BIRKENES, WO Ronald Herbert (R60572, later J86535) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.462 Squadron - Award effective 10 January 1944 as per London Gazette dated 18 January 1944 and AFRO 410/44 dated 25 February 1944. Born 13 May 1921 in Carmangay, Alberta; educated at Brunette Public School (Brunetta, Alberta), Ballyhamage Public School (Ballyhamage, Alberta) and Champion High School (Chamption, Alberta). Home in Armada, Alberta (draughtsman, rodman for Valley Pipe Line Company, Turner Valley, Alberta). Enlisted Calgary 12 October 1940. To No.1 Manning Depot, 15 October 1940. To No.1 Equipment Depot, 30 November 1940. To No.2 WS, Calgary, 2 January 1941; promoted LAC, 5 February 1941; to No.5 BGS, Dafoe, 25 May 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 24 June 1941. To Embarkation Depot, 24 June 1941; to RAF overseas, 8 August 1941. To No.1 Signal School, 16 September 1941 (seven hours flying in Proctor aircraft). To No.22 OTU, 25 November 1941 (80 hours in Wellingtons). Promoted Flight Sergeant, 23 December 1941. Hospitalized, 1 May 1942 to November 1942. Attained rank of WO2, 1 November 1942. To No.1659 Conversion Unit, 10 April 1943 (30 hours on Halifax aircraft). To No.408 Squadron, 22 April 1943 (flew seven hours with them). Promoted WO1, 1 May 1943. To Station Leeming, 11 May 1943. To Middle East Pool, 30 May 1943. To No.22 Personnel Transit Centre, 9 June 1943. To No.462 Squadron, 15 July 1943 (flew 254 hours with them). To No.203 Group, 12 February 1944 (five hours bombing instruction on Wellingtons). To No.1675 Heavy Conversion Unit, 26 February 1944 (30 hours on Liberators and ten hours on Baltimores). Commissioned 25 April 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 25 October 1944. Embarked for United Kingdom, 1 September 1944; disembarked United Kingdom, 27 September 1944. Repatriated 22 October 1944. To No.5 OTU, Boundary Bay, 11 December 1944. To No.7 Release Centre, 16 March 1945. Retired 21 March 1945. Award sent by registered mail 11 March 1949 to Turner Valley. Photo PL-34099 shows him with F/L G.W. MacDonald, DFC. Died in Turner Valley, 30 September 1991 as per Legion Magazine of December 1991. This Warrant Officer has taken part in a number of operational missions as bomb aimer. On every occasion, by excellent map reading and accurate bombing, he has obtained consistently goods results, which have been proved by the photographs obtained. Warrant Officer Birkenes has at all times shown the utmost determination and keenness on operations and has set a fine example to other members of aircrew. Training: Interviewed 18 July 1940 by F/O E.J. Christie. “Fair type of individual. Should improve considerably while training. Will no doubt make fair gunner.” Course at No.2 Wireless School was 6 January to 26 May 1941. Spent 20 minutes in Flying Classroom as First Operator, two hours 45 minutes in Flying Classroom as Second Operator, six hours five minutes in two-seat aircraft as sole operator. Courses in Theory (47/50), Radio Equipment (130/250), Morse, buzzer and lamp (189/200), Procedure (193/200), Signals Organization (115/150), Armament (87/100), Drill and Physical Training (39/50). Was 42nd in a class of 184. Course at No.5 BGS was 26 May to 23 June 1941. Flew seven hours 45 minutes in Battle aircraft on gunnery training. Scored 8.5 percent in Beam Test, three percent in Beam Relative Speed Test, seven percent in Under Tail Test. Fired 600 rounds on ground, 400 rounds air-to-ground, 2,000 rounds air-to-air. Assessed on written exam (89/100), practical and oral exam (77/100), Ability as Firer (166/250) and Qualities as an NCO (110/150). Was 21st in a class of 67. Notes: Application for operational wing dated 21 April 1944 stated he had flown 31 sorties (213 hours 15 minutes) on Halifax aircraft, No.462 Squadron, 28 April 1943 to 11 December 1943. This makes sense only if he flew a few early sorties with No.408 Squadron. On repatriation form dated 16 October 1944 he stated he had flown 220 operational hours (30 sorties) and 327 non-operational hours. Last sortie was 5 December 1943. Selected Assessments: “He has served operationally with 408 and 462 Squadrons. Total flying time overseas, 547 hours of which 220 are operational comprising 30 sorties and one operational tour and one non-operational tour.” (F/L G. Hislop, RCAF Repatriation Depot, 16 October 1944). “This officer has adapted himself to staff duties as a Bombing Instructor in a very satisfactory and enthusiastic manner. Recommended for retention in the service and promotion to Temporary Flying Officer.” (W/C H. Malkin, No.5 OTU, 21 January 1945)