MONSON, S/L Alonzo Edgar (J22010) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.439 Squadron (now No.440 Squadron) - Award effective 18 December 1944 as per London Gazette dated 29 December 1944 and AFRO 435/45 dated 9 March 1945. Born 11 August 1918, Minncola, Kansas. Home in Rosco, California. Mechanic. Enlisted in Windsor, 19 November 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.6 SFTS (guard), 6 December 1941. To No.6 ITS, 14 February 1942; graduated and promoted LAC, 8 May 1942 but not posted to No.20 EFTS until 20 June 1942; may have graduated 14 August 1942 but not posted to No.14 SFTS until 29 August 1942; graduated and commissioned 18 December 1942. To No.123 (Army Co-Operationa) Squadron, 3 January 1943; promoted Flying Officer, 18 June 1943. To “Y” Depot, 3 December 1943; to No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, 13 December 1943; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 14 September 1944. Repatriated 15 February 1945; to Britain again, 13 April 1945; repatriated 26 September 1945; to No.10 Repair Depot, 3 October 1945; to No.7 Release Centre, 13 January 1946; released 18 January 1946. Died in Fayetteville, Washington Country, Arkansas, 13 October 2009. RCAF photo PL-29035 (ex UK-8711 dated 18 March 1944 shows him; caption gives birthplace as Minneola , Kansas; home as Cody, Wyoming; educated at Sheridan Lake, Colorado High School, Wiggsin Trade School (Los Angeles); rancher, salesman and mechanic. // This officer is a fine flight commander who has always displayed an outstanding fighting spirit. On one occasion his flight under his leadership, acting in close support of the Army, effectively stopped a threatened German counter attack. On another, flying through intense anti-aircraft fire, his squadron led by him destroyed an important bridge on the river Orne. Under his command the squadron has been instrumental in destroying an ocean-going ship, trains and rolling stock, barges, transport, and fighting vehicles. He is an exceptionally able leader and has invariably pressed home his attacks despite any opposition. // RCAF Press Release No.8778 dated 12 February 1945 from F/O Geoge Sinclair, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates, reads: // WITH THE RCAF IN BRITAIN: -- When Nazi cannons shot him up, two Dutch trees let him down lightly, and S/L A.E. Monson, DFC, RCAF, will remember them gratefully. // Now at an RCAF repatriation depot on his way home to Cody, Wyoming, and Los Angeles, (7335 Cleon Avenue Roscoe), S/L Monson, DFC, was attacking a bridge before the Canadian lines last October. German light flak caught his Typhoon fighter-bomber in a dive and damaged its engine. // With its coolant and oil drained away, the engine began to overheat and was about to burst into flames. “I had to get out in a hurry, but I still had to land,” he recounted. “First I thought I’d crash into some trees, then, I was sailing down neatly between them. There was some crackling as the canopy caught in the top branches and I gently slowed up until I stopped – with my toes just touching the ground. That’s the nicest landing I’ve ever done,” Monson declared. // With one of the first squadrons to move into France after D-Day, S/L Monson carried out many low-level attacks on Nazi transport troop concentrations, tanks and shipping. “Whenever Jerry pulled back in retreat, we went after him on the roads, bombing and strafing,” Monson explained. // Once, a sliver of shrapnel almost tore his ear off as it sliced across the side of his head, but he says he has never been seriously wounded. Before completing his tour of missions last December, he was given command of the City of Ottawa Squadron of the RCAF. He will return to operational flying after his 30-day leave.