BOYER, WO1 (now P/O) Albert Vincent Joseph (R151123/J87859) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.425 Squadron - Award effective 13 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2534/44 dated 24 November 1944. Born 23 September 1915. Home in Penetanguishene, Ontario; enlisted North Bay 7 April 1942 when posted to No.5 Manning Depot. To No.9 SFTS, 25 May 1942 (guard duty). To No.3 ITS, 1 September 1942; graduated and promoted LAC, 25 September 1942; posted that date to No.8 AOS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 22 January 1943 To ?Y? Depot, 5 February 1943; to RAF overseas, 8 March 1943. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 22 July q1943. Commissioned 3 June 1944. Repatriated 3 November 1944. To No.16 SFTS, 14 December 1944. To ?Y? Depot again, 26 April 1945; to United Kingdom, 8 May 1945. Repatriated 3 December 1945. Retired 21 December 1945. Award sent by registered mail 18 November 1949. Photo PL-34101 shows him with F/O L.F. May, DFC. Cited with P/O Joseph G.M. Landry (RCAF pilot, also awarded DFC). Incident occurred 15 June 1944. In June 1944, Pilot Officer Landry was detailed to make a daylight attack on Boulogne and Warrant Officer Boyer acted as his navigator. Soon after setting course it was discovered that the aircraft would not attain the prescribed height for the attack, but it was decided to continue the mission. The target was obscured by cloud and no marker was visible. In the midst of an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire the attack was successfully completed but the aircraft was badly damaged. Nevertheless, with dogged determination, Pilot Officer Landry made the entire return journey beneath cloud base. In this he was ably assisted by Warrant Officer Boyer, who by his outstanding skill and efficiency navigated the aircraft by map reading. Both these officers have shown a fine fighting spirit and distinguished themselves by their courage, leadership and devotion to duty. See also entry for P/O Joseph Gerard Maurice Landry, pilot. The original recommendation was drafted by W/C J. Lecomte 15 August 1944 when he had flown 34 sorties (188 hours), found in DHH file 181.009 D.1633, Library and Archives Canada RG.24 Volume 20603 with the following sortie list and text: 1 March 1944 - Stuttgart (3.55, duty not carried out) 6 March 1944 - Trappes (4.30) 7 March 1944 - Le Mans (5.10) 15 March 1944 - Stuttgart (7.30) 18 March 1944 - Frankfurt (6.10) 25 March 1944 - Aulnoye (5.20) 20 April 1944 - Lens (4.30) 22 April 1944 - Dusseldorf (5.00) 26 April 1944 - Essen (4.45) 7 May 1944 - St. Valery (3.40) 9 May 1944 - Calais (3.40) 12 May 1944 - Louvain (4.30) 19 May 1944 - Merville (4.20) 31 May 1944 - Au Fevre (4.35) 2 June 1944 - Neufchatel (3.35) 5 June 1944 - Houlgate (5.25) 6 June 1944 - Coutances (4.40) 8 June 1944 - Mayenne (5.05) 12 June 1944 - Cambrai (5.20) 14 June 1944 - St. Pol (3.55) 15 June 1944 - Boulogne (2.50) 21 June 1944 - St. Martin (4.10) 24 June 1944 - Bemieres (3.45) 1 July 1944 - Biennais (4.20) 3 July 1944 - Biennais (3.50) 5 July 1944 - Biennais (3.55) 7 July 1944 - Caen (4.00) 12 July 1944 - Thiverny (7.55) 25 July 1944 - Stuttgart (7.50) 28 July 1944 - Hamburg (6.10) 30 July 1944 - Amaye sur Seulle (4.40) 31 July 1944 - Oeuf en Ternois (4.55) 3 August 1944 - Foret de Nieppe (3.45) 5 August 1944 - St. Leu d?Esserent (5.45) 7 August 1944 - La Hogue (4.15) Warrant Officer Boyer has recently completed a tour of operations which includes attacks on heavily defended targets such as Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Essen. On one occasion, on the 15th June 1944, Warrant Officer Boyer was navigator of a Halifax bomber detailed to make a daylight attack on Boulogne. While still over England, it was discovered that the aircraft could not climb above 11,000 feet. Though the prescribed height for bombing was to be 17,000 feet, this courageous Non-Commissioned Officer insisted on completing his mission. The target was obscured by clouds and no marker was visible. The target was orbited and in so doing lost height down to 8,000 feet. In the midst of an intense barrage of predicted flak, the bombing was successfully carried out. Accurate ground fire left some 60 holes in the aircraft. The starboard outer engine was damaged so badly that it was found necessary to feather the propellor, and one of the starboard petrol tanks was also perforated by flak. In addition, all navigational equipment was rendered unserviceable and Warrant Officer Boyer, with outstanding skill and efficiency, directed the aircraft on the entire return journey by map reading beneath the cloud base. Throughout his operational career he has distinguished himself by his outstanding courage, determination and devotion to duty. I recommend that his consistently praiseworthy conduct be recognized by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

COLLINS, F/O Geoffrey Boyer (RAF 168976) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.431 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 November 1944. Born 1921 in Manchester; home in Blackpool; enlisted 1941; commissioned 1943. Air Ministry Bulletin 16298/AL.922 refers. No citation other than "completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty". DHist file 181.009 D.5526 (National Archives of Canada RG.24 Volume 20667) has recommendation dated 21 August 1944 when he had flown 33 ? sorties (179 hours 35 minutes), 22 October 1943 to 3 August 1944. This officer is a navigator of exceptional ability who has navigated to many long distant [sic] and hazardous targets in Germany, including Berlin, Leipzig and Frankfurt. His cheerful confidence and endurance inspired a high standard of morale in his comrades which, on many occasions, contributed to the success of their operations. In view of this courageous officer's exceptional operational record, his thoroughness in all duties and excellent example to all crews, I strongly recommend that Pilot Officer Collins be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The sortie list was as follows: 22 October 1943 - Kassel (7.00) 3 November 1943 - Dusseldorf (6.25) 18 November 1943 - Mannheim (8.05) 19 November 1943 - Leverkusen (4.15, early return) 3 December 1943 - Leipzig (8.40) 20 December 1943 - Frankfurt (7.25) 29 December 1943 - Berlin (8.20) 15 February 1944 - Berlin (6.50) 6 March 1944 - Trappes (5.40) 7 March 1944 - Le Mans (5.25) 22 March 1944 - Gardening (6.15) 26 March 1944 - Courtrai (4.55) 9 April 1944 - Lille (4.40) 18 April 1944 - Paris (5.25) 20 April 1944 - Lens (4.40) 24 April 1944 - Karlsruhe (7.15) 26 April 1944 - Essen (5.10) 27 April 1944 - Montzen (4.25) 11 May 1944 - Boulogne (3.50) 12 May 1944 - Louvain (4.55) 21 May 1944 - sea search (5.15) 24 May 1944 - Trouville (4.10) 27 May 1944 - Le Clipon (3.50) 4 May 1944 - Pas de Calais (3.55) 5 June 1944 - Merville (4.55) 6 June 1944 - Conde-sur-Noreau (5.15) 27 June 1944 - Wizernes (3.30) 1 July 1944 - Biennais (3.45) 5 July 1944 - Biennais (3.30) 9 July 1944 - Mont Candon (4.05) 17 July 1944 - Caen (4.45) 28 July 1944 - Hamburg (5.25) 1 August 1944 - Acquet (4.00) 3 August 1944 - Foret de Nieppe (4.00)

JACK SINCLAIR FS(N) R90741. From Torbay, Newfoundland. Killed in Action Jan 28/43 age 21. #145 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron (Furor Non Sine Frenis). Hudson aircraft crashed. Please see Snow W.F. for casualty list and flight detail. Flight Sergeant Navigator Boyer has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario.

JOSEPH RENE ROLAND P/O(P) J18960. From Ile Perrot, Quebec. Killed Feb 2/44 age 27. #174 Squadron (Attack). P/O Boyer lost control of his Typhoon aircraft #JP 658 and crashed on the golf course at East Brighton, England. Pilot Officer Pilot Boyer is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, England.