McQUADE, P/O Alton Robert Ralph (J19570) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.419 Squadron - Award effective 25 July 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2052/44 dated 22 September 1944. Born Bedford, Quebec, 8 December 1921; home in Quebec; enlisted in Quebec, 15 August 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1 SFTS (guard), 21 August 1941. To No.5 ITS, 10 October 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 6 December 1941 when posted to No..11 EFTS; to Trenton, 3 February 1942; to No.12 EFTS, 29 April 1942; may have graduated 3 July 1942 but not posted to No.16 SFTS until 18 July 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 6 November 1942. To “Y” Depot, 20 November 1942. To RAF overseas, 20 December 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 6 May 1943. Commissioned 12 January 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 12 July 1944. Repatriated 23 December 1945. To “K”, 1 January 1946. To No.2 Release Centre, 18 February 1946. Retired 25 February 1946. Photo PL-32422 is a portrait. Medal presented at Buckingham Palace 11 August 1944. Died in Bowmanville, Ontario, 2 January 2014. // This officer has completed a large number of sorties involving attacks on a wide range of targets. He is a skilful, gallant and determined pilot whose example has greatly inspired his crews. Pilot Officer McQuade has attacked Berlin on seven occasions. //Public Record Office Air 50/248 has a Combat Report from his service in No.405 Squadron, dated 19/20 February 1944, Lancaster X/405, JB297, target Leipzig. Crew consisted of J19570 P/O A.R. McQuade (captain), R126353 Warrant Officer D.M. Lunney, R133732 Flight Sergeant R.H. Law, 1311594 Flight Sergeant J. Fraser, R185682 Sergeant W.C. Patten (mid-upper gunner, trained at No.9 BGS and No.22 OTU), R123540 Flight Sergeant G.E. Foster (rear gunner, trained at No.5 BGS and No.22 OTU) and 638686 Sergeant J. McCreadie (flight engineer). // While on the way to Leipzig on the night of February 19th, 1944, Lancaster aircraft “X”, serial No.JB297 of 405 Squadron was fired upon by an unidentified twin-engined aircraft. The encounter took place at 0310 hours while the en route to the target and at a position 54̊40" N 11̊ 45" E at 21,000 feet altitude. The Lancaster was flying on a course of 90̊ T at 145 Knots Indicated Air Speed. Weather, clear starlight conditions with no moon and 7/10 cloud, tops at 7,000 feet. // The unidentified fighter was first sighted by the Engineer [McCreadie] from his position in the nose. The attack was being made from dead ahead and shortly after the first sighting the attacker opened fire with one short burst, after which it broke away on the port bow down. The bomber pilot [McQuade] carried out a corkscrew to starboard immediately the Engineer warned of the fighter’s presence. Two minutes later a second attack, identical to the first, was made on the bomber, the Engineer again made the sighting and gave warning. The bomber again carried out a corkscrew and the fighter opened fire with a short burst. The bomber pilot saw the enemy’s trace during both attacks, but it was not known that hits had been scored until the aircraft’s return to base at which time it was found that two bullets had entered the front wing and four in the bomb-bay; these holes were said to have been caused by .303 rounds. At the time of the encounter the bomber was approaching a Red steady flare, and several fighter flares were seen ahead on the same level. No return fire was given by the bomber gunners who did not sight the attacker at any time. //Website for aircraft accidents in Yorkshire has the following information on an incident in his career (http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york43/lk658.html): //HALIFAX LK658 DAMAGED BY FLAK, RETURNED TO LEEMING AIRFIELD. // On the night of 22/ 23 October 1943 the crew of this 427 Squadron aircraft took off from Leeming airfield at around 17.30hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Kassel. Before reaching the target area the aircraft was hit by flak (with fourteen holes later being found in the aircraft). In the course of taking evasive action to escape from searchlights and the flak guns the navigator lost his barings and the crew spent twenty minutes trying to work out where they were. Having then fallen behind the bomber stream they then opted to release their bomb load over the the Ruhr Valley and make for home. They landed safely at Leeming around midnight. // Pilot - Sergeant Alton Robert Ralph McQuade RCAF (R96829). Navigator - Sergeant D M Lunney RCAF (R126533). Bomb Aimer - Sergeant R H Law RCAF (R133732). Wireless Operator/Air Gunner - Sergeant J Fraser RAFVR (1311594). Air Gunner - Sergeant W C Patter RCAF (R185682). Air Gunner - Sergeant E Foster RCAF (R123548). Flight Engineer - Sergeant M Herbert RAFVR (1603464). // After service with 427 Squadron he [McQuade] was posted to 405 Squadron. He, Lunney, Law, Fraser, Patter and Foster were flying together in 405 Squadron Lancaster JB668 on ops to Berlin on 29 December 1943 when the aircraft was badly damaged by flak; they managed to make a landing at Woodbridge airfield in Suffolk but the aircraft was badly damaged. He was later posted to 419 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 25th July 1944.

W.J. R69567. Target - Calais, France. Hampden aircraft # X 2917 (KM-R) encountered bad weather and crashed near Marham, Norfolk, England. Three RAF members of the crew, FS. S.D. Yeomans, Sgt.s C.S. Bradbury, and D.H. Howe were also killed.