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GRANT, Frank George Flight Lieutenant, No.438 Squadron, J5056 Distinguished Flying Cross RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
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GRANT, F/L Frank George (J5056) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.438 Squadron - Award effective 19 September 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2274/44 dated 20 October 1944. Born at North Sydney, Nova Scotia, 10 August 1918. Enlisted in Calgary, 11 October 1940. To No.1 ITS, 10 November 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 10 December 1940 when posted to No.1 EFTS; graduated 28 January 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot; to No.1 SFTS, 7 February 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 28 April 1941; commissioned 30 April 1941. To Embarkation Depot, 13 May 1941; to RAF overseas, 31 May 1941. Promoted Flying Officer, 30 April 1942. Repatriated and posted to No.118 (F) Squadron, 5 May 1942. Served in Aleutians with No.118 Squadron, went overseas with it when it became No.438 (taken on strength of No.3 PRC, 31 October 1943. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 September 1942; promoted Squadron Leader, 1 May 1943; promoted Wing Commander, 14 October 1944 on appointment as Wing Commander (Flying) of No.143 Wing. Repatriated 1 September 1945. Retired 24 September 1945. With No.401 (Auxiliary) Squadron briefly after the war. Died in Unionville (Toronto area), September 1975. Damaged a FW.190 northwest of Aachen, 24 December 1944. See photo PL-40906 (in flying gear in front of Typhoon). This officer has completed much operational flying and has invariably displayed a high degree of skill, courage, and determination. In June 1944 he successfully attacked a bridge spanning the river Dives. Some days later he led the squadron in an attack against an enemy headquarters in the Caen area, the building being completely demolished. He is a most inspiring squadron commander. NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9159 has recommendation by W/C F.W. Hillock, No.143 Wing, drafted 10 July 1944 when he had flown 107 sorties (136 operational hours). Squadron Leader Grant has been on his present tour of operations since July 1941, when he joined No.504 Squadron (Hurricanes and Spitfires), with which squadron he completed 56 operational hours before being posted to Canada in June of 1942. In Canada he took over a Flight of No.118 Squadron (Kittyhawks) which operated in Alaska for 14 months. He took over command of the squadron and brought it over to England in August 1943, where it became No.438 Squadron, and was converted to Typhoon bombers. The squadron moved to the south coast in March 1944, and has built for itself a fine reputation as a bombing squadron. This has been largely due to Squadron Leader Grant’s quite exceptional accuracy in dive bombing which he has imparted to his pilots. The squadron beat all records at Hutton Cranswick practice camp in May 1944. On June 6th, Squadron Leader Grant led a section in a very accurate attack, under difficult circumstances, on the beach at H-Hour. On June 16th, he scored two hits in a low level attack on a railway tunnel. On June 29th his bombs destroyed a bridge over the River Dives, and on July 6th he led his squadron on an attack against an enemy headquarters in a chateau near Caen. The attack was pressed home in the face of intense flak, and the chateau completely demolished, Army sources stating that only one bomb missed the target. Squadron Leader Grant’s exceptional powers of leadership and personal courage, added to his remarkable skill in dive bombing, have been an inspiration to his squadron. W/C M.T. Judd, Wing Commander (Flying), No.143 Wing, added his remarks that day: This officer is an exceptional squadron commander. I strongly recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 20 July 1944 the Air Officer Commanding, No.83 Group, wrote: Squadron Leader Grant has led many successful and gallant operations as a fighter-bomber pilot and I very strongly recommend him for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. This was duly supported by Air Marshal A. Coningham on 27 July 1944 and approved by Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory on 5 August 1944. GRANT, W/C Frank George, DFC (J5056) - Distinguished Service Order - No.143 Wing - Award effective 10 July 1945 as per London Gazette of 14 July 1945 and AFRO 1619/45 dated 19 October 1945. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has continued to display brilliant leadership and outstanding courage on all types of operations. He has led the wing in all the major actions during the Ardennes battles and despite the fierce opposition encountered has pressed home attack after attack with great skill and courage. During the Rhine Crossing, Wing Commander Grant organized and led the operations of the wing which was employed against the enemy's anti-aircraft defences in support of the airborne landings. By his skill and daring many enemy gun positions were silenced. In the subsequent drive across Germany he led many sorties in direct support of the army contributing materially to the rapid advances of the land forces. The great success achieved by his wing has been directly attributable to Wing Commander Grant's exceptional skill and outstanding leadership. GRANT, S/L Frank George, DSO, DFC (J5056) - Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (France) - Award as per AFRO 485/47 dated 12 September 1947. External Affairs file “French Awards to Canadian Armed Forces - Particular Cases” (Library and Archives Canada, RG.25, Box 4140) has the following citation: Wing Commander Grant fought during the French campaign as a Typhoon wing leader. His work was outstanding and during the course of these operations he many times led his squadron in attacks on the most heavily defended targets without thought of the very great risk to his personal safety. GRANT, W/C Frank George, DSO, DFC (J5056) - Netherlands Flying Cross - Award effective 18 October 1947 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 576/47 dated 31 October 1947. "In recognition of valuable services rendered during the recent war". Public Records Office Air 2/9140 has recommendation as cleared by Air Ministry Honours and Awards Committee. Wing Commander Grant was Wing Commander (Operations) at No.143 Wing from October 1944 to August 1945. Throughout the whole of this period of intensive operations, this officer showed the utmost gallantry and greatest determination in leading his Wing against the enemy. His personal courage and enthusiasm were of the highest order, and the determination with which he led his squadrons to attack heavily defended enemy strong points, communications and retreating German columns, often in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, were beyond praise. During the period of the battle through Holland to the borders of Germany, No.143 Wing suffered very heavy casualties, but in spite of this, Wing Commander Grant's keenness and determination maintained the morale of the Wing at the finest pitch, and their outstanding achievements were due in great measure to this officer's personal qualities of leadership.