ZEE, P/O Jerome Arthur (J17230) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.7 Squadron - Award effective 1 July 1943 as per London Gazette of 13 July 1943 and AFRO 1724/43 dated 27 August 1943. American in the RCAF. Born 29 September 1915 in Norwich, Connecticut; educated at Lebanon Grammar School (Lebanon, Conn,), Norwich Free Academy (Norwich, Conn,), Aviation Institute of New York (metal aircraft, drafting, welding and construction). Home in Jewett City, Conn where he owned a grocery store. Name originally was Zezulawicz; used “Zee” for some years and formally changed it, 18 November 1940. Learned to fly Groton, Conn. and had flown 32 hours solo, nine hours dual. Enlisted in Montreal, 30 October 1940. To Trenton, 22 December 1940. To No.1 ITS, 21 February 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 29 March 1941; posted to No.12 EFTS, 30 March 1941; may have graduated 28 May 1941 but not posted to No.1 SFTS until 9 June 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 20 August 1941. To Embarkation Depot, 21 August 1941. To RAF overseas, 14 September 1941. To No.1 AGS, 7 November 1941. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 1 March 1942. To No.5 AFU, 23 July 1942. To No.3 (Pilots) AFU, 18 August 1942. Promoted WO2, 20 August 1942. To No.14 OTU, 22 September 1942. Promoted WO1, 1 January 1943. To No.1651 Conversion Unit, 8 January 1943. Commissioned 20 February 1943. To No.7 Squadron, 21 February 1943 (but sortie list begins 3 February 1943). Promoted Flying Officer, 20 August 1943. Retired 6 October 1943, on transfer to American forces. Flew B-29s with 39th Bomb Group. Award presented 31 January 1949. Died 24 October 1974. This officer is a most capable operational captain of aircraft with many successful sorties to his credit. On several occasions he had demonstrated his possession of cool courage while pressing home his attacks on such heavily defended targets as Essen, Nuremberg, Berlin and Frankfurt. By conscientious attention to detail Pilot Officer Zee has raised the efficiency of his crew to a high level. His gallantry and devotion to duty have set a fine example to all. NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/8964 has recommendation (draft date not on form) when he had flown 18 sorties (108 hours 15 minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows: 3 February 1943 - Hamburg (6.20) 4 February 1943 - Turin (8.20) 21 February 1943 - Bremen (6,15, pathfinder duties) 24 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven (4.50, pathfinder duties) 25 February 1943 - Nurmeburg (5.50, pathfinder duties) 28 February 1943 - St. Nazaire (5.05) 3 March 1943 - Hamburg (6.05) 5 March 1943 - Essen (3.50) 8 March 1943 - Nuremberg (8.30) 9 March 1943 - Munich (7.50) 12 March 1943 - Essen (3.50) 27 March 1943 - Berlin (7.50, pathfinder duties) 28 March 1943 - St. Nazaire (5.10, pathfinder duties) 8 April 1943 - Duisburg (5.05, pathfinder duties) 10 April 1943 - Frankfurt (2.00, pathfinder duties, incomplete ?) 14 April 1943 - Stuttgart (6.45, pathfinder duties) 16 April 1943 - Mannheim (6.00, pathfinder duties) 20 April 1943 - Stettin (8.40, pathfinder duties) Pilot Officer Zee has completed 18 operational sorties, ten of them with the Path Finder Force. He is a most capable operational captain with many successful sorties to his credit. He has on several occasions demonstrated cool courage in pressing home his attacks on heavily defended targets. He has by conscientious attention to detail raised the efficiency of his crew to a very high level. The Officer Commanding, Station Oakington, added the following comment: This officer is a very cool and efficient operational pilot and an excellent captain, who has trained his crew thoroughly well and inspired them with a high degree of confidence. Training: Interviewed 15 July 1940 by F/O M. Janin, Montreal. “Very good material for pilot, pleasant lad - neat and smart - sold his business in Connecticut to join the RCAF. Very anxious to join. Has good education. Is a clean-cut lad, very healthy and well built. Highly recommendable.” Course at No.1 ITS was 21 February to 29 March 1941. Courses in Mathematics (73/100), Armament, practical and oral (88/100), Signals (94/100), Drill (95/100), Law and Discipline (51/60) and Hygiene and Sanitation (35/40). Placed 28th in a class of 77. “Self reliant, calm and methodical. Easy going man who is a fast thinker when it is needed.” Course at No.12 EFTS was 29 March to 16 May 1941. Finch II aircraft (33.20 dual, 39.55 solo - 16.40 on instruments). Logged 12 hours in Link. “Good all round pilot, has some previous time; instrument flying very good. Recommended for multi-engine aircraft. Ground courses in Airmanship (150/200), Airframes (72/100), Aero Engines (65/100), Signals, practical (70/100), Theory of Flight (81/100), Air Navigation (152/200), Armament, oral (168/200), Qualities as Officer (144/200). Placed 17th in a class of 27. “Reliable student, carried out all orders well and easy to teach. Clean and neat. Conduct good. Slightly overconfident.” Course at No.1 SFTS was 9 June to 20 August 1941. Harvard aurcraft (31.30 day dual, 24.05 day solo, 2.50 night dual, 7.10 night solo) and Yale (5.50 day ddual, 23.20 day solo). Flew 21 hours on instrimemts. “A good average pilot who needs more practoce on compass turns.” (F/L B.C. Andrew). Ground school marks in Airmanship and Maintenance (121/200), Armament, written (74/100), Armament, practical (67/100), Navigation and Meteorology (114/200), Signals, written (52/100), Signals, practical (46/50). Placed 27th in a class of 60. “This pupil has shown keenness in all phases of his traininh. He is weel disciplined and neat in appearance.” Course at No.3 (Pilots) AFU was 22 July to 18 August 1942. Flew Masters and Hurricanes - 7.50 day dual, 3.35 day solo. Logged 2.10 on instruments and 5.30 in Link. Course at No.14 OTU was 22 September to 15 December 1942. Deemed “Above Average” in Natural Aptitude and Night Flying, average in all other fields - landing, airmanship, aerobatics, instrument flying, formation flying, map reading and flying for bombing. Dropped 39 bombs by day and 38 by night. Above Average in Sense of Responsibility, Leadership, Method and Self Control. “Recommended for heavy bombers. A very capable and conscientious pilot with a good crew. Recommended for a commission.” At No.1651 Conversion Unit flew 5.05 day dual, 6.00 as first pilot, then 1.50 night dual and 8.00 night as captain. Described as Above Average - “A sound skipper. Recommended for a commission.”