HURTUBISE, P/O Jacques Louis Charles (J48216) - Commended for Valuable Services - No.45 Group - Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 132/45 dated 26 January 1945. Born 1 June 1918 in Bourget, Ontario (RCAF press release 4910 announcing award); home there (source: RAF Ferry Command crew cards). Enlisted in Ottawa, 4 August 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1 ITS, 13 September 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 7 November 1941 when posted to No.15 EFTS; graduated 2 January 1942 and posted next day to No.10 SFTS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 8 May 1942. To No.31 OTU, 23 May 1942. Reported to No.45 Group in Montreal, 28 May 1942. First delivery flight commenced 12 July 1942 when he was in Hudson FH237 to Goose Bay; departed there 14 July when he arrived in Britain. Returned to Canada by boat. Late in July 1942 went to Nashville, Tennessee for deliveries to Africa, and later that year to Nassau, making numerous deliveries if Baltimores, Dakotas, and Venturas until March 1944. On 9 April 1944 he commenced his first Mosquito delivery (KB191 via Goose Bay, Bluie West I, Reykjavik and Britain, where he arrived 24 April 1944. He subsequently delivered Mosquito KB205 (7-26 May 1944), Mosquito KB394 (16-23 September 1944) and Mosquito KB508 (18 November to 4 December 1944), as well as Lancaster KB855 (2-4 November 1944) plus various Liberators. In the meanwhile he was promoted Flight Sergeant, 8 November 1942 and Warrant Office 2, 8 May 1943; promoted WO1, 8 May 1944. Commissioned 12 June 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 12 December 1944. Repatriated from overseas, 17 July 1945. To No.1 SFTS, 20 August 1945. Retired 4 October 1945. Postwar service with No.438 (Auxiliary) Squadron flying Vampires, 6 January 1947 to 1 July 1956 (120111, Flying Officer as of 6 January 1947; Flight Lieutenant, 1 June 1949 and Squadron Leader, 1 April 1951). No citation in Canadian sources. Public Records Office Air 2/9036 has recommended citation drafted when he had flown 700 hours, 165 in previous six months. This officer joined No.45 Group in July 1942, before his appointment to a commission and he has made 22 delivery flights over the North and South Atlantic routes. He was commissioned in August 1944, and he is qualified in all types of aircraft in current use. He has carried out his duties in a quiet and efficient manner and has been an example to other aircrews.