GAUNTLETT, F/L John Reginald (106221) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.159 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette 22 August 1944. Born in Saskatchewan, 11 June 1917; educated in Regina and Britain; home given as Orillia. Served as 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery; to RAF, 1941. Air Ministry Bulletin 15185/AL.861 refers. AFRO 2231/44 dated 13 October 1944 (announcing DFC) confirmed him as Canadian in the RAF. Died in Toronto, 27 September 1994. RCAF photo PL-27423 (ex UK-11271 dated 12 May 1944) is captioned as follows: “While natives pile the roof of their billet with straw these two Canadian fliers are show congratulating each other on completion of their operational tours with India’s pioneer heavy bomber squadron. On the left is Pilot Officer Jack Portch, J18611, 56 St. Anne’s Road, Toronto, 25-year old navigator, who has not yet seen his son two years old, April 23 last. The giant on the right is a Canuck in the RAF, Flight Lieutenant John Gauntlett, 106221, formerly of Regina (Connaught Public School), whose mother now resides in Orillia, Ontario. In England studying history at Bristol University, Johnny joined the British army two days after war was declared. He transferred to the RAF in 1941 and won his pilots wings. On the last operational trip of the first tour just completed Johnny had his rear gunner killed when his Liberator was coned in searchlights over Rangoon and had to dive from 12,000 to 800 feet, followed all the way by a Zero night fighter. In an emergency landing due to petrol shortage the badly damaged aircraft swung off the runway into a brick embankment. Next day he learned if he had not swung, the aircraft would have ended up in a water reservoir.” RCAF photo PL-60386 (ex PL-19924 dated 12 April 1945) has the following caption - “More than 70 percent of the aircrew are Canadian in the RAF Liberator squadron which is carrying out relentless night bombing of the Japs in Burma and Thailand. At his desk at squadron headquarters is the Canadian CO, W/C B.F. Burbridge of Bathurst, New Brunwick who has long service in the RAF. On left is S/L A.F. Brown of Grand Forks, B.C. , flight commander, and on right S/L J. Gauntlett, another Canadian in the RAF, whose home is at 48 Huntley Street, Toronto, and who is also a flight commander.” // // Flight Lieutenant Gauntlett has completed a tour of operational duty during which he has attacked a variety of targets in Burma. He has at all times displayed a fine fighting spirit, great skill and devotion to duty. In April 1944 he was captain of an aircraft detailed for an attack against Rangoon. When his aircraft was attacked and badly damaged by enemy night fighters and the rear gunner killed, it was largely due to Flight Lieutenant Gauntlett's superb airmanship that the damaged aircraft reached home safely. As Deputy Flight Commander his skill and keenness have done much to maintain a high standard of operational efficiency in his squadron. // The incident described was on the night of 1-2 April 1944. The aircraft was E/159 (EV843) and the crew were F/L Gauntlett (captain), F/L John H. West, RCAF (Vancouver, co-pilot), Warrant Officer H.T. Hartshone (navigator), Flying Officer David Bruce, RCAF (Kenora, Ontario, second navigator), Flight Sergeant W. A. Kirkness (lead wireless operator), Sergent J.R. Whipfler (flight engineer), Sergeant G, MaKay (second wireless operator), Warrant Officer N,J. Bingham (post uncertain), Flight Sergeant J.R. O’Brien (beam gunner) and Flight Sergeant C. Kirby (rear gunner, killed). This was a bad night for No.159 Squadron as three aircraft were shot up, although only EV843 was heavily damaged. The unit has another bad night, 5/6 October 1944 when two aircraft were shot down; on that occasion Flying Officer Bruce became a POW. // RCAF Press Release No.5150 dated 12 May 1944 from “Dumsday”, with photos UK-11269 and UK-11271, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates, reads: // SOMEWHERE IN INDIA: -- His rear gunner dead and his Liberator bomber badly mauled by flak and fighters over Rangoon, F/L Johnny Gauntlett, 106221, a Canadian in the RAF, ploughed his big aircraft into a brick embankment and thus ended his first operational tour on the Burma front. // Three other Canadians flew with F/L Gauntlett, who attended Connaught Public School in Regina and whose mother now resides in Orillia, Ontario, as the big fellow dived his kite over the Burmese capital from 12,000 to 800 feet, his speed reading 330 miles “on the clock” to shake the Jap attacker. Second pilot to F/L Gauntlett and making his second operational trip was F/L Johnny West, J4254, 1386 Nicole Street, Vancouver. F/O Dave Bruce, J12276, Kenora, Ontario, was navigator and W/O1 H.T. Hartshorne, R66095, 518 Queen Street, Preston,, Ontario, was bomb-aimer. // Johnny Gauntlett, the squadron’s heavyweight, was in England studying history at Britsol University and joined the British army two days after war was declared. He transferred to the RAF in March, 1941, to win his wings. After operating on Ferry Command in the Middle East he came to India on Libs and shaky-do which ended his tour was his 28th operational trip with India’s pioneer bomber squadron. He’s marking time now but expects to fly his second tour into the Far East. // Now captain of his own aircraft “Goofy” F/L Johnny West, whose wife resides at 47 Barclay Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario, told the story of F/L Gauntlett’s hair-raising tour closer. F/L West instructed at Dunnville, Ontario, and Calgary and was assistant supervisory officer at High River, Alberta, before coming overseas. “Just as we were on the run-in to prang Rangoon they caught us in searchlights and a Navy Zero night fighter came at us twice,” said F/L West. “On his first attack the Jap killed our tail gunner, shot away our hydraulics and our port-inner motor. Our gas tanks were hit and petrol poured into the bomb bays. Once they had us coned we went into a dive at 122,000 feet and all the way down to 800 feet the Zero followed us and the ground defences kept banging away.” // In the plunge downward the Liberator’s air-speed Indicator registered 330 miles an hour, terrific speed for the four-motored aircraft. One of the bomber’s beam gunners got a long burst at the Zero and although they did not hang around to observe results they later saw an enemy fighter ablaze on the ground immediately below the scene of combat. // Limping to their own coast the crew made an emergency landing due to loss of petrol forcing flaps and undercarriage down mechanically. With no breaks, the kite swung off the runway into a brick embankment. Surviving member of the crew were not injured but the aircraft was “written off”. “We didn’t smack into the embankment on purpose,” said F/L West, “but next day, we found we were in luck because we were heading for a water reservoir”. // RCAF Press Release No.9915 dated 26 April 1945 from S/L P.J. Shield, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates, reads: // WITH THE RCAF IN EASTERN AIR COMMAND: -- When a RAF Liberator of the Strategic Air Force, Eastern Air Command, piloted by S/L Johnny Gauntlett, DFC, formerly of Bristol ,England, but who was born in Regina, bombed a bridge on the Burma-Siam railway from a height of less than 500 feet, a Japanese shell hit a box of navigation flame floats towed in the beam gunners’ compartment, and set them afire. Blazing liquid spurted in all directions. // W/O J.W. de Salvo of (52 Rodson Street), Simcoe, Ontario, flight engineer, with the RAF wireless operator, scrambled to put the fire out. The shell narrowly missed me,” said De Salvo. “Burning material was all over the place. Parachutes and Mae Wests in the gunners’ compartment were glowing fiercely, and we hurled them overboard to stop the fire spreading. We beat the rest of the fire out with our hands and any pieces of rags we could find but there was still some of the compound from the flame floats sticking to the fuselage, and the crew kept watch all the way back to make sure nothing else caught fire.” // With two parachutes destroyed and petrol leaking from a fuel tank after another ack-ack hit while completing his attack against the bridge, S/L Gauntlett and his crew faced an anxious 5 ½ hours flight back to base. // S/L Gauntlett was on his 52nd operation and his crew also included F/O S.M. Staniloff of (346 Aikins Street, Winnipeg, navigator; F/O L.T. Simmons of (91 Horace Street), Norwood, Winnipeg. bomb-aimer; Sergeant R.E. Parks of Vimy Barracks, Kington, Ontario, gunner; and Sergeant E.J Jarmain, of Mount Brydges, Ontario, gunner.

GAUNT, 2nd Lieutenant Stanley, DFM (USAAF O-885972) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.426 Squadron - award approved 28 December 1943 as an honourary award to an American national and not published in London Gazette. Born 1921; home in Pascoag, Rhode Island; enlisted 1941. Awarded DFM effective 5 July 1943 while still in RCAF (No.426 Squadron). First member of that unit to win two decorations. DFC citation in DHist file 181.009 D.3051 (National Archives of Canada RG.24 Vol.20634). Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in May 1943, this officer has participated in many sorties including five against targets in Berlin. Throughout his operational career he has displayed initiative, fearlessness and determination. Lieutenant Gaunt's exceptional ability as a leader has evoked the admiration and confidence of all with whom he has flown. NOTE: DHist file 181.009 D.2624 (RG.24 Volume 20628) has recommendation dated 8 December 1943 when he had flown 27 sorties (166 hours 22 minutes), of which 14 sorties (94 hours 30 minutes) had been since previous award. Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in May 1943, Lieutenant Gaunt has completed a further 14 sorties against targets in Germany. These operations included the heavy raid on Peenemunde and five sorties to Berlin, where intensive fighter opposition was encountered. He has consistently displayed cool judgement and fearless determination, frequently in the face of strong enemy opposition. His superior captaincy and airmanship and exceptional qualities of leadership have been an inspiration and an example to the entire squadron. This officer's tour was climaxed by three very successful raids on Berlin. I strongly recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.. NOTE: An earlier recommendation (18 November 1943) made when he had flown 24 sorties (143 hours 37 minutes) of which eleven (71 hours 45 minutes) had been since previous award. Sortie list shows raids from 14 February to 20 October 1943.

JAMES ERNEST Lt(P) - Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. From Toronto, Ontario. Killed Jun 6/43 age 26. Fleet Air Arm, #1830 Squadron, United States Naval Air Service, Quonset Point. Lt Gaunt lost his life in a Corsair aircraft while serving aboard His Majesty's Canadian Ship Asbury. Lieutenant Pilot Gaunt is buried in the Prospect Cemetery at Toronto, Ontario.