RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell (C1319) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.1 (C) Squadron - Award effective 25 October 1940 as per London Gazette of that date. Born in Toronto, 9 December 1917. Enlisted 15 September 1939. Trained at Trenton and Camp Borden. Appointed Flying Officer, 18 May 1940. With No.1 (F) Squadron, 28 May 1940 to 26 February 1941. To No.14 (Fighter) Squadron, 28 February 1941. To Rockcliffe, 26 March 1941. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 August 1941. Promoted Squadron Leader, 1 January 1942; to No.14 (Fighter) Squadron, 25 March 1941. To “Y” Depot, 26 November 1942. Oveseas commanding Nos.411, 402, and 416 Squadrons. To RCAF Overseas Headquarters, 15 December 1942. Promoted Wing Commander, 8 July 1943. Headed Nos.17 and 127 Wings, July to October 1943. At RCAF Overseas Headquarters, 20 October 1943 to 1 May 1944. Reverts to Squadron Leader, 1 May 1944, to command No.442 Squadron (1 May to 15 July 1944). Promoted Wing Commander again, 15 July 1944 and made CO of No.126 Wing (15 July 1944 to 27 January 1945). Returned to Canada, 25 May 1945; released 3 July 1945. Associated with postwar RCAF Auxiliary, 19 November 1946; assumed Wing Commander rank, 13 July 1948 and assigned to Class “A” Reserve. See Volume II of Profiles of the Few (Profile Press). Died at home, in Knowlton, Quebec on November 20th, 2007. For good photos see PL-3093 (beside Hurricane), PL-6911 (portrait), PL-19372 (waist up in battledress, 1943), PL-22169 (with Alsatian mascot), PL-42559 (portrait). King George VI presented him with DSO, DFC and Bar to DFC on 10 October 1944. Photos PL-33443 (ex-UK15747, 11 October 1944) and PL-33444 (ex UK-15748, same date) shows G/C P.Y. Davoud (left) and W/C B.D. Russel soon after investiture of DSO at Buckingham Palace. PL-51780 shows Paul Davoud and Dal Russel receiving Dutch awards. // Flying Officer Russell [sic] has personally destroyed five enemy aircraft and has assisted in the destruction of a sixth. He has shown great keenness to attack the enemy. // RUSSEL, W/C Blair Dalzell (C1319) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.126 Wing - Award effective 11 November 1943 as per London Gazette dated 16 November 1943 and AFRO 113/44 dated 21 January 1943. // This officer as Wing Leader has led his wing on a large number of escort sorties without the loss of a single bomber to enemy fighters. The high praise earned by the wing for its skill is largely due to the great devotion to duty and ability displayed by Wing Commander Russel. // NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/8992 has recommendation dated 2 September 1943. He was credited with a total of 91 sorties (169 hours 25 minutes operational time, of which 64 sorties (91 hours) had been flown since previous award. // Prior to the middle of April, the Redhill VB squadrons had operated as an appendage of the Kenley IX wing. Squadron Leader Russel as Commanding Officer of 411 was deputed to act as VB Wing Leader by the Station Commander in the middle of April. Since then, Squadron Leader Russel has built up the VB squadrons at Redhill into a most efficient escort wing which, since the middle of April, has carried out 64 sorties as close escort or escort cover, in which over 500 medium bombers and [on] one occasion 30 Fortresses have been taken into and out from targets from Rotterdam to Cherbourg without the loss of a single bomber to enemy fighters. Although, as close escort and as cover, the wing has been bounced several times, the fine formation and discipline for which Wing Commander Russel is largely responsible have discouraged the enemy on most occasions from pressing home his advantage, and the wing has lost only two pilots against two Huns destroyed and three damaged. // The Air Vice-Marshal commanding the Group added (26 September 1943): // The wing this officer has ld has been almost solely employed on close escort or cover duties and has carried out these duties with much efficiency and sucess. Although less spectacular than other fighter roles, the Wing has earned high praise for its devotion to its task and its skill, the credit for which is largely due to Wing Commander Russel. // RUSSEL, W/C Blair Dalzell, DFC (C1319) - Distinguished Service Order - No.126 Wing - Award effective 3 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944. // In recent intensive air operations the squadrons under the command of Wing Commander Russel have completed a large number of sorties. Within a period of three days a very large number of enemy transport vehicles were attacked of which 127 were set on fire and a bigger number were damaged. In addition, four hostile aircraft were destroyed and seventeen tanks and nineteen other armoured vehicles were damaged. By his masterly leadership, sound judgement and fine fighting qualities, Wing Commander Russel played a good part in the success achieved. His example inspired all. // NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9159 has recommendation dratted by G/C G.R. McGregor on 15 August 1944 when he had flown 290 sorties (460 operational hours) of which 73 sorties (110 hours) had been since his previous award. // During daylight of August 12th, 13th and 14th, pilots of the fighter wing led by this officer flew 420 sorties over enemy territory in Northwestern France. In attacks on enemy transport vehicles, the Wing amassed the outstanding score of 127 Flamers, 77 Smokers and 199 damaged. In addition during this three-day period, four enemy aircraft were destroyed and 17 tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles and two aircraft were damaged. // These exceptional results are very largely due to this officer’s excellent leadership, sound judgement and courageous fighting spirit. These qualities have inspired every pilot in the Wing. // He is most strongly recommended for the Distinguished Service Order as an immediate award. // This was endorsed by successive officers and approved on 26 August 1944 by Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force. // RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell, DSO, DFC (C1319) - Officer, Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords (Netherlands) - Awarded as per London Gazette dated 23 January 1948 and AFRO 81/48 dated 6 February 1948. Public Records Office Air 2/9293 has recommendation drafted when he was a Wing Commander: // In operational command of No.126 Wing, Royal Air Force [sic], stationed at the aerodrome Volkel from September 1944 until February until April 1945, through his excellent work has greatly contributed to the liberation of the Netherlands. // RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell, DSO, DFC (C1319) - Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (France) - Award as per Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947 and AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947. NOTE: The rank requires explanation; Russel reverted to Flying Officer on 19 November 1946 and was not reappointed to Wing Commander rank until 13 July 1948. External Affairs file “French Awards to Canadian Armed Forces - Particular Cases” (Library and Archives Canada, RG.25, Box 4140) has the following citation: // This officer has completed three tours of operations during the period from the Battle of Britain to the crossing of the Rhine. His work as a squadron commander and wing leader has been outstanding as evidenced by the tremendous successes his wing achieved during the battle for the liberation of France. // RUSSEL, F/O Blair Dalzell, DSO, DFC (C1319) - War Cross, 1939 (Czechoslovakia) - Canada Gazette dated 24 January 1948, AFRO 81/48 dated 6 February 1948. // Note: The following was published in the Telegraph, 18 December 2007. // Wing Commander "Dal" Russel, who has died aged 89, was a highly decorated wartime Canadian fighter pilot whose log book recorded kills in the Battle of Britain and the Normandy invasion; he later led attacks on enemy rail and road transport as the Allies entered Germany and Holland. // Dal Russel: Johnnie Johnson said he exhibited “all the attributes of the conception of a fighter pilot.” // Russel arrived in England in June 1940 with No 1 (RCAF) Squadron, the first Canadian unit to see action. Flying Hurricanes, it was declared operational in mid-August, and within 10 days Russel shared in the destruction of a Dornier bomber over Gravesend. // He was based at Northolt, and was involved in some of the fiercest fighting of the battle. Over the next few weeks he accounted for another five enemy aircraft, including two downed and one shared on the same day - September 27; and he probably destroyed two others and damaged three more. // His ground crew nicknamed him "Deadeye Dick" and painted the Ace of Spades on his Hurricane for luck. In October he was awarded the DFC, one of three bestowed on members of No 401 Squadron (as No 1 became) and the first to be awarded to the RCAF in the war. // Russel sent telegrams home regularly, writing in mid-September: "Cigarettes and food arrived. Many thanks. Got my third Hun yesterday. Heinkel bomber. Love to all." But although almost every telegram asked for food and cigarettes, a later letter revealed the less cheery reality: "In the thick of a fight you haven't time to think much. Your mouth is dry as cotton and the palms of your hands are dripping wet as you try to get the enemy within reach of your eight guns and keep another fellow off your tail." // Blair Dalzell Russel was born in Toronto on December 9 1917 but his family moved to Montreal shortly afterwards. He was educated at Trinity College School at Port Hope, Ontario, where he was better at sport than his studies. He learned to fly at the Montreal Flying Club, and by the end of the first week of the war he and most of his colleagues had joined the RCAF. // After the Battle of Britain Russel was sent back to Canada to assist with recruiting, but soon returned to flying, being promoted to command a fighter squadron equipped with Kittyhawks. After being disappointed at not being sent to the Aleutian Islands to fight the Japanese, he came back to fly Spitfires in England in December 1942. // Given command of No 411 (RCAF) Squadron at Redhill, with the primary role of providing escort for bombers attacking targets in France, he was then promoted, at 25, to command No 126 Wing, equipped with three Canadian Spitfire squadrons. // Russel's wing carried out 64 sorties as close escort, in which more than 500 bombers were taken to targets from Rotterdam to Cherbourg without a single bomber being lost to enemy fighters. Russel led many of these sorties himself, attracting high praise from the commanders of the bomber force. // At the end of his tour in November 1943 he was awarded a Bar to his DFC. He then spent six months developing tactics at HQ 83 Group, but by the spring of 1944 he was anxious to return to operational flying. // Following the loss of a Canadian squadron commander, he asked Johnnie Johnson, the RAF's highest scoring fighter pilot and wing leader of the Canadian Spitfire Wing, for command of No 442 (RCAF) Squadron. // Johnson had a very high regard for the blond, curly-haired Russel, considering him to have "all the attributes of the popular conception of a fighter pilot", adding that he was "a great favourite with the ladies". But Russel had to drop a rank to take command immediately. // Johnson's Spitfire Wing was at the centre of operations leading up to the invasion of Normandy. On June 10, just four days after the Allied landings began, Army and RAF airfield engineers had completed the first landing strip at St Croix-sur-Mer (B6) in Normandy. Johnson sent Russel and his wingman to check the airstrip, making them among the first to land in France. // Two days later Johnson led his three squadrons to B6, from which operations deeper into France began. Russel shared in the destruction of a Focke-Wulf fighter and damaged a second fighter, but most of his sorties were against ground targets. // During this hectic period he learned that his younger brother, Hugh, had been shot down nearby and killed flying with another Canadian Spitfire squadron. // In July Russel was once again promoted to wing commander and took command of the four Spitfire squadrons of No 126 Wing. He led them during the devastating attacks in the Falaise pocket and then in support of the advancing Allied armies as they pushed forward through France, Belgium and Holland. // His squadrons destroyed more than 700 transport targets and tank concentrations; and on October 4 one of his pilots shot down a Messerschmitt 262 fighter, the first jet to be downed by a fighter. // Shortly afterwards it was announced that Russel had been awarded the DSO for his "masterly leadership and fine fighting qualities when his example had inspired all". // Six days later he was summoned to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI decorated him with his DSO, DFC and Bar. // Russel continued to lead his wing in intensive operations as it advanced into Holland. Based at the former German airfield at Volkel, his squadrons flew into Germany attacking road and rail targets. // After completing 256 operational sorties in three tours of duty, one of the few Canadians to do so, he was finally grounded at the end of January 1945. He had never been shot down, although a stricken German fighter, shot down by Johnnie Johnson, almost hit his Spitfire. // Russel, who was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords and the Czechoslovak War Cross, was released from the RCAF in July 1945. // He worked for Canada Wire and Cable, Canadair Aircraft Company and Sperry Gyroscopes before he and his wife bought a linen store in Montreal. In retirement he enjoyed salmon fishing but, although invited to hunt by friends, he never liked shooting after the war. // "Dal" Russel died on November 20. His wife predeceased him, and he is survived by two sons and a daughter. // RCAF Press Release No.9238 dated 7 March 1945 from F/O L.A. Taylor, transcribed by Mondor Oates, reads: // WITH THE RCAF IN BRITAIN: -- W/C B. Dalzell Russel, DSO, DFC and Bar, of Westmount, Quebec, (607 Clarke Avenue), is one of the few men still with the RCAF who have watched our air force grow to one of the most powerful air organizations in the world. He fought with it through the dark days of the Battle of Britain; he waged war against enemy fighters in the years before the invasion; he led his squadron in “umbrella” coverage of ground forces on D-Day, and he led many a sortie since from bases on the Continent. Now, following three successful tours of operations, he is going home to Canada. // Blonde, with an enthusiastic happy smile, Russel is reticent to speak of his accomplishments. About his decorations he says merely, “There’s not much to tell; in fact I really don’t think I’ve done any more than hundreds of other Canadians have done. All of the boys in the squadron did an A-1 job. There are a few who are really red hot.” // He named such men as S/L Charles Trainor, DSO, DFC and Bar, “who was a wizard at beating up enemy transport”, S/L Robert Hayward, DSO, DFC, of Newfoundland, and S/L William Olmsted, DSO, DFC and Bar, of Hamilton, Ontario. “Dal” Russel joined the air force less than a week after war was declared, so he qualifies as being one of the first of its members. He is the 28-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Blair Russel. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was taken to Montreal with his parents eight months after birth. // In June of 1940, Russel arrived overseas as a “Sprog P/C” and took his place among the heroes who defended Britain in the days when London and Coventry were taking the beating that Berlin and Munich are taking today. He is one of the few men of the old 115th Squadron left to tell of those early days. During the following summer, by then, a flying officer, Russel won the DFC, one of the first three in the RCAF. The other two were won by G/C Ernest McNab and G/C Gordon McGregor. He was awarded the DFC for destroying five enemy aircraft, assisting in destruction of a sixth and for showing “great keenness to attack the enemy”. // Following a well-earned rest at his home in Westmount, Russel was posted to Eastern Canada as an instructor. There, he was made a flight lieutenant. The next promotion came while on duty in Ottawa, Ontario. The winter of 1942 saw Russel back in harness in England. He flew Spitfires in his second tour while escorting Bostons and Marauders of the American Ninth Air Force over France and Holland. During the following summer, he was made a Wing Commander and in November, he was awarded the Bar to his DFC for leadership of his wing. // But the most interesting days of his air force career, according to Russel, were during his third tour when he flew with the colourful W/C Johnny Johnson, DSO and 2 Bars, DFC and Bar, and DFC (U.S.). To fly a third tour, Russel had to revert to Squadron Leader. “Our wing was the first to set up shop in France,” he said, “and we carried out fighter sweeps from there in addition to continuing coverage of the beachheads. Our Spits dive-bombed enemy strong points when they were holding out against Allied armies. After that, we turned our attention to armed recce -- which means shooting up anything moving on the ground, troops, tanks, trains and enemy supply convoys.” // True to his knack of being a pioneer, Russel was the first man to land a plane on our first base in Allied occupied territory. Shortly after, his wing shot down 24 enemy planes in a single day when the Luftwaffe attacked Allied air fields on the Continent. From then on, air force records are studded with such comments as “W/C ‘Dal’ Russel’s wing led in air sweeps across Holland and Belgium today, destroying enemy aircraft and transport and supply columns”. // It was his keen leadership once again that won for him the DSO, awarded last autumn, and a promotion again to Wing Commander. The hearts of the headmasters and masters of Selwyn House, Montreal, Quebec, and Trinity College School, Port Hope, must glow with pride as they remember the young, fair-haired student whose mind seemed never to be on thoughts of Latin and Algebra but on the playing fields. The boy, who was the ace of the hockey cushion and the star of the baseball diamond, showed the spirit in those early days which later made him one his country’s foremost air aces. // Now that it is all over, Russel is looking forward to going home again. “I’m going back to Canada in the near future,” he said, “and it is certainly something to look forward to.” Russel’s brother, Hugh, who flew with him in the RCAF, was reported missing. His sister, Jane, is overseas with the Canadian Red Cross