MATHESON, F/O Sidney Edward (J22227) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.162 (BR) Squadron - Award effective 28 July 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1729/44 dated 11 August 1944. Born in Nelson, British Columbia, 27 October 1915 of a Norwegian father and Swedish mother; educated in British Columbia; worked one year as a labourer and nine years as a printer for a newspaper; home in Regina; enlisted in Calgary, 7 January 1942. Attended No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon, 23 January to 10 April 1942. At Station Calgary, 11 April to 9 May 1942. Posted to No.4 ITS, Edmonton, 10 May 1942 (graduated 3 July 1942 and promoted LAC); further trained at No.6 AOS, Prince Albert (5 July to 12 September 1942), No.1 CNS, Rivers (13 September to 6 November 1942 where he was described as ?a man for details; a very exacting person; must know the whys and wherefores? although graded as ?an average bomb aimer?) and No.7 BGS, Paulson (graduated 18 December 1942 and promoted Sergeant but then commissioned with effect to 18 December 1942 but not struck off strength until 2 January 1943; he was on Ansons - 19.55 hours by day, 5.45 hours by night - and Bolingbrokes - 9.35 hours by day - graduated first in a class of 23). At No.4 SFTS, Saskatoon, 3 January to 22 January 1943; to No.1 GRS, Summerside, 23 January 1943 (graded as a ?very sound and reliable navigator? and passed first in a class of 16); to Station Patricia Bay, 6 March 1943 where he atended No.3 OTU (Stranraers, 111.35 hours by day, 16.50 hours by night); to Eastern Air Command, 30 May 1943; to No.162 Squadron, Yarmouth, 1 June 1943. Subsequently moved with that squadron to Dartmouth (October 1943) and to Iceland (2 January 1944) before return of unit to Sydney, June 1945. Posted to staff of Station Sydney, 7 July 1945. To Release Centre, 5 September 1945; released 8 September 1945. Medal sent by registered mail 7 June 1950. Died in Regina, 27 December 2004. Cited with F/O B.C. Denomy (DSO), F/O Graham Campbell (DFC, see above for citation) and Flight Sergeants Israel J. Bodnoff and Sydney R. Cole (DFMs). NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9158 has recommendation raised 1 July 1944 by the Officer Commanding, RAF Station Wick. It noted that Matheson (misspelled \"Mathieson\") had flown approximately 36 sorties (400 operational hours): Flying Officer Matheson was Navigator in Canso \"P\" of 162 Squadron on the 24th June 1944 hen during the run in to attack a U-Boat in face of devastating anti-aircraft fire and at a time when the aircraft was being hit repeatedly, the starboard engine out of action and on fire, he cooly and courageously stood to his post and operated a hand held camera because the automatic camera had been wrecked by flak. It is considered that he showed great courage and devotion to duty. Immediately afterward the aircraft was forced to ditch owing to the starboard engine falling out. During the subsequent 21 hours spent in the water, this officer did all in his power to assist the others, to such an extent that due to over-exertion he was himself receiving artificial respiration when a High Speed Launch arrived. It is considered that this officer not only showed exceptional courage and devotion to duty but also great self-sacrifice in his actions, which undoubtedly saved the lives of other members of the crew, at the risk of his own. He is most strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguish Flying Cross. To this the Air Officer Commanding, No.18 Group, added (2 July 1944): Flying Officer Matheson who was Navigator of Canso P/162 during its successful attack on a U-Boat, behaved in an exemplary manner throughout the action. Finding the automatic cameras unserviceable he continued to take photographs with a hand-held camera despite the fact that the aircraft was blazing furiously. His behaviour after the aircraft had ditched did much to encourage the members of the crew throughout their long ordeal. Strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. In applying for Operational Wings (25 February 1945) he provided the following sortie list: 6 June 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (6.15) 21 June 1943 - Eastern Air Command - A.R. (7.15) 25 June 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (8.10) 2 July 1943 - Eastern Air Command - Escort (13.00) 6 July 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (8.45) 9 July 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (5.40) 11 July 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (4.25) 14 July 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (1.30) 17 July 143 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (14.25) 9 August 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (14.45) 11 August 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (11.15) 18 August 1943 - Eastern Air Command - escort (10.50) 20 August 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (8.45) 26 August 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (12.10) 29 August 1943 - Eastern Air Command - escort (5.30) 4 September 1943 - Eastern Air Command - sweep (8.50) 7 September 1943 - Eastern Air Command - escort (12.00) 18 September 1943 - Eastern Air Command - escort (10.15) 21 September 1943 - Eastern Air Command - escort (11.35) 14 January 1944 - Iceland - ATR (5.45) 15 January 1944 - Iceland - ATR (8.30) 13 February 1944 - Iceland - sweep (14.00) 24 February 1944 - Iceland - sweep (12.25) 4 March 1944 - Iceland - sweep (13.00) 11 March 194 4 - Iceland - sweep (11.20) 26 March 1944 - Iceland - escort (13.50) 30 March 1944 - Iceland - escort (14.25) 1 May 1944 - Iceland - sweep (14.00) 3 May 1944 - Iceland - ATR (9.20) 12 May 1944 - Ireland - escort (6.05) 21 May 1944 - Ireland - sweep (14.00) 23 May 1944 - Iceland - escort (14.45) 2 June 1944 - Iceland - ATR (9.55) 3 June 1944 - 18 Group - sweep (15.40) 5 June 1944 - 18 Group - sweep (14.00) 10 June 1944 - 18 Group - sweep (10.30) 12 June 1944 - 18 Group - ATR (8.50) 18 June 1944 - Iceland - ATR (8.10) 20 June 1944 - 18 Group - sweep (12.45) 23 June 1944 - 18 Group - sweep (12.15) 24 June 1944 - 18 Group - sweep (12.00, sank U-boat) 8 July 1944 - Iceland - ATR (7.00) 14 August 1944 - Iceland - TR (6.10) 18 August 1944 - Iceland - TR (7.30) 30 August 1944 - Iceland - patrol (11.10) 13 October 1944 - Iceland - patrol (14.15) 10 November 1944 - Iceland - escort (2.25) 13 November 1944 - Iceland - sweep (9.50) His continued good work in No.162 Squadron is attested by the following assessments: This officer was appointed Squadron Navigation Officer on December 1st. He has always been an outstanding navigator and is very strongly recommended for promotion to Temporary Flight Lieutenant, effective 18 December 1944 (S/L J.M. Thomson, Reykjavik, 15 December 1944) This officer is an exceptionally efficient navigator and is doing an excellent job as Squadron Navigation Officer. (W/C J.K. Sully, Reykjavik, 16 February 1945)/