B-52 Mitchell

Search Awards

 
Search within:
Search Type:
BELLIS, John Whamsley Squadron Leader, No.422 Squadron, J5502 Mention in Despatches RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
Description (click to view)
BELLIS, S/L John Whamsley(J5502) - Mention in Despatches - No.422 Squadron - Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1395/45 dated 31 August 1945. Born in Victoria, 23 December 1912. Educated in Comox (1918-1923), Victoria (1923 to 1929), Regina (1932-1934) and University of Saskatchewan (1934-1937). Then worked in CPR Stores Department. Home in Sydney, British Columbia; enlisted in Vancouver, 11 September 1940. To Dartmouth, 8 October 1940. To No.1 ITS, 14 November 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 8 December 1940 when posted to No.16 EFTS; graduated 27 January 1941 when posted to No.4 SFTS; graduated and commissioned, 16 May 1941. To No.31 GRS, 17 May 1941. To RAF overseas, 13 October 1941. To No.4 (Coastal) OTU, November 1941 for Catalina conversion. To No.240 Squadron, 4 April 1942. To No.4 (Coastal) OTU, 12 May 1942 for captain?s course. Promoted Flying Officer, 17 May 1942. To No.422 Squadron, 15 July 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 27 August 1942. Promoted Squadron Leader, 28 April 1944. To RCAF Overseas Headquarters, 2 August 1944. Repatriated 18 August 1944. To No.3 OTU, 22 September 1944. To Patricia Bay, 4 August 1945. To AFHQ, 18 October 1945. Retained rank of Squadron Leader as of 1 October 1946 (20517). To Staff College and Foreign Liaison Office, England, 12 January 1948. Returned to Canada and posted to Northwest Air Command, Edmonton, 28 July 1948. To No.2 (Maritime) OTU, Greenwood, 4 January 1951. Promoted Wing Commander, 1 January 1953. To No.2 (Maritime) OTU, Summerside, 15 November 1953. To Maritime Air Command Headquarters, Halifax, 22 August 1954 for service at Maritime Warfare School. To Rockcliffe, 12 June 1955. Retired 27 June 1962. . Died in Burnaby, British Columbia, 13 February 1986. British Columbia Bureau of Statistics renders his name as John Whamsley Bellis which is the name appearing on his service documents; London Gazette misspells his middle name as \"Whomsley\". BELLIS, S/L John Whomsley (J5502) - Air Force Cross - No.3 OTU - Award effective 1 January 1946 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 82/46 dated 25 January 1946 - As of recommendation he had flown 1,764 hours, 215 as instructor, 156 in previous six months. Medal presented 9 July 1949. This officer, after completing an outstanding tour of operations in Coastal Command, has returned to Canada and applied himself to operational flying training with the utmost enthusiasm and vigour. He has at all times displayed the greatest devotion to duty and has set a splendid example for his flying instructors in his interest in all phases of flying and in his personal application to his duties. The increased efficiency and standard of flying training at this unit are the direct result of his constant and unflagging efforts. Recommended 28 April 1945 by W/C W.C. Kent, No.3 OTU, wording as above. Note: Application for Operation Wing dated 27 July 1944 stated he had flown 60 sorties (801 hours 40 minutes), 25 September 1942 to 14 July 1944. A statement of his flying times dated 24 February 1954 lists Tiger Moth (59.20), Anson (139.00), Catalina (534.30), Sunderland (892.25), Canso (242.05), Lancaster (620.50), Beechcraft (163.10), Dakota (66.20), London (6.25), Harvard (50 minutes) and Mitchell (3.35)