SOUTAR, F/O James Riley (J21823) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.429 Squadron - Award effective 1 September 1944 as per London Gazette dated 19 September and AFRO 2373/44 dated 3 November 1944. Born Dundee, Scotland, 12 August 1915; educated there to 1929; home in Sperling, Manitoba (mechanic); enlisted in Winnipeg, 15 September 1939 as Aero Engine Mechanic. To No.5 (BR) Squadron, 29 September 1939 (flew many coastal patrols and qualified for Atlantic Star). Promoted AC1, 29 February 1940. Promoted LAC, 25 May 1940. Promoted Corporal, 1 November 1940. To No.8 SFTS, 11 December 1940. Promoted Sergeant, 1 July 1941. Remustered to aircrew, 3 January 1942; reverted that day to LAC and posted to No.3 ITS; to No.21 EFTS, 28 February 1942; ceased training and posted to Trenton, 7 April 1942. To No.1 AOS. 25 April 1942; graduated and commissioned 28 August 1942. To “Y” Depot, 29 August 1942; to RAF overseas, 20 October 1942. Disembarked in Britain, 5 November 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 28 February 1943. To No.10 (Observer) AFU, 1 March 1943 (Anson aircraft, 30 hours). To No.22 OTU, 20 April 1943 (Wellington, 62.30). Attached to No.311 Ferry Training Unit, 28 June to 16 July 1943 (Wellington, 29.30). To No.1 Overseas Air Delivery Unit, 16 July 1943. Departed for North Africa, 19 July 1943; taken on strength of No.424 Squadron that day (flew Wellingtons, 120.15). Embarked for Britain, 25 October 1943 with No.424 Squadron; arrived in UK, 6 November 1943. To No.426 Squadron, 1 February 1944 (Lancasters, 130 hours). To No.429 Squadron, 1 May 1944 (Halifax, 20.15). To No.82 OTU, 15 June 1944; attached to No.86 OTU, 19 June 1944 (Wellingtons, 65 hours). Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 28 August 1944. Repatriated 15 January 1945. To No.2 Air Command, 26 January 1945. To No.7 AOS, 8 March 1945. To No.1 CNS, 31 March 1945 (Anson V refresher course, six hours 15 minutes). To No.2 Air Command Headquarters, 8 May 1945. To No.3 ANS, Portage la Prairie, 11 May 1945. To No.1 CNS, Rivers, 13 August 1945. To No.2 ACU, Brandon (whatever that is), 31 August 1945. To No.23 EFTS, Yorkton, 15 September 1945. To No.2 FTS, Yorkton, 16 September 1945. To No.1 FTS, Centralia, 29 December 1945. To Rockcliffe, 7 March 1946. To No.3 Release Centre, 29 March 1946. To No.164 Squadron Detachment, Winnipeg, 18 August 1946 (this became No.435 Squadron). To No2 Air Command for retirement, 14 December 1946. Retired 19 December 1946. Award presented 9 April 1949. Died in Carman, Manitoba, 17 February 1990. RCAF photos PL-28014 (ex UK-8933) and PL-28015 (ex UK-8934), both dated 20 March 1944, describe his as being from Dartmouth and place him in Nos.424 “Tiger” and 426 “Thunderbird” Squadron. States that he was an aero engine mechanic (Moncton) and flight engineer, logging 1,200 hours in Eastern Air Command, retrained as navigator. RCAF photo PL-28584 (ex UK-9212 dated 1 April 1944) shows part of a No.426 Squadron crew after a raid on Frankfurt being taken by truck to interrogation; left to right are P/O W.R. Shellington (wireless operator, Brantford), Warrant Officer George Lebel (rear gunner, Cacouna, Quebec), FS J.A. McCrory (mid-upper gunner, Montreal) and F/O J.R. Soutar (navigator, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia). // Flying Officer Soutar has flown on many sorties as navigator. He has operated against such heavily defended targets as Essen, Frankfurt and also in the Middle East theatre of war. He has proved himself a most capable navigator who has always displayed outstanding determination and fortitude. // DHH file 181.009 D.5524 (Library and Archives Canada RG.24 Box 20667) has recommendation dated 13 June 1944 by W/C A.F. Avant; he had flown 30 sorties (190 hours 30 minutes). Recommendation gives name as James Robert Soutar. Previously recommended 2 June 1944. // Flying Officer Soutar has flown on many sorties as navigator against such heavily defended targets as Essen, Frankfort and Stuttgart, and has flown on many sorties in the Middle East theater of war. In the early years of the war this officer flew many hours on patrol work and his experiences there have been most helpful to his commanders and associates on operations against the enemy. At all times he has worked most efficiently, showing outstanding fortitude and devotion to duty. His courage, skill and determination in action have contributed greatly to the success of his sorties. I recommend that he be awarded the DFC. // The sortie list was as follows: // 19 July 1943 - Portwreath - Gibralter (7.15) // 21 July 1943 - Gibraltar - Ras-el-Ma (1.40) // 21 July 1943 - Ras-el-Mat - Kairouam (6.30) // 13 August 1943 - Messana (5.00) // 18 August 1943 - Pizzo (6.05) // 19 August 1943 - Foggia (7.35) // 21 August 1943 - Batttipaglia (6.10) // 24 August 1943 - Torre Annunziata (5.35) // 25 August 1943 - Taranto (6.20) // 26 August 1943 - Salerno (5.30) // 4 September 1943 - Grazzinse (5.55) // 6 September 1943 - Battipaglia (5.55) // 7 September 1943 - Vetterbo (7.05) // 8 September 1943 - Battipaglia (7.00) // 13 September 1943 - Pompei (6.15) // 15 September 1943 - Annunizaita (6.45) // 16 September 1943 - Frisinome (6.05) // 17 September 1943 - Cisterna (6.30) // 23 September 1943 - Pisa (8.00) // 26 September 1943 - Gusseto (7.15) // 24 February 1944 - Schweinfurt (8.45) // 25 February 1944 - Augsburg (7.40) // 7 March 1944 - Le Mans (5.30) // 15 March 1944 - Stuttgart (8.20) // 18 March 1944 - Frankfurt (5.15) // 26 March 1944 - Essen (5.15) // 9 April1944 - Laon (5.20) // 24 April1944 - Karlsruhe (6.25) // 26 April1944 - Essen (5.05) // 19 May 1944 - Le Clippon (4.00) // 24 May 1944 - Aachen (4.30) // Notes: On repatriation form (undated) he stated he had flown 30 sorties (200 operational hours), the last on 30 May 1944; also flew 156 non-operational hours. // Application for Operational Wing dated 2 June 1944 claimed 30 sorties (192 hours 20 minutes), 19 June 1942 to 24 May 1944. The earlier date is clearly an error. // Assessed 21 June 1944 by W/C A.F. Avant -“A very efficient and reliable navigator; hard working in the air.” // Training: Attended No.3 ITS, 5 January to 27 February 1942. Courses in Mathematics, Law and Discipline, Navigation, General Studies, Anti-Gas Armament (written), Aircraft Recognition, Drill and Signals (written). Scored 795 points of a possible 1,000. Placed 56th in a class of 163. “Mature, frank, dependable, honest, hard working, good service background. Alternative Recommendation Observer.” // Attended No.21 EFTS, 1 March to 24 April 1942. Fleet Finch aircraft - 11.35 dual to first solo, 19.20 dual, 13.00 solo, 4 ½ hours in Link. “This student lacked natural flying ability, was unable to absorb instruction and was very rough on controls. His judgement and air sense was poor although he worked very hard and diligently. Progress in Link was very slow; was an outstanding student in ground school and showed consistent improvement. Honest, hard working, dependable, wished to return to ground trade.” // Attended No.1 AOS, 27 April to 28 August 1942. Anson aircraft - 26.50 as first navigator by day, 25.30 as second navigator by day, 19.05 as first navigator by night, 20.55 as second navigator by night. Air work graded in Air Navigation, day and night 515/700), Photography (79/100). Ground marks were im Elements of Navigation (376/500, Magnetism and Compasses (80/100), Instruments (39/50), Signals, practical (90/100), Signals, written (35/50), Maps and Charts (42/50), Meteorology (60/100), Aircraft Recognition (97/100), Reconnaissance (54/100), and Photography (44/50). Placed 18th in a class of 24. “Air work average. Ground subjects average. Had some trouble because of time away from school. Will make good navigator. Air time is sufficient because of hundreds of hours of previous time.” This refers to work in No.5 (BR) Squadron. // Attended No.22 OTU, 20 April to 28 June 1943. Flew 33.30 by day, 29.35 by night. “A slightly above average navigator who has employed his aids intelligently and done particularly good work in DR and log keeping. He ought to have a successful future on operations.”

KENNETH GORDON SGT(AG) R90794. From North Bay, Ontario. Killed Aug 26/43 age 37. #20 Operational Training Unit (Train To Triumph). The crew of Wellington aircraft #HE 802 were on a 620 mile cross-country exercise when their aircraft crashed at Corry Down, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. FSs F.E. Adams, B.E. Clark, Sgt E.H. Weeks, and two airmen, not Canadians, were also killed. Sergeant Air Gunner Soutar is buried in the Lossiemouth Burial Ground, Drainie, Morayshire, Scotland.