SEALE, F/O Reginald Coutts (J17560) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.429 Squadron - Award effective 5 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 20 July 1945 and AFRO 1619/45 dated 19 October 1945. Born 14 September 1921 in Vancouver; home there (clerk). Enlistment delayed because he booked work on an Esso tanker for what was to be a short voyage; orders changed and he was held up eight months; finally enlisted in Vancouver 8 July 1941 and posted to No.2 Manning Depot. To No.3 SFTS (guard), 14 August 1942; to No.4 ITS, 13 September 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 26 October 1941 when posted to No.6 AOS; graduated 31 January 1942 when posted to No.5 BGS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 14 March 1942; posted that date to No.1 ANS; graduated 14 April 1942 when posted to “Y” Depot. To RAF overseas, 30 April 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 14 September 1942. Promoted WO2, 14 March 1943. Commissioned 13 March 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 13 September 1943. Served with No.104 Squadron, November 1942 to September 1943 (41 sorties, 246 hours 20 minutes sorties from 28 December 1942 to 22 August 1943, flown against targets in North Africa and Italian targets. With Headquarters, No.203 Group, Cairo, September 1943 to March 1944 (staff navigator; developed DR Trainer for local use); on staff of an Operational Training Unit in Palestine, March 1944 to July 44 (navigation instructor); with a Mediterranean/Middle East Communications Squadron, July to September 1944 which he described as "Crew duties on General Sir Maitland Wilson's aircraft - Dakota aircraft". On return to United Kingdom he waived repatriation and asked for an operational unit. With No.429 Squadron, 12 December 1944 to May 1945; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 13 March 1945. Arrived in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on 22 July 1945. On 4 July 1945 he gave his flying times as 381 hours ten minutes operational and 455 non-operational hours, claiming 61 sorties in all; he could not estimate time on Ansons (logbook lost), but listed other types as follows: Blenheim (10 hours, approximately), Wellington (650 hours, approximately), Dakota (50 hours, approximately), Halifax (141 hours 30 minutes) and Lancaster (57 hours 40 minutes). Released on 22 September 1945. Award presented 29 January 1947. Attended University of British Columbia (Bachelor of Commerce degree); rejoined RCAF as an Accounts Officer, 21 November 1949 (15154) with rank of Flying Officer. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 January 1952. Killed while flying as a passenger, 17 March 1954 with F/L V.C. Dillabaugh and F/O R.C.L. Hutchison. (Expeditor 2369, No.105 Communications and Rescue Flight). Aircraft left Edmonton en route to Fort Nelson; 90 minutes after take off, pilot reported one engine had failed, trying to make Grande Prairie. Wreck found 22 March 1954, 20 miles southeast of Grande Prairie. Seems that propeller flew off and caused structural damage after distress call. No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty". DHist file 181.009 D.2610 (RG.24 Vol.20627) has recommendation dated 19 March 1945 noting he had flown two tours. Second tour was 16 sorties (107 hours 50 minutes), 29 December 1944 to 13 March 1945; he claimed 20 sorties on repatriation, the other three were probably flown after recommendation. // Flying Officer Seale has completed sixteen sorties of his second operational tour on heavy bomber aircraft. He is regarded as an outstanding navigator who has at all times been an extremely valuable asset to his crew. By his skilful navigation, his coolness under fire and untiring efforts he has always guided his captain to the target and safely back to base. // On one occasion the aircraft was under fire and all special equipment, including one of the compasses, became unserviceable. However, the mission was successfully completed and a large share of the credit is due to this officer for carrying on with his duties with the same high degree of efficiency under most difficult circumstances. // It is considered that his fine operational record, coupled with a calm courage and devotion to duty displayed by this officer fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. // The sortie list was as follows: // 4 January 1943 - Sousse (4.05) // 6 January 1943 - Sousse (5.05) // 9 January 1943 - Road junction near Tripoli (4.35) // 12 January 1943 - Sousse (3.00) // 14 January 1943 - Tripoli (3.20) // 16 January 1943 - Tripoli (4.05) // 19 January 1943 - Roads in Tripoli area (3.40) // 20 February 1943 - Palermo (6.20) // 24 February 1943 - Gabes West Landing Ground (4.25) // 28 February 1943 - Palermo (6.25) // 11 March 1943 - Palermo (7.10) // 20 March 1943 - Mareth Battle Area (4.55) // 22 March 1943 - Mareth Battle Area (6.15) // 24 March 1943 - Mareth Battle Area (5.50) // 25 March 1943 - Mareth Battle Area (5.05) // 27 March 1943 - Gabes (5.45) // 30 March 1943 - Sfax El-Maou Landing Ground (5.50) // 4 April 1943 - Sfax (5.15) // 6 April 1943 - Sfax (5.30) // 8 April 1943 - Sousse (6.10) // 11 April 1943 - St. Marue-du-it Landing Ground (7.15) // 15 April 1943 - St. Marue-du-it Landing Ground (6.25) // 6 May 1943 - St. Cyprien-Tunis Road (6.50) // 21 May 1943 - Messina (6.55) // 11 June 1943 - Pantelleria Harbour (3.00) // 13 June 1943 - Messina (5.40) // 21 June 1943 - Salerno (6.10) // 1 July 1943 - Palermo (4.45) // 11 July 1943 - Mazaro Delvallo, Sicily (3.05) // 22 July 1943 - Salerno (6.40) // 29 July 1943 - Capodichino Aerodrome, Naples (6.15) // 3 August 1943 - Cantanzaro Marina, Italy (5.45) // 4 August 1943 - Messina (5.45) // 6 August 1943 - Evacuation Craft, Cape Palermo (6.40) // 8 August 1943 - Evacuation Craft, Cape Palermo (6.00) // 10 August 1943 - Evacuation Craft, Cape Palermo (5.55) // 12 August 1943 - Evacuation Craft, Cape Palermo (5.50) // 14 August 1943 - Beaches, San Fovanni-Palmi (6.00) // 16 August 1943 - Viternbo Aerodrome (6.40) // 19 August 1943 - Beaches, Paulo River (6.05) // 22 August 1943 - Salerno (6.10) // 28 November 1943 - ferrying, England-Gibraltar (8.15) // 8 December 1943 - Matruh (11.30) // * * * * * // 29 December 1944 - Oberlar (6.45) // 30 December 1944 - Cologne (6.25) // 2 January 1945 - Ludwigshaven (7.30) // 5 January 1945 - Hanover (6.05) // 6 January 1945 - Hanau (7.25) // 14 January 1945 - Grevenbroich (6.25) // 16 January 1945 - Magdeburg (2.05, early return) // 1 February 1945 - Mainz (7.10) // 2 February 1945 - Wanne Eickel (5.25) // 13 February 1945 - Bohlen (8.10) // 17 February 1945 - Wesel (5.55) // 20 February 1945 - Mannheim (6.55) // 23 February 1945 - Essen (6.25) // 7 March 1945 - Hemmingstadt (6.15) // 11 March 1945 - Essen (6.25) // 12 March 1945 - Dortmund (6.20) // 13 March 1945 - Wuppertal (5.50) // Application for Bar to Operational Wing dated 17 June 1945 stated he had flown 20 sorties (134 hours 55 minutes), 12 December 1944 to 10 May 1945.