[Brian]

Hi guys

Quotes from the book The Eagles' War regarding Gilmore Daniel:

He states he was 14 when he joined the RCAF at Moose Jaw in December 1939, having a 'doctored' birth certificate provided by his father. Presumably arrived in UK late 1940/early 1941. Sergeant Pilot

Quotes from above book, slightly abridged:

"After a short time in Hurricanes with 121 Squadron, I went to 129 Squadron flying Spitfires and shot down a Ju88 making a twilight raid on Hull."

"From 129 Squadron I went to 43 Squadron flying Hurricanes again. I scored a probable here. I also helped in a rescue mission which later earned me a DFC. There was a notation on my discharge saying the DFC had been gazetted."

"Next I went to 257 Squadron where I shot down two 109s and shot up many E-boats. Then I transferred to 242 Squadron. I was flying Hurricanes when I was shot down for the first time. A He111 shot my radiator off, but I was credited with probably destroying him. I crash-landed south-east of Norwich but wasn't hurt."

"From 242 I went across the field to where 133 Squadron was forming. I got off on the wrong foot as usual and (S/Ldr) Brown had me posted to 19 Squadron. I shot down a He111 off Great Yarmouth. The bomber set my plane on fire. I baled out into the drink and was rescued by a patrol boat from Felixstowe."

"I was transferred to 401 Squadron. They were being equipped with P-39s. We were assigned to the Fighter Development Unit which had many different types of planes - Me109, FW190, Ju88, Ju87, He111 and Do217 as well as P-40 and P-36, and Whirlwinds, Typhoons, CR42. We strafed flak ships at Ostend and Calais trying out American planes."

"I was reassisgned to 133 Squadron for three weeks and received my commission. Then I went to 71 Squadron."

He was shot down by a Bf109 on 13 October 1941. The book states: "He had blasted the lead 109F in a formation of three and it had exploded, sending the other two planes down as well. Other enemy planes then set Daniel's aircraft afire and he parachute in to the Channel."

Book continues: POW 1941-45. Retired from the RAF (?) in 1946 as squadron leader (?) - my question marks!

Joined USAF in 1948 as Technical Sergeant. Flew one tour of Korea as Okinawa-based Technical Sergeant; flew second tour as 2/Lt radar-operator in F-94s of 319th FIS and was awarded a US DFC for a sortie on 4 August 1952. By 1959 he was piloting F-86Ds of 512thFIS during Lebanon Crisis covering Marine landings. Then became Base Operations Officer Beirut. In Vietnam 1966-67 as Staff Officer directing covert operations, awarded Bronze Star. Retired from USAF in 1969

Summary of above: RCAF 1940-41

121 Squadron
129 Squadron claimed Ju88
43 Squadron claimed probable (109?). Allegedly awarded DFC for rescue operation
257 Squadron claimed two Bf109s and many E-boats damaged
242 squadron claimed He111 probable - also shot down and crash-landed
133 Squadron
19 Squadron claimed He111 - also shot down & baled out into sea
401 Squadron
FDU strafed flak ships flying P-40 (?)
133 Squadron commissioned
71 Squadron claimed three Bf109s - shot down and POW

He is quoted as saying. "One might think that serving in so many RAF squadrons, I set some kind of record. It was not too unusual to be in units for a short time."

Well guys, pick the bones out of that!!!

Cheers
Brian