HEATON, WO (now P/O) John (R165207/J86859) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.427 Squadron - Award effective 5 August 1944 as per London Gazette dated 18 August 1944 and AFRO 2101/44 dated 29 September 1944. Born 18 April 1924 in Toronto; home in Weston. Enlisted Toronto, 30 April 1942 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1 SFTS (non-flying duty), 24 June 1942. To No.5 ITS, 29 August 1942; graduated and promoted LAC on 24 October 1942; posted that date to No.4 BGS; to No.5 AOS, 27 December 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 12 February 1943. To “Y” Depot, 26 February 1943. To RAF overseas, 8 March 1943. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 12 August 1943. Commissioned 17 April 1944. Repatriated 7 February 1945. Released 24 March 1945. In crew of F/O G.A. Weldon, DFC. Photo PL-35242 is a portrait. Living in Toronto as of 1957. No citation other than "completed...many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." DHist file 181.009 D.1729 (PAC RG.24 Vol.20607) has recommendation dated 21 May 1944 when he had flown 25 sorties (161 hours 25 minutes). // This Bomb Aimer's tour of operations has been marked by his dogged determination to destroy his objective. His skill and outstanding persistence as a member of the bombing team has been proven on all his sorties and has on every occasion accurately placed his bombs. He sets his mind on the task in hand, fearlessly and with a fine offensive spirit, setting a magnificent example to the squadron. // The sortie list was as follows; similarity to that of Donald Ross Rand suggests they were in same crew: // 8 October 1943 - Hanover (5.30) // 23 October 1943 - Kassel (4.14, duty not carried out) // 3 November 1943 - Dusseldorf (5.39) // 22 November 1943 - Berlin (7.40) // 25 November 1943 - Frankfurt (8.05) // 26 November 1943 - Stuttgart (7.10) // 3 December 1943 - Leipzig (8.55) // 20 December 1943 - Frankfurt (7.15) // 29 December 1943 - Berlin (8.00) // 20 January 1944 - Berlin (3.25, duty not carried out) // 15 February 1944 - Berlin (6.15) // 6 March 1944 - Trappes (5.00) // 7 March 1944 - Le Mans (5.40) // 15 March 1944 - Stuttgart (8.35) // 18 March 1944 - Frankfurt (5.25) // 22 March 1944 - Frankfurt (6.20) // 24 March 1944 - Berlin (7.20) // 26 March 1944 - Essen (5.45) // 18 April 1944 - Le Bourget (5.20) // 20 April 1944 - Lens (4.35) // 22 April 1944 - Dusseldorf (6.20) // 24 April 1944 - Karlsruhe (2.40, duty not carried out) // 26 April 1944 - Villeneuve St. Georges (5.25) // 7 May 1944 - Valery-en-Caux (4.10) // 10 May 1944 - Ghent (4.50) // 11 May 1944 - Boulogne (3.45) // 12 May 1944 - Louvain (5.10) // 19 May 1944 - Le Cliton (3.15)