsay was leading a flight of four F-86 type aircraft on a fighter sweep along the Yalu River, when he sighted approximately twelve enemy MIG-15 type aircraft crossing the Yalu River at a very high altitude. Squadron Leader Lindsay immediately started climbing to intercept the enemy aircraft. The enemy flight started a turn which enabled Squadron Leader Lindsay's flight to cut them off and close with them. Picking out the last flight of four MIG-15 aircraft Squadron Leader Lindsay began his attack on the number four man of the enemy flight and scored decisive hits on the enemy aircraft. This enemy aircraft then began a steep spiralling dive and was observed to crash and explode. Squadron Leader Lindsay then completed his mission and led his flight back to their home base. Throughout his service with the Far East Command, Squadron Leader Lindsay has displayed outstanding courage, aggressiveness and devotion to duty and has reflected great credit on himself, the Royal Canadian Air Force,, and the United States Air Force. Note: On 25 August 1963, F/O H.A. Halliday inquired about certain points respecting RCAF pilots (RCAF file 045-8). On 18 September 1963 Mr. Albert F. Simpson, Aerospace Studies Institute (Air University, United States Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama) wrote to F/O Halliday (RCAF Headquarters, Office of Air Historian) on these points. The portion pertinent to Lindsay read as follows: Squadron Leader James D. Lindsay and Lt. Harold E. Fischer were flying together in the combat that you mention on 26 November 1952 and Fischer was evidently the wingman. The report of combat in Fifth Air Force, Daily Intelligence Summary No.205, 27 November 1952, is as follows: "At 261505/I over BA7859, altitude 46,000 feet Python 1 and 2 (two F-86s flying counter air) attacked a flight of 21 MIGs that were leading 150 degrees. As friendlies attacked, two of the MIGs broke from the rest of the formation in a climbing right turn. Friendlies followed these two MIGs with Python 1 firing at the lead MIG at which time friendlies were attacked by another two MIGs that fired on Python 2. Python 1 broke into the attacking MIGs firing a 90 degree deflection shot at one of the MIGs from 300 feet range. The MIG pilot ejected his canopy and bailed out. The MIG was observed to crash at BA8545. During the encounter Python 2, who had become separated from Python 1, pulled in behind one of the 12 MIGs, closing to within 1,200 feet and firing several bursts. Hits were observed on the tail and right wing and pieces began falling off the MIG, which made a diving turn, dropping to 5,000 feet. Python 2 rolled around the MIG and observed the cockpit to be empty with the canopy off. The MIG was observed to crash at BA8545 and the pilot was observed descending in his chute. Total claims: Two MIGs destroyed pending film assessment. Negative friendly damage.? FEAF General Order No.2, 2 January 1953 confirmed these two victories, with the additional information that S/L Lindsay was the formation leader and that Lt. Fischer was the Number 2 man in the formation. The place of the combat was specified as being near Kanggye, North Korea. NOTE: Military History of January/February 2007 carried an interview by Bob Bergin with Harold E. Fischer, Jr., an American Sabre ace of the Korean War. It included the following passage: MH: You became a flight leader after only a few missions. Why ? Fischer: Because I had a combat tour where I was assigned Douglas Lindsay, an exchange officer from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Doug taught me everything I knew about combat flying. He flew Supermarine Spitfires in Britain during World War II and became an ace. He was an outstanding flight leader. He ignored all the rules that really did not have much to do with combat and concentrated on what got the job done.