GILMOUR, F/L Benton Thomas (J6189) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.421 Squadron - Award effective 6 February 1945 as per London Gazette dated 13 February 1945 and AFRO 508/45 dated 23 March 1945. Born at St.Thomas, Ontario, 5 September 1921; home there. Worked as a grocery clerk for Lowlaws and drove a truck in 1940. Enlisted in Hamilton, 28 October 1940 and posted to No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon. To No.8 Repair Depot, Winnipeg, 28 November 1940. To No.2 ITS, Regina, 28 January 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 4 March 1941; posted next day to No.6 EFTS, Prince Albert; graduated 22 April 1941 when posted to No.2 Manning Depot. To No.10 SFTS, Dauphin, 3 May 1941; graduated and commissioned 16 July 1941. To Central Flying School, Trenton, 17 July 1941. To No.6 SFTS, Dunnville, 19 October 1941 to instruct. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 May 1942. Posted to No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 19 November 1942; to Western Air Command, 27 March 1943; to No.118 Squadron, Annette Island, 30 March 1943. Posted to \"Y\" Depot, Halifax, 12 September 1943. Embarked from New York, 12 October 1943; disembarked in Britain, 19 October 1943 and taken on strength of No.3 Personnel Reception Depot, Bournemouth, Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 November 1943. To No.61 OTU, 30 November 1943. To No.1 Tactical Evaluation Unit, 7 March 1944. To No.53 OTU, 14 March 1944. To No.421 Squadron, 23 March 1944. Proceeded with that unit to the Continent. Returned to England by air, tour expired, 8 December 1944. To No.1695 Bomber Defence Training Flight, 27 December 1944. To RCAF Overseas Headquarters, 10 July 1945. Repatriated to Canada 2 August 1945; released 20 September 1945. Attended University of Toronto, 1946-1947. Served in RCAF Auxiliary (service number 120393), first with No.400 Squadron (13 April 1947 to 19 February 1948) and then No.420 Squadron (28 January 1950 to 1 July 1952). Died in St. Thomas, Ontario, 7 March 1984 as per Airforce Magazine, issued of October-November-December 1985. Directorate of History and Heritage fighter claims cards indicate the following victories: 23 August 1944 one FW.190 destroyed; 29 September 1944, one Bf.109 damaged; 2 October 1944, one Bf.109 destroyed plus one FW.190 destroyed plus one FW.190 damaged. This officer has completed an intensive tour of operations with outstanding success. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged two others. He has also inflicted much damage on enemy transport. At all times, Flight Lieutenant Gilmour has displayed great courage, skill and devotion to duty which have been most praiseworthy. NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9048 has recommendation dated 4 December 1944 when he had flown 149 sorties (200 hours ten minutes); he was then a Deputy Flight Commander; the document appears to have been raised by his Flight Commander: During his tour of operations, this officer has shown exceptional keenness to engage the enemy, displaying courage and skill at all times. He has flown 149 sorties in which he has destroyed three aircraft and damaged two others. He has also destroyed or damaged more than 65 pieces of enemy transport. He has led flights on many occasions and has always shown himself to be extremely capable and to possess good qualities of leadership. This was supported the same day by Squadron Leader J.D. Browne (Commanding Officer, No.421 Squadron). On 11 December 1944 G/C W.R. MacBrian added: This officer has recently completed a very intensive tour of operations during which he has achieved very fine success. He has flown 150 sorties of all types from dive-bombing to ground strafing and sweeping, has destroyed three aircraft and more than 65 enemy transport. I consider that this officer deserves the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross and I strongly recommend that the award be made. Training: Interviewed in Hamilton, 22 July 1940 at which time he was described as having spent four years in cadets. “Exceptionally clean cut young man. Keen. Consider above average in intelligence. Believe applicant will be officer calibre upon completion of course.” Course at No.2 ITS was 28 January to 26 February 1941. Examined in Mathematics (88/100), Armament, practical and oral (79/100), Signals (50./50), Hygiene and sanitation (34/40), Drill (79/100) and Law and Discipline (48/60). Placed 25th in a class of 214. “Good material. Direct from school. Frank. Keen. General school sports. Special, track and field, basketball.” No.6 EFTS course was 5 March to 22 April 1941 (Tiger Moths, 36 hours 30 minutes day dual, 32 hours 35 minutes day solo, of which five hours 20 minutes was on instruments. Also logged eight hours in Link. Sergeant L. Waite wrote of him, “Above average - Ambitious type; perhaps slightly over-confident; flying so far above average.” Ground courses were Airmanship (144/200), Airframes (64/100), Engines (82/100), Signals, practical (100/100), Theory of Flight (82/100), Air Navigation (154/200), Armament, oral (173/200). Placed 15th in a class of 29. “Test was a good average; appears very willing to learn; however, may show a cocky attitude at times; conduct while at this school was very satisfactory.” No.10 SFTS course was 4 May to 15 July 1941; Harvard II aircraft (42.55 day dual, 39.30 day sol, 3.20 night dual, 6.45 night solo - of this, 20.25 on instruments. Also logged 20 hours in Link. S/L G.R.F. Groves wrote, “Above average. Aerobatics require improvement. Rolls rough and loops are too tight. Airmanship - should look around more prior to going into manoeuvers.” Ground courses were Airmanship and Maintenance (142/200), Armament, written (77/100), Armament, practical (80/100), Navigation and meteorology (167/200), Signals, written (61/100), Signals, practical (44/50). Placed 14th in a class of 55. Assessments: Flying Instructor Course at Trenton, 19 August to 2 October 1941. Described as “A splendid student”. His flying was assessed by Sergeant Pilot Andy MacKenzie as follows: “High average pilot. Aerobatics very good. Knowledge of sequence good. Voice and manner clear and pleasant. Good type; with experience should make above average instructor.” F/L H.H. Langford tested him in Harvard and listed his performance under several headings: Sequences (“High average”), Voice (“Not strong”), Manner (“Lacks force”), Ability to impart knowledge (“Average”), Ability as Pilot (“High average”). Final assessment was “C” category Instructor and noted, “When he develops more forceful manner will be a capable instructor.” “A recent arrival who appears very good material and interested in flying.” (F/L E.S. Dunn, No.6 SFTS, 15 December 1941). To this, W/C V.H. Patriarche adds, “Has not impressed himself strongly but is conscientious and interested in instructing.” On 12 February 1942, W/C Patriarche wrote, “Is doing an excellent job as instructor, conscientious and very energetic. His deportment id excellent. Retention recommended.” Recategorized as “B” class instructor, 4 July 1942, at which time he had flown 640 hours instructing. On 19 November 1942, on posting to No.1 OTU, S/L R.H, Hyndman wrote, “This officer is a capable and a reliable instructor who has been carrying out his duties in a very satisfactory manner.” On 29 August 1943, S/L F.G. Grant (No.118 squadron) wrote, “This officer should do well as fighter pilot on operations. Alert, keen and above average pilot.” Course at No.61 OTU, Rednal, 30 November 1943 to 22 February 1944. Flew Master for 20 minutes dual, following by Spitfire (five hours at night, 62 hours 30 minutes by day). Of this, 25 hours 15 minutes was formation and four hours on instruments; also logged eleven hours in Link. Ground courses in Airmanship (276/300), Armament (249/300), Intelligence (89/100), Navigation (180/200) and Signals (81/100). Flying Tests in General Flying (250/400), Applied Flying (140/200), Night Flying (60/100) and Link (41/50). Assessed under “Leadership” as 65/100. Fired 4,500 rounds air-to-air (four percent hits), 4,400 round air-to-ground (12.5 percent hits), dropped 16 bombs low level (40 foot average error) and exposed 177 feet of film. Air firing assessment was “Above average”. S/L D.H. Denham wrote, 22 February 1944, “A good average pilot who is keen and conscientious but has shown lack of air discipline on occasion. Formation very good.” A record of his gunnery indicates that on eight air-to-air exercises he fired 600 rounds per exercise on seven, 300 rounds on one (his fourth). On the first two exercised he scored no hits whatsoever and his best result was 7.7 percent hits on his sixth exercise. On 31 March 1944, F/L E.L. Gimbel wrote, “This officer has just finished a long period as an instructor in Canada. Although he has just joined this squadron he has fitted himself in well with the plan of things. Recommended for a promotion.” Assessment of 19 December 1944 by S/L J.D. Browne noted he had flown 1,487 hours 45 minutes of which 165 hours 15 minutes had been in previous six months. Rated in following categories (as per Instruction 2, Appendix II of AMO A.984/42): “Zeal and energy in performance of duties” (7), “Personality, force of character and leadership.” (6), “Reliability and judgement” (7), “Initiative” (7), “Ability on present duties” (8), and “General standard of professional ability”: (6). S/L Browne wrote, “A reliable, loyal type who could easily handle a flight - I was very well satisfied with his work and recommended him for the Distinguished Flying Cross.” At No.1695 Bomber Defence Training Flight, engaged on fighter affiliation training, assessed on 12 July 1945 as “An above average pilot - very keen and capable.”