JONES, F/L Richard James (J11550) - Mention in Despatches - No.210 Squadron (AFRO says only “Overseas” - Award effective 8 June 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1729/44 dated 11 August 1944. Born 6 March 1921 in Gorrie, Ontario. Educated in Howick (1927-1934) and London (1934-1937). Enlisted in London, Ontario, 27 May 1940. To No.1 ITS, 1 June 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 21 June 1940 when posted to No.3 EFTS; graduated 31 August 1940 when posted to No.2 SFTS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 1 December 1940. To No.5 SFTS, 11 December 1940 (staff pilot). To No.118 (Fighter) Squadron, 15 March 1941 (flew 15 hours in Goblins). To Eastern Air Command, 26 June 1941. To No.5 (BR) Squadron, 28 June 1941. To No.116 (BR) Squadron, 1 July 1941. Appointed WO1 (paid), 1 December 1941. Commissioned 29 April 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 30 October 1942. To “Y” Depot, 10 February 1943; to RAF overseas, 28 February 1943; disembarked in Britain, 17 March 1943. To No.210 Squadron, 6 April 1943. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 27 May 1943. Attached to Felixstowe at various times; attended No.1510 Beam Approach Training Flight, 17 August to 1 September 1943. To No.302 FTU, Oban, 13 January 1944. Repatriated 4 March 1944, arriving 16 March 1944. To Eastern Air Command, 13 June 1944. To No.11 (BR) Squadron, 15 June 1944 (Liberator conversion course). To No.116 Squadron, 28 October 1944. Posted 17 February 1945 to Transport Conversion Squadron , Pennfield Ridge; to No.12 (Communications) Squadron, 3 April 1945 where work involved at least three flights to San Francisco. To Release Centre, 10 September 1945; retired 21 September 1945. Died at Presqu'ile Point (Brighton), Ontario, 21 September 1996 as per Royal Canadian Legion “Last Post” website and Legion Magazine of March/April 1997. No citation. JONES, F/L Richard James (J11550) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.116 (BR) Squadron - Award effective 21 April 1945 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 802/45 dated 11 May 1945. Governor General's Records (RG.7 Group 26 Volume 58, file 190-I, dossier 6) has citation. When recommended he had flown 2,600 hours, 1,600 on operations (160 sorties). Flight Lieutenant Jones has been employed on operations since 1940. During this time he has amassed a total of 1,600 operational hours and as a captain of aircraft he has displayed courage, skill and initiative of the highest order. His knowledge of Leigh Light operations has been invaluable in the training of his present squadron and his ability to put this knowledge into practice has been an inspiration to all crews under him. His devotion to duty throughout his operational career has been outstanding. Original submission dated 9 January 1945 by W/C Fleming, noted he was Leigh Light Instructor and had flown 2,600 hours to date (216.40 in past six months). As instructor he had flown 200 hours (113.25 in past six months). Operational flying calculated att 1,600 hours(130 sorties): Flight Lieutenant Jones has been employed on operations since the spring of 1940. He has amassed a total of 1,600 operational hours, of which 500 hours have been logged with No.210 Squadron, RAF. An aircraft captain of high calibre, Flight Lieutenant Jones has displayed courage and initiative in the execution of all duties. His skill and thorough knowledge of Leigh Light Operations has been of inestimable value in the training of his present Squadron, and his ability to put this knowledge into practice has been a source of inspiration to all crews under him. Notes: On 24 October 1941, Catalina Z2134 (No.11 Squadron Detachment) made a hard landing at Botwood on return from a patrol. Pilot F/L W.G. Egan uninjured. P/O N. Levitin (navigator) uninjured; Sergeant R.J. Jones (second pilot) badly bruised and slight shock; Sergeant R.E. McCormack (air gunner) uninjured; Corporal J.L. Earl, First Fitter uninjured; AC2 R. Smith, Second Fitter, uninjured. Assessed 27 December 1941 in No.116 (BR) Squadron. By then he had flown 345 hours 30 minutes as pilot in 1941, and 511 hours ten minutes in all. “Has shown good ability as a flying boat pilot” and “A good, steady pilot. Has been very consistent in his flying.” Assessed 7 Febriary 1943 by S/L M.G. Doyle, No.116 Squadron. “Flying Officer Jones has been Temporary Flying Officer since October 30th, 1942 and is outstanding in the performance of his duties. He is fully experienced as Captain of a Catalina flying boat. His judgement at all times is sound and the utmost confidence is placed in him. It is strongly recommended that this Officer be promoted to the rank of Probationary Flight Lieutenant, effective Febriary 1st, 1943.” Assessed 10 January 1944 by W/C S.R. Gibbs, No.210 Squadron, on posting - “A very reliable pilot and Captain of aircraft.” To this, G/C E.A. Healy added (11 January 1944), “A first class pilot and captain. A strong and imperturbable character who can be relied on to do a good job without fuss under all conditions. He and his all Canadian exchange crew have made a big contribution to the work of 210 Squadron.” Application for Operational Wing dated 19 April 1944 stated he had flown 121 sorties with No.116 and 210 Squadrons (1,500 hours), 30 June 1941 to 13 January 1944. Statement dated 4 July 1945 gave his time on types as follows - Fleet (57.20, day), Harvard (73.05 day, 2.45 night), Anson (116.05 day, 2.35 night), Liberator (52.35 day, 20.20 night), Catalina (1,160.40 day, 340.00 night) and Miscellaneous Types (41.00). Training: Course at No.1 ITS was 27 May to 21 June 1940. Coursers in Mathematics (82/100), Armament, practical and oral (77/100), Drill (80/100) and Law and Discipline (77/100). Placed 59th in a class of 96. “Clean cut young lad - keen.” Course at No.3 EFTS was 24 June to 2 September 1940. Fleet Finch aircraft - 28.30 dual, 25.25 solo (no Link). Courses in Airmanship (110/200), Airframes (192/200), Aero Engines (130/200), Signals, practical (49/50), Theory of Flight (71/100), Air Navigation (126/200), Armament, oral (170/200) and graded 100/200 in “Qualities as an NCO.” Placed 15th in a class of 24. “Dependable in an emergency, otherwise lackadaisical. Should be kept busy at all times.” Course at No.2 SFTS was 2 September to 30 November 1940. Yale aircraft (2.15 day dual, 3.55 day solo)and Harvards (26.00 day dual, 22.15 day solo, 2.35 night dual, 1.00 night solo). Logged 1.30 in Link. “Mediocre pilot with poor judgement, over-confident and should be watched closely; instrument flying above average.” Ground school marks im Airmanship (131/200), Armament, written (58/100), Armament, practical (62/100), Air Navigation (157/200), and Signals (31/50). Placed 34th in a class of 38. “Takes his duties and studies too lightly; does not make use of his spare time or help tidy pilots’ room. Should be watched.” Course at No.1510 Beam Approach Training Flight was 17 August to 31 August 1943. Anson aircraft (nine hours 40 minutes) plus seven hours in Link.. Average in all categories. Course at Transport Conversion Squadron (dates unclear) involved Dakota and Beechcraft aircraft (19.00 dual, 4.40 as second pilot, 15.30 in Link). Flying tests in General Flying (292/400), Instrument Flying (190/250), and Link (40/50). Ground exams in Airmanship (64/100), Engines (84/100), Meteorology (87/100), Navigation (182/200), Signals, written (88/100), Signals Morse (93/100) and Radio Range (86/100). “Has very slow voice and manner. His work is accurate, but has not had very much co-pilot work.”