Buzz Beurling and Doug Lindsay

[keith A]

I have been trying to get details of the career of Lindsay with 403 squadron, especially when he was promoted Flight Lieutenant, and when he became flight commander because I believe these were separate event some weeks apart. Unfortunarely the NA website is down and the sources available are a little vague.

In this search I found Lindsay talking on YouTube about his relationship with Beurling. Unfortunately much of it is faulty recollection. He claims to have been with Beurling when he scored both his victories in late 1943. However the first of these victories was in September, two weeks before Lindsay joined the squadron, and the second came in December when Beurling now with another wing had left 403 after a disciplinary issue.

Intriguingly Lindsay is supposed to have been promoted Flight Lieutenant in November 1943, and Beurling who had been promoted Flight Lieutenant and flight commander on 28 October 1943 left 403 squadron on November 8, 1943. However I have also read that Lindsay had spent some time away from the squadron in the winter of 1943/44 and only rejoined in April 1944 after which he was promoted to Flight commander. He is certainly a flight commander when he opens his victory account on 7 May 1944.

Does anyone know who commanded the flights in 403 squadron in this period October 1943-May 1944?

regards

Keith

[keith A]

Found my answer to much of this. In "Angels Eight". Lindsay took command of B Flight on 1 July 1944, replacing FL Hart Finley TE. A Flight was led at the time by FL AR Mackenzie. Both Lindsey and Mackenzie would fly and fight in Korea with the USAF.

Lindsay is certainly promoted to Flight Lieutenant by 10 February 1944 according to the ORB. On 30 January 1944 he is still F/O. He may be with A flight, if we can assume he did fly as a wingman to Beurling for a few sorties in 1943, although I cannot find a single reference to this in October/November 1943.

K

[Stephen M. Fochuk]

According to his log, there is a period entry for 15 January 1944 "Returned home to find I was a Flight-Lute". However, written with a ballpoint pen, probably post war, "Promoted to F/L 21 November 1943. I wonder if that is the date W.E.F.?

Also, I could find no gaps for the time period of being away from the squadron.

Stephen

[keith A]

Cheers mate, My bad. His period away from the squadron was actually when he was TE 1944/45 until he rejoined them. I misread. I think the date you give for his promotion is very likely and he is not officially notified of his promotion to Flight Lieutenant until probably January 1944.

K