DEVERS, F/L Robert Leslie (126466) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.462 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette 18 January 1944. Born 3 June 1917 at Richmond, Surrey, England (his father was in the CEF at the time); educated at Bowmore Road Public School (Toronto), 1922-29 and Malvern Collegiate (Toronto), 1929-32. Attended Torquay Technical College (England), 1934-36 (business course). Insurance salesman in Canada as of 1938. Enlisted in RAF as 638093 Aircraftman 2 Clerk, General Duties, 21 March 1939; reclassified Aircraftman 1st Class, 1 November 1939; promoted Leading Aircraftman, 1 June 1940; promoted Corporal, 1 September 1940; remustered as Clerk/General Duties Under Training (Pilot), 7 July 1941; remustered as Observer Under Training, 20 January 1942; commissioned as Pilot Officer on Probation (General Duties Branch), 3 July 1942; promoted Flying Officer on Probation, 6 April 1943; later confirmed in appointment; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 6 October 1944; transferred to RCAF, 1 April 1945. RAF postings shown as follows: prior to remuster to aircrew he was a clerk at Station Mont Batten, October 1939 to May 1941; at No.1 Training Wing, Torquay, May to December 1941. No.31 Air Navigation School (on commissioning), 3 July 1942; departed Canada on 4 September 1942. No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, 21 September 1942 (date of disembarkation in England); No.22 OTU, 13 October 1942; No.1659 Heavy Conversion Unit, 25 March 1943; No.408 Squadron, 22 April 1943; Station Leeming, 11 May 1943; RAF Station Lynham, 12 May 1943 (ferry training pending posting overseas); Middle East Pool, 30 May 1943; No.462 Squadron, 9 June 1943; to No.47 Air School, Queenstown, South Africa, 29 March to 1 June 1944 (navigation instructor); to No.203 Group, pending posting, 31 July 1944; instructing at No.76 OTU, Palestine, until 22 April 1945. A form dated 22 March 1945 he claimed to have flown 230 operational hours and 380 non-operational hours on Ansons (50 hours), Wellingtons (80 hours) and Halifaxes (480 hours). However, in a form dated 1 July 1953 he produced more exact figures, including 78 hours 20 minutes by day on Wellingtons, 39 hours 20 minutes by night on Wellingtons, 151 hours 15 minutes by day on Halifaxes and 213 hours 45 minutes by night on Halifaxes. Listed in DHist file 181.005 D.270 as a Canadian in the RAF in early 1940 (638093, Aircraftman First Class), although his next-of-kin (mother) was living in England. He does not appear on CAN/RAF list in file 181.005 D.271. Microfilm of RCAF personnel lists Robert Leslie Devers as coming to Canada, 25 October 1941 for training as a navigator; commissioned 3 July 1942 (service number 126466); AFRO 462/44 dated 3 March 1944 reports award of DFC to F/O R.L. Devers (incorrectly giving service number as 53254) but does not identify him as a 'Canadian in the RAF' but as 'RAF Trained in Canada'. Microfilm shows him as transferred to RCAF (C94016) on 1 April 1945 and repatriated to Canada, 7 June 1945; released 10 October 1945. Postwar bible college, clergyman and real estate saesman. Rejoined RCAF as an Air Observer (Navigator), 3 July 1951 (service number 45247); at No.1 Air Navigation School, Summerside, 5 August to 1 October 1951; with No.1 Central Navigation School, Summerside, 2 October 1951 to 4 April 1952; with Communications and Rescue Flight, Trenton, 5 April 1952 to 3 September 1956 (unit redesignated No.102 Communications and Rescue Flight while he as there); with No.436 Squadron, 4 September 1956 to release; retired 1 August 1962. Public Records Office Air 2/9153 had recommendation dated 22 December 1943 with sortie list. 28 Apr 43 GARDENING, Skaw (6.35) 10 Sept 43 Potenza (8.15) 28 June 43 Reggio Calabria (7.00) 13 Sept 43 Potenza (8.25) 11 July 43 Reggio Calabria (6.50) 26 Sept 43 Hassani (1.00, DNCO, 12 July 43 Reggio Calabria (6.25) burst oil tank) 14 July 43 Messina Railway Central (7.20) 27 Sep 43 Barisso (7.55) 17 July 43 Reggio Calabria (6.40) 28 Sep 43 Argos (6.15) 23 Jul 43 Reggio Calabria aerodrome 2 Oct 43 Calato a/d (7.40) (7.15) 3 Oct 43 Heraklion a/d (5.30) 30 July 43 Reggio Calabria Ferry 5 Oct 43 Marizta (3.15) Terminal (7.15) 7 Oct 43 Heraklion a/d (6.05) 5 Aug 43 San Giavani (6.50) 9 Oct 43 Maritza a/d (7.15) 22 Aug 43 Crotone (6.50) 11 Oct 43 Maritza a/d (8.45) 27 Aug 43 Crotone (7.15) 16 Oct 43 Maritza a/d (5.20, DNCO, 3 Sept 43 Crotaglie a/d (8.10) all guns unserviceable) 7 Sept 43 San Pancrazzio a/d (7.30) 18 Oct 43 Antimachia (8.20) 20 Oct 43 Maritza aerodrome (8.05) This officer has completed 27 night sorties as navigator, totalling 189 hours operational flying. He has on every occasion shown a very high standard of navigational skill and has never yet failed to navigate his aircraft to the target. When employed on flare dropping, it has been due to Flying Officer Devers' faultless navigation and accurate timing that on ten separate occasions the target was successfully illuminated for the bombing force even in conditions of no moon, cloud en route, and poor visibility over the actual targets. Flying Officer Devers is recommended to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for outstanding skill and devotion to duty.