JOHN ALEXANDER FS(P) R67791. From Campbellton, New Brunswick. Killed in Action Feb 26/42 age 23. #10 Squadron (Rem Acu Tangere). BROTHER to Kenneth Payne Bissett. Halifax aircraft #V 9986 failed to return from operations. Six of the crew, not Canadians, missing believed killed. Flight Sergeant Pilot Bissett has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.

F.M J16991//R956231. FS (now P/O) Jack Montgomery (R95231/JJ6991) - Distinguished Flying Medal. No.78 Squadron - Award effective 7 May 1943 as per London Gazette dated 14 May 1943 and AFRO 1078/43 dated 11 June 1943. Born 1920. Home in St.Vital, Manitoba (clerk); enlisted Winnipeg, 4 March 1941. Trained at No.4 ITS (graduated 18 August 1941), No.8 EFTS (graduated 5 October 1941), and No.3 SFTS (graduated 2 January 1942). Award presented 30 November 1943. Killed in action with No.427 Squadron, 30/31 January 1944 (Halifax LV898). The citation reads - "Flight Sergeant Bissett has displayed great courage and determination to accomplish his tasks successfully. He has taken part in many sorties including attacks on various targets in the well defended Ruhr area. A fearless captain, his fine example has proved inspiring." NOTE: Public Records Air 2/8950 has original recommendation with sorti list, dated 21 March 1943. He had flown 26 sorties (160 hours 39 minutes); recommended citation differs markedly and yet has no real added data. 8 Sep 42-Duisburg (5.15); 20 Nov 42 --Turin (9.11), heavy fires seen in town. 26 Nov 42 -- GARDENING (4.00); 28 Nov 42 --Turin (9.40), many large fires seen. 2 Dec 42 --Frankfurt (8.15), small scattered tires seen. 14 Dec 42 -GARDENING (3.44), parachutes seen to open. 17 Dec 42 --GARDENING (7.00), vegetables brought back. 14 Jan 43 --Lorient (5.25); 27 Jan 43 --Dusseldorf (5.15), incendiaries seen to be well alight. 29 Jan 43 --Lorient (6.01); 2 Feb 43 --Cologne (5.08), town lit up by numerous fires; 7 Feb 43 --Lorient, many fires seen, glow observed from English coast. 11 Feb 43 --Wilhelmshaven (5.00), very large explosions followed by large fire. 13 Feb 43 --Lorient (5.31), fires seen in dock area. 14 Feb 43 --Cologne (5.05), glow of many fires seen through clouds. 16 Feb 43 (5.16), a very wide area of fires; huge conflagration. 18 Feb 43 --Wilhelmshaven (5.17), bomb bursts observed; very successful operation 19 Feb 43 -Wilhelmshaven ( 4.57), many fires observed. 25 Feb 43 --Nuremburg (8.37), incendiaries seen starting fires at beginning of attack. 26 Feb 43 -Cologne (6.05), whole town covered with fires. 28 Feb 43 --St. Nazaire (6.05), many bursts observed in target area. 3 Mar 43 --Hamburg, nine large fires counted in target area. 5 Mar 43 --Essen (5.38), large explosion followed by many fires. 8 Mar 43 --Nuremburg (7.39), bomb bursts distinguished around marker flares. 9 Mar 43 --Munich (8.23), many fires. Sergeant Bissen is one of the keenest captains in the squadron and has always shown the greatest courage and determination throughout his tour, in the course of which he has attacked some of the most heavily defended areas in Germany. He has always set an example to those who worked with him, and is a real asset to the squadron."BISSETT, F/O/ Jack Montgomery, DFM (J16991) Mention in Dispatches - No.1664 HCU - Award effective 14 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 874/44 dated 21 April 1944. Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

BISSETT, FS (now P/O) Jack Montgomery (R95231/J16991) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.78 Squadron - Award effective 7 May 1943 as per London Gazette dated 14 May 1943 and AFRO 1078/43 dated 11 June 1943. Born in Pilot Mound, Manitoba, 18 August 1920. Home in St.Vital, Manitoba. Attended Windsor School (Winnipeg) for nine years, two years at Glenlawn Collegiate (Winnipeg) and one year at La Verandre Techical School (wood and metal working). CPR clerk for three months; clerk for Manitoba Power Commission, June 1940 to enlistment; enlisted Winnipeg, 4 March 1941. To No.2 Manning Depot, 20 May 1941. To No.7 BGS, Paulson (guard duty), 21 June 1941. To No.4 ITS, Edmonton, 15 July 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 19 August 1941; taken on strength of No.8 EFTS, Vancouver, 20 August 1941; may have graduated 5 October 1941 but not taken on strength of No.3 SFTS, Calgary until 9 October 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 2 January 1942. To \"Y\" Depot, Halifax, 4 January 1942; to RAF Trainee Pool, 23 January 1942; taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 10 February 1942. To Kirmington, 4 March 1942. To No.22 OTU, 23 June 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 2 July1942. To No.78 Conversion Flight, 20 October 1942. To No.1658 Conversion Unit, 1 October 1942. To No.78 Squadron, 20 October 1942. Commissioned with effect from 23 January 1943. Taken on strength of No.1663 Conversion Unit, 9 April 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 28 April 1943. To No.1664 Conversion Unit, 24 May 1943. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 26 October 1943. Award presented 30 November 1943. On 30 January 1944, as Flight Lieutenant at No.1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, took off from Dishforth, 1910 hours, in Halifax DG308. Fifteen minutes, approaching to land, the trainee pilot inadvertently opened the bomb doors instead of flaps; a fast landing ensued. When braking was ineffective, Bissett swung the aircraft, main wheels folding under high stress load. Promoted Squadron Leader and posted to No.427 Squadron as Flight Commander, 7 February 1944. Attended Bomber Command Tactical School, 14-19 March 1944. Completed three sorties on his second tour. Killed in action with No.427 Squadron, 30/31 March 1944 (Halifax LV898). Photo PL-21665 is a portrait. \"Flight Sergeant Bissett has displayed great courage and determination to accomplish his tasks successfully. He has taken part in many sorties including attacks on various targets in the well defended Ruhr area. A fearless captain, his fine example has proved inspiring.\" NOTE: Public Records Air 2/8950 has original recommendation with sortie list, dated 21 March 1943. He had flown 26 sorties (160 hours 39 minutes); recommended citation differs markedly and yet has no real added data. 8 September 1942 - Duisburg (5.15) 20 November 1942 - Turin (9.11) - Heavy fires seen in town. 26 November 1942 - GARDENING (4.00) 28 November 1942 - Turin (9.40) - Many large fires seen. 2 December 1942 - Frankfurt (8.15) - Small scattered fires seen. 14 December 1942 - GARDENING (3.44) - Parachutes seen to open. 17 December 1942 - GARDENING (7.00) - Vegetables brought back. 14 January 1943 - Lorient (5.25) 27 January 1943 - Dusseldorf (5.15) - Incendiaries seen to be well alight 29 January 1943 - Lorient (6.01) 2 February 1943 - Cologne (5.08) - Town lit up by numerous fires. 3 February 1943 - Hamburg (7.00) - Glow of fires seen through clouds. 7 February 1943 - Lorient (5.02) - Many fires seen; glow observed from English coast. 11 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven (5.00) - Very large explosions followed by large fire. 13 February 1943 - Lorient (5.31) - Fires seen in dock area. 14 February 1943 - Cologne (5.05) - Glow of many fires seen through clouds. 16 February 1943 - Lorient (5.16) - A very wide area of fires; huge conflagration. 18 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven (5.17) - Bomb bursts observed; very successful operation. 19 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven (4.57) - Many fires observed. 25 February 1943 - Nuremburg (8.37) - Incendiaries seen starting fires at beginning of attack. 26 February 1943 - Cologne (6.36) - Whole town covered with fires. 28 February 1943 - St.Nazaire (6.05) - Many bursts observed in target area. 3 March 1943 - Hamburg (6.00) - Nine large fires counted in target area. 5 March 1943 - Essen (5.38) - Large explosion seen followed by many fires. 8 March 1943 - Nuremburg (7.39) - Bomb bursts distinguished around marker flares. 9 March 1943 - Munich (8.23) - Many fires seen starting in target area; terrific explosion also seen. \"Flight Sergeant Bissett is one of the keenest captains in the squadron and has always shown the greatest courage and determination throughout his tour, in the course of which he has attacked some of the most heavily defended areas in Germany. He has always set an example to those who worked with him, and is a real asset to the squadron.\" BISSETT, F/O Jack Montgomery, DFM (J16991) - Mention in Despatches - No.1664 HCU - Award effective 14 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 874/44 dated 21 April 1944. AFRO says No.423 Squadron but this is clearly wrong. Identified in No.6 Group Monthly Summary of Operational and Training Activities (January 1944), as being with No.1664 HCU (and so given here). DHist file 181.009 D.2993 (National Archives RG.24 Volume 20634) has recommendation for an MiD which is stamped 25 January 1944 but may reflect the sort of work for which an earlier recommendation could have been submitted. He was described as a flying instructor at No.1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, and the text was as follows: \"This officer has been an outstanding personality and an extremely efficient instructor in No.1664 Heavy Conversion Unit since it was formed in May 1943. His general interest in all branches of training has been an uplifting influence on the growth of the unit and the morale of pupils and instructors alike. He is strongly recommended for Mention in Despatches.\" The website \"Lost Bombers\" provides the following on his last sortie: Halifax LV898, No.427 Squadron (ZL-D), target Nuremberg, 30/31 March 1944. This was one of three No.427 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation; the others were LV923 and LW618. Airborne at 2220 hours, 30 March 1944 from Leeming. Outbound, shot down by a night- fighter, crashing at Herhahn, 4 km NNW of Schleiden. Crew (all killed) were S/L J.M.Bissett, DFM, RCAF; Flight Sergeant K.F.Shoener, RCAF; Sergeant V.S.Holloway; F/O R.J.White, DFM, RCAF; F/O F.R.Zulauf, DFM, RCAF; F/O J.J.H.G.G.Leclaire, RCAF; P/O W.C.Hall, RCAF; F/O R.A.Shannon. DFM, RCAF.