B-52 Mitchell

Search Awards

 
Search within:
Search Type:
REID, Joseph Wendell Wing Commander, Overseas, C927 Mention in Despatches RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
Description (click to view)
REID, W/C Joseph Wendell (C927) - Mention in Despatches - Overseas - Award effective 8 June 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1729/44 dated 11 August 1944. Born 18 June 1918 in Sydney, Nova Scotia; home in Montreal; enlisted in RCAF Auxiliary, 3 January 1939. Qualified for wings at Trenton, 2 September 1939. Flying instructor to September 1941; with RAF Transport Command, September 1941 to January 1942; No.118 Squadron, January to March 1942; returned to Transport Command, March 1942 to January 1943 (but apparently overseas from March 1942 onwards). Promoted Squadron Leader, 1 June 1942. With No.409 Squadron, January 1943 to August 1944 after which he was loaned to TCA; repatriated 12 August 1944; released 22 September 1945; became Director of Flight Standards. Postwar he was with RCAF Auxiliary (service number 120182) in Vancouver and Montreal; commanded No.401 Squadron; awarded Queen's Coronation Medal 23 October 1953 (No.1 Group, rank of Group Captain). Claimed to have flown 53 types of aircraft during the war including gliders, autogyros, fighters and bombers; his passengers had included Churchill. Died in Vancouver, 9 August 1985. No citation in AFRO. REID, W/C Joseph Wendell (C927) - No.409 Squadron - United States Distinguished Flying Cross - Award effective 15 May 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1127/45 dated 6 July 1945. DHist file 181.009 D.3053 (RG.24 Vol.20634) has text of citation taken from USAF General Order 92 dated 14 November 1944. For extraordinary achievement while participating in many patrols over the Normandy beachhead area. As a result of his outstanding leadership, Wing Commander Reid's squadron has destroyed at least twenty enemy airplanes since D Day. His courage and devotion to duty reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.