GAGNON, F/L Joseph Achille Eugene (J27002) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.23 Squadron - Award effective 22 May 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1147/45 dated 13 July 1945. Born 28 May 1921 in St.Janier de Weedon, Quebec. Educated in Bromptonville, Quebec where he was a private secretary. Enlisted Montreal 7 February 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.2 SFTS (guard), 22 March 1941. To No.1 ITS, 27 May 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 3 July 1941 when posted to No.9 EFTS; to Trenton, 15 August 1941; to No.4 Manning Depot, 25 September 1941 for English course; to No.10 EFTS, (8 November 1941; to No.6 SFTS, 3 January 1942; graduated 24 April 1942 in rank of Sergeant. To No.7 BGS, Paulson, Manitoba, 8 May 1942, where he was a staff pilot for 18 months. Commissioned 1 December 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 June 1943. To “Y” Depot, Halifax, 24 September 1943. Embarked from Halifax, 22 October 1943; disembarked in Britain, 30 October 1943. Attached to No.51 Group Pool, 31 December 1943 to 21 January 1944. Attached to M.T.D. Sidmouth (whatever that is), 3-10 February 1944. To No.21 (Pilots) AFU, 29 February 1944. Attached to No.1515 Beam Approach Training Flight, 3-10 April 1944. Attached Tetenhill, 10 April to 9 May 1944. Attached to Person, 9 May 1944. To No.24 OTU, 25 July 1944. To No.1692 Bomber Support Training Unit, 9 October 1944. To No.23 Squadron, 3 November 1944. Attended Gunnery Course at Great Massingham, 16 November to 1 December 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 December 1944. Repatriated 8 July 1945. To No.1 Repair Depot, St. Hubert, 9 July 1945. To Station St. Hubert, 21 August 1945. Retired 28 December 1945. Died following crash of a Seebee aircraft, Trois Rivieres, 23 October 1947. See also website http://athabaskang07.wordpress.com/category/eugene-gagnon-dfc/); // Since joining his squadron in December 1944, this officer has completed many sorties against a variety of targets. His determination has been outstanding and his persistent attacks on enemy locomotives, rolling stock and road transport have been most successful. One night in March 1945, he was detailed on a minelaying mission in a section of the Elbe River. On the outward journey the starboard engine developed trouble but despite this he went on to accomplish his task in the face of heavy enemy fire. On the return journey the starboard engine became completely unserviceable. Height could not be maintained and the aircraft was forced down to 400 feet, becoming extremely difficult to control. Displaying brilliant airmanship and determination, Flight Lieutenant Gagnon made a successful landing at base without injury to his crew and with but slight damage to the aircraft. His devotion to duty has been most notable. // The website noted above lists his sorties with No.23 Squadron as follows: // 5 December 1944 - Intruder, Zuider Zee (2.00) // 6 December 1944 - Bomber Support, Meppen (2.25) // 12 December 1944 - Bomber Support, Twente (1.50) // 30 December 1944 - Bomber Support, Gutersloh (3.45) // 31 December 1944 - Bomber Support, Paderborn (4.10) // 2 January 1945 - Bomber Support, Biblis (3.45) // 6 January 1945 - Bomber Support, Geissen (2.40) // 7 January 1945 - Bomber Support, Stuttgart (5.15) // 13 January 1945 - Bomber Support, Luneberg (4.40) // 14 January 1945 - Bomber Support, Dortmund (4.15) // 16 January 1945 - Bomber Support, Ueterson Stade (4.20) // 2 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Sacheim/Hall (5.30) // 3 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Echterdingen (5.10) // 7 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Plantelunne (4.00) // 10 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Hospten (2.00) // 14 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Echterdingen (5.50) // 18 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Danemark Beacon (4.20) // 19 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Standel (4.35) // 21 February 1945 - Bomber Support, Hailfingen (5.25) // 25 February 1945 - Flak busting, Troha Fjord (4.50) // 27 February 1945 - Ranger, Prague (6.10) // 7 March 1945 - Intruder, Greifswald (5.40) // 9 March 1945 - Intruder, Munster (3.30) // 14 March 1945 - Intruder, Ober-Olm (5.20) // 15 March 1945 - Intruder, Paderborn (4.20) // 24 March 1945 - Intruder, Linz, Austria (5.30) // 27 March 1945 - Intruder, Elbe River (3.45) // 2 April 1945 - Intruder, Vechta (3.50) // 4 April 1945 - Intruder, Rechlin (5.50) // 8 April 1945 - Intruder, Flensberg (4.50) // 13 April 1945 - Intruder, Uetersen and Stader (4.20) // 15 April 1945 - Intruder, Ingoldstadt (5.35) // 3 May 1945 - Intruder, Hohn (3.45) // On repatriation form dated 2 July 1945 he stated he had flown 33 sorties (175 operational hours) and 325 non-operational hours, Types flown were Tiger Moth (15 hours), Oxford (135), Wellington (20), Anson (10) and Mosquito (320). Targets destroyed or damaged were eight rolling stock, 64 transports, one merchant ship and eight locomotives. // On a form dated 30 November 1945 (applying for training and employment on an RCAF Heavy Transport Squadron) he gave his flying types and times as follows: Fleet, 25 hours (all by day); Moth, 25 hours (all by day); Cornell, 40 hours (all by day); Yale, 15 hours (all by day); Harvard, 100 hours (day) and 15 hours (night); Battle, 75 hours (day) and 25 hours (night); Cessna, 20 hours (all by day); Anson, 250 hours (day) and 125 hours (night); Bolingbroke, 340 hours (all by day); Oxford, 100 hours (day) and 25 hours (night); Wellington (ten hours day, ten hours night); Mosquito (125 hours day, 175 hours night). Stated he had flown 33 night intruder sorties. // Assessed 4 December 1942 at No.7 BGS - “A young but mature NCO who has done very good work here. Above average pilot -keen to fly and reliable. Good appearance. Cheerful and cooperative at all times,” (G/C W.E. Dipple). // Assessed 4 August 1943 at No.7 BGS where he was a staff pilot. “Pilot Officer Gagnon is doing his work here in a very satisfactory manner - is always willing to do a little extra. Gagnon also takes a great deal of interest in station activities.” (F/L C.J. Fallis)/ // Training: Interviewed by F/O Louis Gelinas, Montreal, 16 January 1941 - “Above average, good education. Bilingual, keen, alert. Recommended.” // Attended No.1 ITS, 27 May to 3 July 1941. Courses in Mathematics (95/100), Armament, practical and oral (59/100), Signals (100/100), Hygiene and Sanitation (38/40), Drill (75/100) and Law and Discipline (40/60). Placed 82md in a class of 113. “Somewhat immature but willing and keen. Worked hard on initial training course and with further experience in service will undoubtedly improve considerably. Second Aircrew Recommendation - Wireless Air Gunner.” // Attended No.9 EFTS, 3 July to 20 August 1941. Finch II aircraft - 31.10 dual, 25.10 solo; was 6.55 on instruments and logged nine hours in Link. “Gagnon has been a very promising student, and has obtained very satisfactory results on the flying tests he has been given. His air work is very good, and his clear hood and instrument flying are both very good. Gagnon’s aerobatics are only fair, but would, I am sure, improve with more practice.” (G.A. Dunbar). However, he was deemed unsuitable at the time given his ground school marks - Airmanship (120/200), Airframes (48/100), Aero Engines (35/100), Signals, practical (88/100), Theory of Flight (41/100), Air Navigation (90/200)and Armament , oral (150/200).. Following this failure, F/L R.H.C. Jeffery (Chief Supervisory Officer, No.9 EFTS) wrote the following: “Gagnon os a French-Canadian, and after several hours dual instruction there was some question about his being able to understand his instructor properly, He felt that he would be able to overcome his handicap do far as his understanding of the English language was concerned, and was allowed to continue, his flying progress being average. It is felt that he would have made a suitable service pilot, but he failed in five of the seven of his final ground school examinations, It is felt that this trainee applied himself well while at this school, and his ground school failure can be attributed to insufficient understanding of the English language. He is very keen to continue either as a fighter pilot or as a flying instructor for French-Canadians. He has a pleasant manner, his conduct and deportment were excellent at this school, and it is felt that with further tuition in English, he would make a suitable service pilot,” // The following is from the diary of No.10 EFTS under date of 10 December 1941: “There was quite a serious accident occurred when Tiger Moths 5910 and 5895 collided in mid-air. The first machine was piloted by Sergeant K. Hughes, R76829, who was instructing R122623 LAC McNeil, H. The latter aircraft was piloted by R84334, Sergeant Kenyou, who was accompanied by R79112, LAC Gagnon, J.A.E. The right wing tips of both machines were sheared off, but were controllable and landed safely. However, both students descended safely by parachute. Hughes; machine force landed at the scene of the accident and Kenyon brought his back to the airport. “ A further report of this placed the accident about three miles south of Caledonia near Highway 6.and adds the following: “Aircraft collided while flying above clouds at 5,000 feet. Starboard wing tips broken off on aircraft 5895 [Sergeant Kenyou and LAC Gagnon] and interplane struts sheared off on aircraft 5910 [Sergeant Hughes and LAC McNeil]. Both students parachuted safely. Aircraft 5895 was flown back to Mount Hope aerodrome by pilot and aircraft 5910 forced landed successfully near site of accident.” Cause was obscure at the time; court of inquiry being convened., // Assessed on 27 August 1941 - “A good type of French Canadian, who wishes to service in any capacity. Somewhat immature but very sincere about flying and service to his country. Took prominent part in athletics - hockey. Has good flying ability and seems a shame to waste it. Should have help with ground subjects.” // Attended No.10 EFTS, 10November 1941 to 2 January 1942. Tiger Moth aircraft - 29.30 dual, 26.05 solo; was ten hours on instruments. Logged ten hours in Link. “A very good pilot. Should make a good instructor, Has some dual on ‘patter.’” Ground subjects were Airmanship (148/200), Airframes (66/100), Aero Engines (74/100), Signals, practical (90/100), Theory of Flight (66/100), Air Navigation (131/200), Armament (126/150). Placed 30th in a class of 33. ‘Good pilot; wishes to be an instructor; language problem. Poor on ground school.: // Attended No.6 SFTS was 5 January to 24 April 1942. Flew 55.20 day dual, 59.15 day solo, 5.55 night dual, 11.20 night solo. Was 27 hours on instruments; logged 20 hours in Link (72 percent). . “An average pilot with no outstanding faults.” (S/L E.G. Boadway). Courses in Airmanship and Maintenance (145/200), Armament, written (54/100), Armament, practical (56/100), Navigation and Meteorology (123/200), Signals, written (38/50) and Signals, practical (86/100). Placed 24th in a class of 49. “Satisfactory. Could have done better with greater effort.” // Course at No.21 (Pilots) AFU was 29 February to 24 July 1944. Oxford aircraft - 4.25 day dual to first day solo, 34.25 total day dual, 67.30 day solo, 1.05 night dual to first night solo, 5.50 total night dual, 12.10 night solo. Was 11.05 in formation and 6.05 on instruments. Logged 10.30 in Link. Flying tests in General Flying (270/400), Applied Flying (1400/200), Instrument Flying (160/250), Night Flying (75/100) and Link (40/50). “A good average pilot who has shown steady improvement during the course,” (S/L L.E. Speer). // Attached to No.1515 Beam Approach Training Flight, 3-10 April 1944. Oxford aircraft - 11.15 day dual, all beam flying on instruments; logged two hours 30 minutes in Link. Graded in Beam Approach and “Q” Codes, Link Trainer (143/200), Receiver Operation (70/100), Instrument Flying (165/200), Cloud and Night Flying (170/200) and General Application of Beam Approach Procedure, flying (145/200). “A keen pilot who has worked well on this course and attained Satisfactory results. I.F. quite steady.” // Course at No.24 OTU was 25 July to 16 September 1944. Wellington aircraft - 3.50 day dual to first day solo, total 4.20 day dual, 6.10 as captain by day, 3.00 night dual to fist night solo, total 4.10 dual by night, 5.55 as captain by night. Logged nine hours in Link. Flying tests in General Flying (310/400), Applied Flying (180/200), Instrument Flying (200/250), Night Flying (80/100) and Link (31/50). Ground examinations in Airmanship (228/300), Navigation (120/200) and Signals (76/100). “An ex-staff pilot who is well above the average. He experience no difficulty converting to the Wellington aircraft although he is rather small for heavy bomber pilot. Recommended for Mosquito aircraft. // Gunnery Course at Great Massingham, 16 November to 1 December 1944 involved eight cine gun exercises (175 feet of film), six air-to-air exercises (727 rounds, 2.3 percent hit), and one air-to-ground exercise (166 rounds, 18 percent hits). “Very keen pilot. Improved greatly during the course.”