April 20th, 2008, 10:38 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, CANADA
Posts: 122
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Re: How US pilots joined the RAF
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Originally Posted by Skipper
Interesting thread. I was actually hoping to find information about the airmen who flew with British and Canadian crews in Bomber Command. The casualties are taken care of by CWGC and there graves are scattered all over France. Not many know they were Americans because you'd think they be buried in a U.S. cemetery. At least three of them are buried in a local cemeteries near my hometown, probably more, but it is hard to say because the headstones mention their adoptive units.
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Other young Americans had made their way to Canada on their own and by the time the United States declared war against the Nazis in December 1941, approximately 9000 American citizens had joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, having made their own personal decision to enter the war. According to Spencer Dunmore, author of "Wings for Victory," "They were colourful, those volunteers -professionals and playboys, convicted felons and husbands on the run, idealists and mercenaries, kids seeking adventure, youngsters seeking nothing but an opportunity to fly, middle-aged men looking for work -and to all of them, the RCAF's need was their golden opportunity. Of these 9000, about 800 were killed in RCAF service and of these 379 have their names inscribed on Canada's Bomber Command Memorial Wall on the front lawn of the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum. After Pearl Harbour 1759 American members of the RCAF transferred to the armed forces of the United States. Another 2000 transferred later on and about 5000 completed their wartime service with the RCAF. Arguably the most illustrious of the Americans in the RCAF was Wing Commander Joe McCarthy DSO DFC and Bar of Long Island, New York. W/C McCarthy played a leading role in the well-known "Dambusters Raid" and completed a distinguished wartime and post-war career with the RCAF. Another renowned American in the RCAF was Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, author of the classic aviation poem, "High Flight". P/O Magee was killed in 1941 while serving as a Spitfire pilot with No. 412 Fighter Squadron RCAF. Another American in the RCAF was F/Lt. Charles Lesesne whose aircraft was hit by flak and then attacked by three enemy Me-262 jet fighters. F/Lt. Lesesne ordered his Canadian crew to abandon the No. 425 Halifax, struggling to hold the aircraft steady as they did. Sadly, he was badly injured in the attack and later died on the ground in the arms of his wireless operator. F/Lt. Lesesne's was one of 379 Americans whose names appear on Canada's Bomber Command Memorial.
Americans in the RCAF
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One problem was that upon joining the RCAF, recruits had to pledge allegiance to the British monarch, something that could result in forfeiture of citizenship for the young Americans. This obstacle was removed when the Canadian government passed an Order in Council replacing the oath with a temporary agreement to obey RCAF rules and discipline for the duration of the war.
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I know the topic lists US pilots in the RAF, but i believe the total fighting with the British Commonwealth, the majority flew with the RCAF...I attended a very good memorial last year, paying honour to the 370 fallen Americans that served with the RCAF and have had their names set in stone, so to speak of all whom fell serving with Bomber Command, while elisted in the RCAF...was a very nice tribute...I also added this you tube clip, for if one saw the eyes of the American veterans when they started this up the 3 or 4 times, was touching, as was the elder gentleman with his drawl saying upon the backfires and some spectators comments...."don't you worry, she'll purr soon enough" YouTube - lancaster bomber in nanton ab
bless all whom fell for us and their families...
bf109 Emil
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