FRY, F/L Frederick Ernest Joseph (C8260) - Member, Order of the British Empire - No.1 Clinical Investigation Unit - Award effective as of 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date, Canada Gazette dated 6 January 1945 and AFRO 89/45 dated 19 January 1945. Born in Woking, Surrey, England, 17 April 1908 (RCAF Press Release 4907 announcing award). Attended University of Toronto. Research Assistant and Lecturer in Biology at University of Toronto. Enlisted in Toronto, 24 October 1941, initially in Administration, transferring to Medical Associate Branch, 18 August 1944. Initially at No.1 ITS as of 10 November 1941; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 15 October 1942; promoted Squadron Leader, 1 October 1944. To No.301 Composite Unit, Dorval, 9 November 1944; returned to No.1 ITS, 6 December 1944. To No.1 Composite Training School, 9 January 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, 20 September 1945. Retired 4 October 1945. His RCAF career was marked by constant travel and temporary duty. Including spells at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio (23-30 August 1942; October 1943) and the National Research Council (April 1943). He became a pioneer in environmental studies, notably fish biology. Returning to the University of Toronto, attaining the rank of full professor in 1956. Formally retired in 1973. However, his obituary noted, “He really did not retire, of course, but as professor emeritus took on other activities such as serving on editorial boards and acting as a consultant to James F. MacLaren, Ltd. His advice, as always, was sought and given freely to his colleagues.” Died in Toronto, 22 May 1989, several weeks before he was to receive an Honorary degree from the University of Toronto; it was bestowed posthumously. This officer, employed as medical associate in research and development, has made an outstanding contribution to the technical efficiency of the Royal Canadian Air Force in that he has invented and supervised the successful production of a demand type air-oxygen regulator for purpose of breathing in aircraft. This incorporates a new principle of regulating the mixture of air and oxygen for greater precision and safety. Exhibiting great skill and keen and untiring effort this officer has rendered outstanding meritorious service. The recommendation was raised on 12 August 1944 by W/C J.K.W. Ferguson, No.1 Clinical Investigation Unit, and read as follows: Flight Lieutenant F.E.J. Fry has made an outstanding contribution to the technical efficiency of the Royal Canadian Air Force and to Canadian invention in that he has invented and supervised the successful production of a Demand type air/oxygen regulator for purpose of breathing in aircraft. It incorporates a new principle of regulating the mixture of air and oxygen for greater precision and safety. Selected Assessments: Letter dated 24 April 1942, S/L J.K.W. Ferguson (Medical Officer in Charge, No.1 Clinical Investigation Unit, No.1 Initial Training School, to Commanding Officer, No.1 Initial Training School): “It is understood that the establishment of this Clinical Investigation Unit will allow certain Medical Associates to hold the rank of Flight Lieutenant. It is hoped that you wull consider favourably at an early date recommending the above named officer [Fry] for promotion to the acting rank of Flight Lieutenant. Apart from excellent qualifications which have been pointed out before in our memorandum of March 9/42, this officer is expected shortly to have important responsibilities in supervising a refresher course for medical officers of the rank of Flight Lieutenant and higher. It is felt that he would be able to fulfill these responsibilities more effectively if he held higher rank.” “This officer shows remarkable initiative and research ability. He has developed many pieces of apparatus and equipment while at this unit.” (S/L B.C. Coles, No.1 Initial Training School, 14 September 1942). “This officer has been instrumental in the development of oxygen equipment. Much of this work has been wholly original.” (S/L B.C. Coles, No.1 Initial Training School, 15 June 1943). “Prior to enlistment, this officer was on the teaching staff of the Department of Biology, University of Toronto. He has been almost entirely responsible for the development of the Canadian C.3B Demand Valve. He is an excellent rsearch worker with considerable originality and mechanical ability.” (S/L B.C. Coles, No.1 Initial Training School, 11 April 1944). RCAF Press Release 3779 dated 11 August 1944 deals with a project that involved F/L F.E.J. Fry (MBE) and W/C J.K.W. Ferguson (MBE) - an oxygen regulating valve. The release read: Toronto - A dictionary defines a valve as “a contrivance that opens a passage to permit the flow of a liquid or gas in one direction, and closes against its retreat.” To airmen fighting in the thin upper air miles above the earth, an oxygen valve may mean life or death. After nearly three years of research, the Clinical Investigation Unit of the RCAF have in conjunction with Air Force aeronautical engineers developed a valve which supplies oxygen for high altitude combat according to the airman’s need. In this type, the flyer’s lungs control automatically the supply of oxygen. RCAF scientists had two main problems to solve. To function efficiently, the apparatus had to turn on the oxygen when the airman breathed in and to turn it off when he breathed out. It also had to deliver the proper proportion of oxygen according to height, since considerably more oxygen is required at high altitudes. The principles of the new RCAF “Demand Valve” are simple. It relies on design for its performance and a miracle of close machining made possible by Canadian craftsmanship. Frequency of oxygen intake is regulated by a diaphragm. As the airman breaths, the diaphragm presses on a tiny spring which releases the right amount of oxygen. The factor of altitude is taken care of by a metal bellows. As the aircraft rises, the bellows expands in direct proportion to height, and makes the mixture breathed richer in oxygen. Simple - but the Germans have been working on it for over a decade without achieving the success of the RCAF. Military aviation long has tried to produce a satisfactory demand valve. Pilots zooming and diving at 500-mile an hour speeds - gaining or losing 10,000 feet in a matter of seconds - have no time to fiddle with control dials. A flow of oxygen satisfactory at 15,00 feet, for example, brings unconsciousness at 35,000 feet. The German air force introduced the demand valve principle in 1933 and they had been working on it ever since. Captured German models received here show continuous changes, but the RCAF valve, weighing just 14 ounces and small enough to be slung around a pilot’s neck, is half the size and weight of the Nazi type. Its Canadian inventors say it is much more efficient. Early British attempts were so unsatisfactory that the RAF rejected the demand principle and adopted a system which provides for continuous delivery of oxygen - so much oxygen per man per minute at various heights. Until 1942 the U.S. air force used the continuous delivery system but has done much work since in the field of demand supply. American and Canadian designers have kept in close touch and shared their information freely. In late 1942 the RCAF began development work under Flight Lieutenant F.E.J. Fry of Weston, Clinical Investigation Unit biologist, and Professor Grayson Smith of the Department of Physics, University of Toronto. In the early stages they were pessimistic that Canadian factories could turn out the fine machining found in the German valves. “After turning out six main types and more than 150 modifications, we find that Canadians can make precision parts better than anything the Germans are doing in this field,” said Wing Commander J.J.W. Ferguson, medical officer in charge of experimental work at Clinical Investigation Unit, and formerly assistant professor of pharmacology at University of Toronto. To help him with the valve, Flight Lieutenant Fry invented an artificial “breather” which exactly reproduces the quality and rhythm of human breathing. On this “breather” they tried working models at all temperatures and altitudes likely to be encountered by Canadian airmen, testing them for thousands of hours at a time. When, after thousands of hours, a part failed or wore away enough to disturb the fine measuring capacity of the valve, they ordered a new modification - 150 of them - or designed a new model.

CYRIL JAMES HOWARD FS(WAG) R67842. From Amherstburg, Ontario. Killed in Action Sep 14/42 age 25. #12 USAAF Medium Bombing Group. Boston aircraft lost. Please see FS E. Haglund for casualty list and flight detail. Flight Sergeant Wireless Operator Air Gunner Fry has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Alamein War Memorial, Egypt.

THOMAS WILLIAM WO2(N) R192965. From Vancouver, British Columbia. Killed in Action Apr 9/45 age 21. #78 Squadron (Nemo Non Paratus). Target - Hamburg, Germany. The crew of Halifax aircraft #MZ 361 were returning from the target in bad weather conditions and flew into a hillside at Farberry Garth Farm, Pocklington, England. F/O J.M. Pougnet and one of the crew, not Canadian, were also killed. Warrant Officer Class II Navigator Fry is buried in the Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

HILBERT DOUGLAS F/O(N) J13257. From Delta, Ontario. Killed Dec 22/43 age 25. #111 Operational Training Unit, Nassau, Bahamas. Mitchell aircraft lost off Nassau, Bahamas during a training exercise, P/O J.C. also was killed. Flying Officer Navigator Frye has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario.

EUGENE ALOYSIUS AC2(P) R54374 - under training. From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Killed Oct 6/40 age 19. #1 Service Flying Training School, Camp Borden, Ontario. AC2 Frymark and LAC T.A. Barr were killed when their Harvard aircraft #1334 crashed one and one half mile east of Alliston, Ontario. AirCraftman Second Class Pilot Frymark is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.