HAY, F/L Malcolm MacMurray (J5328) - Air Force Cross - No.3 OTU - Award 14 June 1945 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 1127/45 dated 6 July 1945 - Born at Saint John, New Brunswick, 12 February 1916 (RCAF press release announcing award). Educated there. Royal Bank teller, first in Saint John (March 1935 to December 1937), then Harvey Station, New Brunswick (December 1937 to February 1940) and finally in Montreal (February to September 1940). Enlisted at Montreal, 23 September 1940. To No.7 Equipment Depot, 22 September 1940. To No.2 ITS, Regina, 22 November 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 3 January 1941; posted that date to No.2 EFTS, Fort William; graduated 20 February 1941 but posted that date to No.1A Manning Depot; to No.5 SFTS, Brantford, 5 March 1941; graduated and commissioned 16 May 1941. To Trenton, 7 June 1941. To Picton, 7 September 1941. To No.5 BGS, Dafoe, 18 September 1941 (staff pilot). To No.13 Operational Training Squadron, Patricia Bay, 10 January 1942 (operational training). To No.3 OTU, 31 March 1942 (pilot instructor, officer commanding Conversion Flight). Promoted Flying Officer, 17 May 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 November 1943. Attended Senior Instructor Course, Trenton, 8 February to 10 March 1944. To Eastern Air Command, 11 December 1944. To No.10 BR) Squadron, 5 January 1945. Attended No.1 Instrument Flying School, 10 March to 20 April 1945. To Torbay, 18 August 1945. To Yarmouth, 9 September 1945. With EAC Liberator Meteorological Flight, 10-30 September 1945. To No.8 Release Centre, 31 October 1945. Retired 15 November 1945. Died in West Vancouver, 30 January 1994, as per Royal Canadian Legion “Last Post” website and Legion Magazine of March 1995 and British Columbia Vital Statistics. No citation in AFRO or biographical file; the following recommendation (for a Commendation) from No.3 OTU dated 31 December 1943 was found in DHist file 181.009 D.1688 (PAC RG.24 Vol.20605): Acting Flight Lieutenant Hay has completed 856 hours instructional flying on Stranraer flying boats since April 1940 [?] and has taken part in thirteen Air/Sea rescue sorties. A superior instructor, his energy and enthusiasm have always been an example to his fellow instructors. This did not reach Priority List. Recommendation for AFC raised 11 December 1944 when he had flown 1,972 hours ten minutes, 1,540 hours 55 minutes as instructor, 331 hours 20 minutes in previous six months. Flight Lieutenant Hay has completed over fifteen hundred hours instruction on Stranraer and Canso "A" aircraft, during which time the whole output of flying boat pilots in the Royal Canadian Air Force since April 1942, when he joined No.13 OTU, must have passed through his hands as instructor or Flight Commander. His devotion to duty throughout has been an inspiration to all ranks. This appears to have reached AFHQ but did not make the June Honours List. It must have been kept on file and been approved when New Year List was being prepared. Governor General's Records (RG.7 Group 26, Vol.59, file 190-I, dossier 7) has final citation. Flight Lieutenant Hay has completed over fifteen hundred hours instruction on Stranraer and Canso "A" aircraft. During that time as instructor or flight commander, every flying boat pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force since April 1942 has passed through his hands. The contribution that this officer has made to flying training has been tremendous and his devotion to duty throughout has been highly meritorious and in keeping with the best traditions of the service. Training: Interviewed 13 August 1940 by F/O M. Janin. “Very good pilot material. Bright lad, very keen. Clean and neat, also very smart. Should make good officer, apparently good mixer, Well recommended.” Course at No.2 ITS was 29 November to 23 December 1940. Courses in Mathematics (52/100), Armament, practical and oral (69/100), Visual Link (“B”), Drill (68/100) and Law and Discipline (74/100). “Average type - promising material.” Placed 152nd in a class of 201. Course at No.2 EFTS was 4 Janizary to20 February 1941. Tiger Moth aircraft - 29 hours 15 minutes dual, 31 hours 35 minutes solo. No time on instruments. Logged five hours in Link. “This man requires practice to gain more confidence. Instruments and powered approaches should e checked.” Ground courses in Airmanship (126/200), Airframes (72.5/100), Aero Engines (91/100), Signals, practical (97/100), Theory of Flight (95/100), Air Navigation (151/200), Armament, oral (144/200), and graded 170/200 on “Qualities as an Officer.” Placed tenth in a class of 25. “This student is inclined to fly slowly and his acrobatics require considerable practice. His actual handling of his controls is good and he should develop into a good pilot with increase in confidence. His ground work has been average and his conduct entirely satisfactory.” Course at No.5 SFTS was 10 March to 16 May 1941. Anson aircraft. 34 hours 50 minutes day dual, 44 hours 40 minutes day solo, three hours 40 minutes night dual, six hours five minutes night solo. Was 16.35 on instruments; logged 20 hours in Link. “Has completed a good course as above average pilot. Tendency to fly on instruments diring clear hood flying.” (F/L W.W. Thompson). Ground courses Airmanship and Maintenance (104/200), Armament, written (88/100), Armament, practical (79/100), Navigation and Meteorology (142/200), Signals, written (83/100), Signals, practical (48/50). “Slightly above class average. He is keen and a food type.” Placed 12th in a class of 52. Course at No.13 Operational Training Squadron was 12 January to 5 April 1942. Flew Stranraer (25.30 as pilot, 17.05 as second pilot), Goose (4.55 as pilot, 2.45 as second pilot) and Bolingbroke (navihation tarining,10.30 as second pilot). Courses in Signals (pass), DR Navigation (73/100), Reconnaossance (95/100), Coding (79/100), Patrol and Search (77/100), Seamanship (97/100), Meteorology (78/100), Ship Recognition (89/100), Astro (64/100) and Photography (90/100|). “Has the proper temperamrnt for an insructor. Is careful and good air experiemce. Above average Stranraer pilot (Day). Average student in ground exercises.” (F/L C C. Austin, 6 April 1942). NOTE: His career was not without incident. On 29 June 1941, at Central Flying School, Trenton, he leveled out too high in Harvard 1336, stalled into ground and then ground-looped, collapsing the port oleo leg. His log book was endorsed. On 20 November 1941, at No.5 BGS, he taxied Battle 1924 into Battle 1977; he was going too fast and again had his log book endorsed for "Error in Judgement". On 22 December 1941 he landed Battle 1839 wheels up after a scheduled drogue exercise - no injuries to either himself of R89899 LAC F. Hawthorne (drogue operator) - “Pilot Effort”. An incident on 19 December 1943 was more favorable. On Stranraer 947, the rate of climb/descent indicator went unserviceable during night circuits. He realized his pupil was going to overshoot and took over the controls, intending to land past the flare path using his landing lamp. The aircraft would not descend properly and he found he was heading for an alternative flame float path. His starboard engine failed at 200 feet (icing). Nevertheless, he managed to put down with minimal damage and no injuries. Applied for Pacific Star, citing a sortie, 15 July 1942 with No.13 OTU - Aircraft Carrier escort. Not granted. Applied for Atlantic Star on the basis of flying with No.10 (BR) Squadron, commencing with Convoy Escort, 12 February 1945 and continuing to 9 August 1945. Allantoic Star approved. A summary of his flying dated 10 January 1946 listed the following types and hours: Tiger Moth (67.20) Fleet (25.35) Harvard I (17.20) Harvard II (39.30) Cornell (6.10) Norseman (7.10) Lysander (14.50) Fairey Battle (85.45) Anson I (135.00) Anson V (38.55) Crane (10.50) Bolingbroke (18.15) Hudson (47.05) Goose (351.05) Stranraer (514.25) Canso A (606.40) Dakota (31.35) Expeditor (10.20) Liberator (237.25) Selected Assessments: “Is an officer of excellent personal character who is keen to do a good job; is rated an average pilot and retention is fully recommended.” (G/C R.A. Delhaye, No.5 BGS, 4 January 1942)/ “This officer is employed as a Junior Seaplane Flying Instructor and is carrying out his work efficiently.” (S/L D.E. Galloway, No.13 Operational Training Squadron, Patricia Bay, 10 July 1942). “”An excellent flying instructor who has displayed outstanding loyalty, energy and ability. Recommended for promotion to Acting Flight Lieutenant within the establishment of this unit.” (W/C B.A. Fraser, No.3 OTU, 13 October 1943). Tested as instructor on a Hudson, 21 February 1944 by F/L J.C Cowans. By then he had flown 191.55 single engine solo, 65.20 single engine dual, 1,027.20 twin engine solo and 81.05 twin engine dual. Had logged 957 hours 40 minutes instructing on twin engine flying boats. Described under following headings - Sequence (Above Average), Voice (Clear), Manner (Interesting), Ability to Impart Knowledge (High Average), Ability as Pilot (High Average). “This officer has a good instructional manner and should have little trouble to qualify for a higher category later on.” Awarded Category “B” (Twin Engine). W/C M. Lipson wrote that although he had no previous instructional rating, he had “no trouble picking up the sequences after a bot of work, and has developed a good instuctional manner. He had little difficulty converting to the various types of aircraft, and is a good average, steady pilot. At first his airmanship was poor, but he improved steadily throughout the course to become a high average instructor.” “He has been totally loyal and given maximum sustained effort at all times.” (W/C E.J.S. Jones, Patricia Bay, 12 October 1944)