FENWICK, P/O Harry Elmore (J15790) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.81 Squadron - Award effective 10 February 1943 as per London Gazette dated 16 February 1943 and AFRO 410/43 dated 12 March 1943. Born Transcona, Manitoba, 21 December 1920. Attended high school at Leamington Collegiate, 1934-1940. Raised by his father (mother apparently abandoned family when he was a child). Labourer in seasonal work at H.J. Heinz, Leamington, 1938 and 1939. Enlisted Windsor, Ontario 19 November 1940 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto. To No.1A Manning Depot, Picton, 10 December 1940. To No.5 Equipment Depot, Moncton, 1 January 1941. To No.1 ITS, Toronto, 28 March 1941; promoted LAC, 4 May 1941; taken on strength of No.7 EFTS, Windsor, Ontario, 5 May 1941; taken on strength of No.6 SFTS, Dunnville, 4 July 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 13 September 1941. Taken on strength of "Y" Depot, Halifax, 15 September 1941. To RAF Trainee Pool, 3 October 1941. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 21 October 1941. To No.52 OTU, 18 November 1941. To No.81 Squadron, 10 February 1942. Commissioned 3 September 1942. Wounded 14 November 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 3 March 1943. Repatriated to Canada via Rockcliffe, 25 August 1943. To No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 24 September 1943. To "Y" Depot, Lachine, 1 April 1944. Embarked from Halifax, 29 April 1944. Disembarked in Britain, 7 May 1944. To No.401 Squadron, 22 May 1944. Killed in action 21 June 1944. Family apparently living in Sioux Lookout when he was killed. Victories as listed in Chris Shores, Aces High, 2nd edition (all flying Spitfires with No.81 Squadron): 9 November 1942, one Ju.88 proably destroyed plus one Ju.88 damaged; 16 November 1942, one Bf.109 damaged; 17 November 1942, one MC.202 destroyed; 18 November 1942, one Bf.109 destroyed; 25 November 1942, one Bf.109 destroyed plus one damaged; 6 November 1942, one Re.2001 destroyed (shared with another pilot), one Re.2001 damaged, one Bf.109 damaged; 31 December 1942, one Bf.109 damaged; 2 March 1943, one Bf.109 probably destroyed (shared with another pilot); 6 March 1943, one Bf.109 damaged (flying BS511); 14 March 1943, two He.111s probably destroyed plus one He.111 damaged (flying EN210); 23 April 1943, one Bf.109 destroyed (flying EN187). RCAF photo PL-15900 (ex UK-3929 dated 18 May 1943) , shows A/V/M Curtis talking to P/O Doug Husband; P/O Harry Fenwick, DFC of Sioux Lookout listens. Left foreground is G/C G.R. Hicks, DFC (former commercial pilot in Canada) and right foreground is S/L Colon Gray, DFC and Bar, CO of the Spitfire squadron to which Fenwick and Husband belong. RCAF photo PL-15902 (ex UK-4083 dated 28 May 1943) shows A/V/M Wilf Curtis talking to P/O Harry Fenwick, DFC (centre) and F/O Bill Olmstead (Hamilton). RCAF photo PL-15904 (ex UK-4085 dated 28 May 1943) shows A/V/M Wilf Curtis talking to P/O Harry Fenwick, DFC and RCAF press officer, F/L John Clare; in the rear is G/C Hicks, described as a former commercial pilot in Canada. Pilot Officer Fenwick has participated in a very large number of sorties. He has always displayed great determination to achieve success and has destroyed four enemy aircraft. Assessment dated 15 August 1942, signed by S/L R. Berry, described him as "above average" in flying abilities. Damaged Spitfire X4659 ("Repairable") at Cliffe Pypard, No.52 OTU, 15 December 1941. He reported: I took off to practice cloud flying, aerobatics and forced landings. I flew in a southerly direction and after doing some cloud flying I turned on to a reciprocal course but missed the aerodrome. I then attempted to get a homing but failed and eventually landed at Bottisham aerodrome, where I was refuelled. I obtained permission to take off but was instructed to land if it got dark before I reached Aston Down. When near Swindon I decided that it was too dark for me to reach Aston Down so I landed at Cliffe Pypard. When landing the aeroplane bounced; I opened the throttle to go round again but the port wing dropped and the aeroplane crashed. CO of No.52 OTU noted that Fenwick had not been carrying a map (which might have prevented his getting lost). The crash itself was an error of judgement and logbook endorsed. Damaged Spitfire EN191, Category AC, 1000 hours, 3 February 1943 at Tingley following day interception. Port tyre punctured by a spike on runway, burst, swerved off runway into soft ground and went up on nose. No blame attached and no injuries. Upon repatriation to Canada he filed a summary of his overseas flying (dated 28 August 1943) giving flying times as follows: Miles Master: 20 hours; Spitfire: 400 hours; Fleet Finch: 60 hours; Harvard: 144 hours. He noted he had flown 42 hours at No.52 OTU and 400 hours with No.81 Squadron (250 operational). Assessed 1 February 1944 by F/L F.B. Foster, No.1 OTU, as follows: An excellent instructor who during much of his tour here has been in command or second in command of a Flight. Strongly recommended for immediate promotion to rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant. The first report of his loss (Form 765) stated he had been shot down at 2100 hours, 21 June 1944, west-southwest of landing strip B.6, France, on Spitfire NH207 (reported to have flown 37 hours; Merlin engine had run 40 hours 25 minutes). His flying time was given as 615 hours ten minutes (all types) and 436 hours on Spitfires. Squadron Leader L.M. Cameron summarized events as follows: A. Chasing a Hun Fighter over Allied territory. B. Came out of cloud after the Hun. His aircraft should have easily been recognized. C. This was quite an experienced pilot who already held the DFC. He was Red 4 on a normal squadron patrol of our lines as cover to the Army. The squadron went up through the cloud (Base, 1,000 feet) after Huns reported, and F/O Fenwick chased a Hun underneath cloud and was closing rapidly on him when our ground gunners opened up ans shot him down. I strongly recommend that no ground gunners be allowed to open fire on any aircraft in daylight unless they are being attacked, as our source of good pilots is diminishing. To the above, W/C K.L.B. Hodson (No.126 Wing) wrote: I concur with Squadron Commander. A more thorough investigation was held on 5 July 1944 (Form 412, signed off on 9 July 1944). This heard evidence of the Spitfire had been under fire from the ground even before it entered cloud. Although it tended to blame allied anti-aircraft fire, no blame was allocated. However, a Supplementary Inquiry was held (signed off on 27 July). A FW.190 had been about earlier and had been fired on, but Allied gunners denied shooting at an aircraft at 2100 hours. The second report concluded: There is no conclusive proof that F/O Fenwick's aircraft was fired at by Allied A.A. and every possibility that it was engaged by enemy flak. I therefore concur with the finding of this court. (Signed by Air Commodore D.A. Boyle, AOC No.83 Group).