Gentlemen,

The number quoted above relates to the RCAF. A large number of Americans crossed into Canada and enlisted in the RCAF. Not everyone became flight crews. Besides pilots and navigators, air gunners, radio operators, etc. there were others who became aero engine mechanics, airframe fitters, radio repair men, and others that occupied every conceivable trade available in the RCAF. Don't forget there were many Americans in the Canadian Army and Navy.

When the USA entered the war, a special US committee traveled across Canada visiting every RCAF Station to "recruit" or "conscript" Americans into the USAAF. Many Yanks applied for transfer, but the USAAF selected only those having training (pilots and navigators) or trades considered of high value. A very large number of American applicants were rejected and remained in the RCAF, whereas others, who refused to transfer, were stripped of their US citizenship.

I met one veteran in Winnipeg: born in Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the RCAF, stationed with 3 Squardon RAF; he shot down one Me109 and 14 V-1s flying Tempests. When he refused transfer to the USAAF, his US citizenship was revoked, and he remained a Canadian--the late George 'Lefty' Whitman.

I assisted a Canadian researcher with obtaining official US government files relating to this special US committee. I copied and sent him documents listing several thousand Americans in the RCAF, detailing names, rank, and serial numbers. The majority of these are ground-crew members who were rejected by the Americans for transfer to the USAAF.

The Canadian researcher concentrated on pilots and navigators, and documented some of their recollections in a series of books titled, "Immigrants of War" by Walter Fydenchuk. The current volume (No. 5) may be purchased from the Pima County Air Museum in Arizona.

Norman Malayney