FISET, F/L (now S/L) Kenneth James (J9078) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.439 Squadron - Award effective 24 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944. Born 7 August 1915 in Montreal; home in Outremont. Educated at Luke Callaghan Memorial School and Sir George Williams University. Manager of waterworks at Ste. Therese, Quebec. Enlisted in Montreal, 11 February 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.20 EFTS (non-flying duty), 23 March 1941. To No.3 ITS, 27 May 1941; promoted LAC, 2 July 1941 and posted to No.21 EFTS; to No.9 SFTS, 1 September 1941; graduated and commissioned, 21 November 1941. To Trenton, 22 November 1941; to No.13 SFTS, 13 March 1942 as instructor; promoted Flying Officer, 15 July 1942; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 April 1943; to No.1 OTU, 24 April 1943; to “Y” Depot, 10 July 1943; to RAF overseas, 15 July 1943. Attained rank of Squadron Leader, 6 January 1945. Repatriated to Canada, 16 February 1945. Released 12 April 1945. Died in Montreal about 1975. Shown alone in RCAF photo PL-29024 (ex UK-8699 dated 18 March 1944). // Flight Lieutenant Fiset has completed many sorties, involving attacks on a wide range of targets. In July, 1944, he led the squadron in a successful attack on a concentration of enemy forces massing for a counter attack in a wood near Tilly. The operation was executed during the most adverse weather in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. A few days later Flight Lieutenant Fiset again led his squadron in a similar type of sortie with great success. Flight Lieutenant Fiset has displayed outstanding powers of leadership, courage, and skill. // NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9160 has recommendation drafted by S/L H.H. Norseworthy, 28 August 1944 when he had flown 64 sorties (64 hours 25 minutes). // This officer has completed 64 operational sorties on Typhoon bombers, 47 of them as a Flight Commander. He has attacked all kinds of targets and has led the squadron on many occasions. On July 9th, 1944, he led the squadron in an attack on a wood near Tilly. The target was the forming up area for a German counter-attack. Flight Lieutenant Fiset made a successful attack under weather conditions which prevented two other squadrons from attacking, and in the face of intense light flak. After bombing, he led his squadron down and strafed the whole area. The army signalled that the failure of this counter-attack was entirely due to the success of this air operation. On July 31st, 1944, this officer led his squadron in an attack against the Bois du Homme, near Villers Bocage. On this occasion the army again sent thanks and stated that nearly a Company of infantry had been killed by the bombing and numerous tanks destroyed. Flight Lieutenant Fiset has outstanding powers of leadership and his courage and skill in the air are of the highest order. // This was supported by Group Captain P.Y. Davoud (28 August 1944), by the Air Officer Commanding of No.83 Group (31 August 1944) and by the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Forces (7 September 1944) before final approval by Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory (11 September 1944). // RCAF Press Release No. 8036 dated 3 January 1945 from: F/O George Sinclair read: // WITH RCAF IN BRITAIN: -- The exploit that won sportsman S/L Kenneth J. Fiset, Montreal, Quebec (875 Stuart Avenue) his DFC was a temporary disappointment to himself and the others who took part in it. He is now on his way home to Canada. // In July, he led a formation of eight Typhoons to break up German preparations for a counter attack. “The target, an orchard, was marked by British Army units red smoke. We bombed and strafed it pretty thoroughly but Jerry was really hidden and when we landed we couldn’t make a single claim.” // “We were pretty disappointed until about five minutes later when army officials from all over the area began phoning through. Apparently, we had really done a job and they couldn’t have been any more enthusiastic.” // On another occasion when Fiset led his squadron in an attack on German tanks, he found a more satisfying target. “Jerry was in a corner of a big wood and we went in just at dusk with 1000- pounders. After bombing and strafing, we claimed 30 tanks destroyed”, he said. A day or two later when British units took the wood, 37 derelict tanks were found, and about a company of German dead. // S/L Fiset began operations in 1943 with an RAF squadron, but joined an all-Canadian wing in early 1944. He received the DFC and command of his squadron on the same day last summer. // In peace-time, S/L Fiset was well-known in Montreal sports. He was tennis champion of the city at one time, and bowled in open and parochial bowling leagues. In addition, he took part in baseball and swimming meets and was a member of the North Branch YMCA. // Before going overseas, he was stationed at St. Hubert’s. A native of Montreal, he attended Luke Callaghan Memorial School and Sir George Williams College. Formerly, he was manager of the waterworks division at Ste. Therese. He is on his way home to Canada.