PAIGE, P/O Ernest Franklin (J6007) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.407 Squadron - Award effective 1 June 1942 as per London Gazette dated 5 June 1942 and AFRO 916/42 dated 19 June 1942. Born Toronto, 2 January 1916; educated in Kitchener; home Bridgeport, Ontario; store clerk in Kitchener in 1935-1936; machinist with Waterloo Manufacturing, 1937-1940. Enlisted in Hamilton, 12 August 1940 and posted to No.2 Manning Depot. To No.4 SFTS, Saskatoon, 23 October 1940 (guard). To No.2 ITS, Regina, 11 December 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 15 January 1941; posted next day to No.6 EFTS, Prince Albert; to No.1 Manning Depot, 5 March 1941; to No.4 SFTS, Saskatoon, 18 March 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 3 July 1941. Commissioned 4 July 1941. To No.31 GRS, Charlottetown, 14 July 1941. To ?Y? Depot, 5 October 1941; to RAF overseas, 21 October 1941. Attended course at No.1 (Coastal) OTU, 9 December 1941 to 3 March 1942 when posted to No.407 Squadron. Wounded and admitted to hospital, 5 May 1942. To Station Bircham Newton, 17 May 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 4 July 1942. To No.407 Squadron again, 4 September 1942. To No.422 Squadron, 13 October 1942. To Station Oban, 5 November 1942. Temporary duty in London, 18-24 March 1943; medal presented at Buckingham Palace 23 March 1943. Returned to duty with No.422 Squadron. Killed in action, 25 May 1943 with No.422 Squadron (Sunderland DD846). Statement for Operational Wing prepared by the squadron, 10 December 1943, stated he had flown from 1 October 1942 to 25 May 1943 but did not state sorties or hours. Photo PL-15709 taken after investiture shows W/C A.C. Brown, DSO, DFC (CAN/RAF) and F/O Ernest F. Paige. PL-15712 shows Paige with F/L W.J. Murphy (right) of Windsor, Ontario, Adjutant of No.407 Squadron. PL-15713 shows him alone in courtyard of Buckingham Palace. PL-15715 is another shot of Paige and W/C A.C. Brown. One morning in May 1942, this officer was the pilot of an aircraft which participated in an attack on a convoy off the enemy coast. Regardless of a fierce defensive barrage which in the full light of the morning was extremely accurate, Pilot Officer Paige pressed home his attack. Although he was seriously wounded by a splinter from a shell which smashed through the instrument panel, this officer courageously flew his aircraft back to base. Some few nights earlier, Pilot Officer Paige made a successful attack on a large enemy vessel from a height of only 75 feet. DHH file 181.009 D.2620 (Library and Archives RG.24 Volume 20628) has recommendation drafted July 1942 with more detail: On the night of 30th April 1942, Pilot Officer Paige located and successfully attacked an enemy merchant vessel of 3/4,000 tons. This vessel was the largest of a group in convoy. The attack was made in the moonlight from a height of 75 feet. After the attack, the vessel was seen to be listing while the after part was enveloped in smoke. Intense light and medium flak was encountered during the attack and the starboard wing of the aircraft was damaged. In the early morning of the 5th of May, Pilot Officer Paige in company with another aircraft located and attacked a convoy off the enemy coast. This convoy had been previously attacked about an hour before, during which time it had taken up defensive positions. As Pilot Officer Paige went into the attack, the vessels opened fire with an intense volume of light and medium flak. By this time it was practically full light, and the flak fire was extremely accurate. Regardless of this fire, the pilot pressed on. When 500 yards from the ship selected for attack, an armour piercing shell penetrated the nose of the aircraft, smashed through the instrument panel, the pilot?s parachute, and seriously wounded the pilot. A second shell ignited a Very cartridge which filled the aircraft with smoke. In spite of serious wounds which will necessitate his being in hospital for some considerable time, and in severe pain, Pilot Officer Paige managed to fly his aircraft safely back to base, thereby saving a valuable aircraft and the lives of himself and his crew. Particulars of death: Sunderland DD846 on Atlantic patrol, crashed for unknown reasons about 0405 hours, 25 May 1943, west of Ireland (Clare Island, 53 degrees 47 minutes north, 10 degrees 0 minutes west. Crew were J6007 F/O E.F. Paige, DFC (captain), J12829 P/O J.W. Clarke (second pilot), R133113 Sergeant W.G. Hopps (third pilot), R76084 WO W.R. Thompson (navigator), 935914 Sergeant J. Hird (RAF flight engineer), 527272 Sergeant A. O?Dowd (RAF flight engineer), 623554 Sergeant Rowe (RAF, WOM/AG), 1309732 Sergeant D. Purvis (RAF, WOP/AG), 1172574 Sergeant R.H. Richardson (RAF, WOP/AG), 1289040 Sergeant R. Sherwood (RAF, WOP/AG), R12523 Sergeant R.B. Bryers (Air Gunner). Aircraft was carrying four Mk.VIII Torpex depth charges. Notes: Described on 13 February 1943 as ?An excellent officer in all respects.? Training: Course at No.2 ITS was 11 December 1940 to 11 January 1941. Graduated 85th in a class of 148. ?Very good type; clean cut and alert.? Course at No.6 EFTS was 16 January to 5 May 1941. Flew Tiger Moths (28.30 dual, 50.15 solo) and spent five hours in Link. Placed 9th in a class of 33. ?This pupil is easy-going, sensible, well-mannered and efficient. Has been a good steady pupil from the beginning.? Course at No.4 SFTS was 17 March to 3 July 1941. Flew in Anson (4.35 dual, 3.40 solo, all by day) and Crane (39.10 day dual, 29.55 day solo, 3.55 night dual, 6.20 night solo)/ Was 17.25 on instruments and spent 20 hours in Link. Placed 9th in a class of 43. ?An above average pilot. Steady and capable. Should make a very dependable service pilot.? Course at No.31 GRS was 14 July to 4 October 1941; 49 hours of navigation exercises on Anson aircraft. ?A sound and reliable navigator who has done well on the course.? Placed 19th in a class of 23. Course at No.1 (Coastal) OTU was 12 December 1941 to 3 March 1942. Flew 20.05 day dual, 18.50 day as second pilot, 67.35 day as first pilot, 58.05 day ?crew training?; 3.25 night dual, 4.05 night as second pilot, 7.30 night as first pilot, and 11.35 ?crew training?. Placed 5th in a class of 11. Carried out twelve exercises, dropped 25 bombs as pilot and eleven bomb as bomb aimer; fired 200 rounds air-to-air and 700 rounds air-to-ground. Assessed under the following headings - Persistence (above average), Sense of Responsibility (above average), Endurance (average), Leadership (average), Method (average), Deliberation (above average), Initiative (average), Dash (average), Distribution of Attention (average), and Self Control (above average).