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TEGERDINE, George Mervin Flight Lieutenant, No.427 Squadron, J26757 Distinguished Flying Cross - Croix de Guerre RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
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TEGERDINE, F/L George Mervin (J26757) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.427 Squadron - Award effective 5 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 17 July 1945 and AFRO 1558/45 dated 5 October 1945. Born 23 October 1917 in Bassano, Alberta; educated in United States (River Forrest, Illinois), 1924-1936; home in Oakland, California where his mother lived in 1942. Assistant Buyer for a company in Chicago, 1 July 1936 to 1 September 1939; plant foreman) for National Biscuit Company, Chicago, 1 September 1939 to 30 March 1942 (but still described as Canadian); enlisted in Windsor, Ontario, 20 April 1942 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.4 Manning Depot, Quebec, 10 June 1942. To No.5 Manning Depot, Lachine, 24 July 1942. To No.5 ITS, Belleville, 29 August 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 24 October 1942 but not posted to No.10 EFTS, Pendleton until 21 November 1942; may have graduated 22 January 1943 but not posted to No.16 SFTS, Hagersville until 6 February 1943; graduated and commissioned 28 May 1943. To No.31 GRS, Charlottetown, 11 June 1943. To “Y” Depot, 29 August 1943. Embarked from New York, 12 October 1943; disembarked in Britain, 19 October 1943. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 20 October 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 28 November 1943. To No.21 (Pilots) AFU, 11 January 1944. Attached to No.1515 Beam Approach Training Flight, 29 February to 14 March 1944. Attached to No. 1511 Beam Approach Training Flight, 14-15 March 1944. To No.22 OTU, 2 May 1944. To No.61 Base, 21 July 1944. Attached to No.1659 Conversion Unit, 21 July to 31 August 1944. To No.427 Squadron, 31 August 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 24 January 1945.Repatriated 14 May 1945. To No.1 Air Command, Trentonn, 27 May 1945. To St. Hubert, 27 June 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, St. Hubert, 10 October 1945; retired 19 October 1945, intending to become a chiropractor. Died in Charlevoix Township, 8 April 1998. RCAF Photo PL-42162 (ex UK-18921 dated 23 February 1945 is captioned as follows: “Two American pilots, both pilots in the RCAF, were reunited recently at a bomber station in England when F/L R.M. Tegerdine, Oakland, California, a Spitfire pilot with the Wolf Squadron in Belgium, visited his big brother, F/L G.M. ‘Tex’ Tegerdine, Oakland, California., who pilots one of the four-engined Halifax bombers from the Lion Squadron. F/O Tegerdine, on the right, hit the headlines recently when he crashed landed his Spitfire on the roof of a Belgian town when his engine ‘packed up’ soon after taking off on a patrol. The fighter broke to pieces on impact with the buildings, but F/O Tegerdine had a lucky escape and climbed out of the cockpit with only injuries and bruises.” Award presented in Chicago, 28 November 1949. No citation in AFRO other than "in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations against the enemy". DHist file 181.009 D.1729 (PAC RG.24 Vol.20607) has recommendation from W/C V.F. Ganderton dated 19 March 1945 when he had flown 28 sorties (168 hours 40 minutes), 3 September 1944 to 3 March 1945 (but clearly flew more into April). // This officer has completed twenty-eight heavy operational bombing attacks against the enemy. // This squadron has been doing special mining work for the Group, and as Flight Lieutenant Tegerdine is one of the most dependable pilots, he has been chosen to do this extremely difficult work. In order to ensure that his vegetables [mines] have been planted in the correct location, this pilot on one occasion made three complete runs over the garden area. On another occasion he made two runs, bringing back photographs of an excellent calibre. His bombing raids have been outstanding, and due to his tenacity, endurance and fine offensive spirit, he has instilled a high standard of morale in his crew. // In view of Flight Lieutenant Tegerdine's excellent record and having proved himself an outstanding member of a gallant crew, I strongly recommend that he be awarded a non-immediate Distinguished Flying Cross. // The sortie list was as follows: // 3 September 1944 - Volkel (second pilot,3.30) // 6 September 1944 - Emden (second pilot, 4.05) // 11 September 1944 - Le Havre (4.10) // 12 September 1944 - Dortmund (5.20) // 20 September 1944 - Calais (3.30) // 24 September 1944 - Calais (4.05) // 25 September 1944 - Calais (4.10) // 27 September 1944 - Sterkrade (6.05) // 28 September 1944 - Cap Gris Nez (4.40) // 6 October 1944 - Dortmund (7.05) // 28 October 1944 - Cologne (4.40) // 1 November 1944 - Oberhausen (6.05) // 2 November 1944 - Dusseldorf (5.55) // 6 November 1944 - Gelsenkirchen (5.40) // 16 November 1944 - target name illegible on form (4.50) // 21 November 1944 - Castrop Rauxel (7.05) // 6 December 1944 - Osnabruck (6.25) // 18 December 1944 - Duisburg (6.35) // 26 December 1944 - St. Vith (7.10) // 1 February 1945 - Mainz (1.40, duty not carried out) // 2 February 1945 - Wanne Eickel (6.20) // 4 February 1945 - Gardening (5.45) // 7 February 1945 - Goch (6.30) // 13 February 1945 - Bohlen (8.00) // 14 February 1945 - Gardening (7.25) // 17 February 1945 - Wesel (6.00) // 20 February 1945 - Bohlen (7.30) // 23 February 1945 - Essen (6.00) // 24 February 1945 - Kamen (6.25) // 3 March 1945 - Gardening (5.50) // TEGERDINE, F/L George Mervin, DFC (J26759) - Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star (France) - Award as per AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947. Mailed to him, 30 August 1947 at River Forest, Illinois. External Affairs file “French Awards to Canadian Armed Forces - Particular Cases” (Library and Archives Canada, RG.25, Box 4140) has the following citation: // Flight Lieutenant Tegerdine was captain of a heavy bomber aircraft in No.6 Group, Bomber Command. He completed many hazardous special missions against German-held installations in France. This officer was an outstanding member of his squadron. // Notes: Application for Operational Wing dated 16 April 1945 claimed 33 sorties (198 hours 35 minutes), 3 September 1944 to 13 April 1945. // Assessed 4 May 1945 when he had flown 198 hours 25 minutes (33 sorties, the last on 13 April 1945); “Supplementary to training requirements.” // Assessed 13 May 1945, having flown 750 hours ten minutes (310.25 in past six months). “Is definitely above average on the performance of his duties. He has displayed a very high standard of keenness and ability throughout his tour of operations. Flight Commander material.” (S/L C.C. Collins). To this is added, “Concur. Has qualities and ability for a position of greater responsibility.” (W/C E.M. Bryson). // Training: Interviewed in Windsor, 17 March 1942. “Outstanding type - keen, reserved, intelligent” (F/L H.E. Fleming). // On course at No.5 ITS, 31 August to 24 October 1942. Subjects were Mathematics, I.S.A.O. (whatever that is), Navigation, Airmanship, Anti-Gas, Armament (written), Aircraft Recognition, Drill, Signals (written) and Meteorology. Scored 834 points of a possible 1,000. Placed ninth in a class of 106. “Mature, good appearance, conscientious, hard worker, active in sports.” // On course at No.10 EFTS, 23 November 1942 to 22 January 1943. Tiger Moth aircraft - 29 hours 55 minutes day dual (8.55 to first solo), 20.30 day solo, 3.00 night dual, 20 minutes night solo. Was 7.25 on instruments and eleven hours in Link. Navigation exercises were 3.45 (day) and 3.45 (night). Subjects were Navigation, Airmanship, Armament (written), Aircraft Recognition and Signals (written). Scored 521 points of a possible 700. Placed tenth in a class of 27. “A hard worker and should make a good pilot.” // On course at No.16 SFTS, 4 February to 28 May 1943. Anson aircraft - 89.10 day dual (6.15 to first solo), 63.20 day solo, 9.55 night dual, 7.40 night solo. Was 10.50 in formation and 26.05 on instruments; logged 24.55 in Link. Navigation exercises were 21.15 (day) and 5.25 (night). Courses were Navigation, Airmanship, Armament (written and practical), Aircraft Recognition, Signals (written and practical) and Meteorology. Scored 590 points of a possible 750. Placed 19th in a class of 45. “Good average pupil - quite capable and steady type. Conduct and deportment good. Link 76. Recommended for commission.” // Attended No.31 General Reconnaissance School, 14 June to 13 August 1943. Anson aircraft (43.15 by day, 1.55 by night). Tested in DR Navigation Intermediate (77/100), DR Navigation Final (183/300), DR Navigation Air Work (243/300), Reconnaissance (129/300), Reconnaissance Air Work (81/100), Astro Navigation (63/100), Compasses and Instruments (140/200), Meteorology (164/200), Signals (79/100), Coding (61/100), Ship Recognition (159/200), Photography (86/100) and Visual Signals (Pass). Placed 13th in a class of 24. “This officer is of a pleasing disposition and has plenty of ability and is keen to a degree. It is considered that he should a considerably better GR pilot than the results show as his air work has been of a consistently high order.” Recommended for Long Range General Reconnaissance. // Attended No.21 (Pilots) AFU, 12 January to 1 May 1944. Oxford aircraft - 3.50 day to first solo, 25.00 total day dual, 24.00 day solo, 2.00 night dual to first night solo, 8.40 total nigh dual, 8.45 night solo. Was 5.30 on instruments; logged 5.50 in Link. Flying Tests as follows - General Flying (265/400), Applied Flying (165/200), Instrument Flying (160/250), Night Flying (60/100) and Link (30/50). “A sound and reliable pilot who has done well.” // Attended No.1515 Beam Approach Training Flight, 29 February to 14 March 1944. Oxford aircraft - 20.20 day dual (all on instruments) of which 14.40 was beam flying. Logged 3.55 in Link. Graded on Beam Approach Procedure and “Q” Codes in Link (162/200), Receiver Operation (65/100), Instrument Flying (200/250), Cloud and Night Flying (200/250) and General Application of Beam Approach Procedure while flying (165/200). “A sound and reliable pilot who has worked well on this course and reached a high standard of Beam procedure and instrument flying.” // Attended No.22 OTU, 3 May to 13 July 1944. Wellington III and X aircraft - 5.20 day dual to first day solo (total day dual), 6.05 day as pilot with a captain, 29.40 day solo, 5.15 night dual before night solo (total night dual), 6.10 night as pilot with a captain, 27.25 night solo. Flew 21.40 on instruments; logged 13.15 in Link. Flying Tests as follows - General Flying (330/400), Applied Flying (120/200), Instrument Flying (160/250), Night Flying (65/100) and Link (34/50). Ground examinations in Airmanship (270/300), Armament (207/300). Meteorology (75/100), Navigation (172/200) and Signals (70/100). Carried out five day cross-country flights and five by night. Flee on four fighter affiliation exercises, one night interception exercise and two Flashlight exercises. “An ex-AFU pilot who has done well on the course. A keen and efficient captain who should do well on multi-engine aircraft. Good pre-flight planning. Has successfully completed FA and Night Interception exercises. Looks after his crew well and keeps them up to the mark. Has volunteered and is recommended for Path Finder Force.”