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This officer is now nearing the end of his second operational tour after completing 47 sorties against some of the longest [sic] and most heavily defended targets in Germany. Throughput his long series of operations, Flight Lieutenant Boudreau obtained an enviable reputation for precision and accuracy, his records for timing and track keeping being far in excess of the normal standard.

This officer was also one of the original radar instructors for the Canadian Group of Bomber Command and by his exceptional skill and painstaking devotion to duty, contributed much to the fine records ultimately achieved by several squadrons. During this period he also completed eight operational trips as spare navigator.

Whilst with this squadron, the untiring and unlimited efforts of Flight Lieutenant Boudreau to improve the navigational efficiency of all crews in general and new crews in particular has been most outstanding, and his keenness and leadership has been an inspiration to all.

I consider that this officer's splendid record of achievement fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate).

While on operations to Stuttgart on the night of March 11^th, 1943, Halifax "M", Serial No. DT507 of 405 Squadron was attacked by an enemy fighter which both rear gunner and lookout gunner identified as a Me.110, at a point 4906 N 0426 E at 2242 hours. The Halifax was flying at 16,000 feet, heading 282 True and 160 m.p.h. Visibility was good with 1/3 moon Port Bow. No cloud.

The lookout gunner, Flight Sergeant O’Neill, first sighted the enemy aircraft directly astern and below at approximately 200 yards range. He warned the rear gunner, Sergeant Botkin, who fired a short burst at the enemy aircraft as it passed underneath. The rear gunner states that his trace missed. The enemy aircraft maneuvered for about 25 minutes and then attacked from 200 yards astern and below. The pilot, Sergeant Symes, on the instructions of the rear gunner made a violent turn to starboard. The enemy aircraft and the rear gunner fired almost simultaneously at just less than 200 yards range. The bullets from the enemy aircraft entered the Halifax’s port wing, damaging the aileron and petrol tank. There were no casualties to the crew. The rear gunner of the Halifax observed his trace enter the nose of the enemy aircraft which broke down and to port and was not seen again.

There was no previous warning of attack and the enemy aircraft showed no lights.

The rear gunner fired about 30 rounds per gun without stoppage. No damage was observed.

Sergeant Botkin attended No.6 BGS, Mountain View, Ontario, Canada and No.22 OTU, Welsbourne.

Flight Sergeant [J.H.] O’Neill attended No.4 BGS, Fingal, Ontario, Canada and No.16 OTU, Upper Heyford..

Night of 4/5th April 1943, Halifax "S", No.JB875 of 405 Squadron, target Kiel, time 2304, position 5516N 0844E, height 17,000 feet, heading 080 True.

True air speed 208 m.p.h., this aircraft was attacked by a Ju,88 which is claimed as destroyed without the enemy having fired a shot. The Rear Gunner, J.16957 Pilot Officer Botkin, R.T. observed an enemy aircraft, identified as a Ju.88 which appeared from the port quarter flying across the track of the Halifax at 90 and the same height at a distance of 300 yards. When the enemy aircraft reached the dead astern position he banked steeply to attack. Pilot Officer Botkin fired a three-second burst at the enemy aircraft and observed his trace enter the nose and wings of the enemy aircraft which was at the time a sitting target. The enemy aircraft then leveled out dead astern at about 200 yards and Pilot Officer Botkin fired another burst of approximately 4-5 seconds and observed trace ricocheting off the port wing and engine of the enemy aircraft. A second later the port wing disintegrated.

The enemy aircraft was observed to drop like a stone out of control and burning until it disappeared into 10/10th cloud below. A large flash was observed from beneath the cloud a short time later as if the enemy aircraft had struck the ground and exploded. The lookout gunner, Can 7808 Flight Sergeant O’Neill, F.R. and the Navigator, J.16958 Pilot Officer Boudreau, J.H. saw the whole of the action and the subsequent explosion on the ground.

There was no searchlight activity or flak prior to this action and no other indication of imminent attack. Cloud was 10/10th, thin stratus, no moon, brilliant starlit sky. Pilot Officer Botkin fired 650 rounds per gun without stoppage.

This is considered a good show which is only marred by the fact that the rear gunner appears to have given no evasive action. All was well in this case as the fighter did not open fire, and the accurate fire of the rear gunner disposed of him. The result might, however, have been slightly different if the enemy aircraft had opened fire on the Halifax which was apparently flying straight and level throughout the encounter.

On the night of 26/27th April 1943, Halifax aircraft "M" on Duisburg, was attacked by an enemy fighter identified by the rear gunner as a Me.109. The position was about three miles North West of Mook at 0246 hours. Our aircraft was flying at 15,000 feet, heading 308 Magnetic and I.A.S. 160 m.p.h. Visibility was very good, with 2/10 cloud below at 9,000 feet and the moon was just beginning to rise.

The enemy aircraft was first sighted by the rear gunner [Botkin] on the port quarter below, and at a distance of approximately 1,000 yards. He opened fire almost immediately and closed in to 220 yards. The rear gunner gave his captain instructions to corkscrew to port and the enemy aircraft closed in, and fire was seen to pass below the rear turret. The rear gunner gave a burst at 500 yards and another at 300 yards. The enemy aircraft burst into flames, pieces flew off in the air, and he disappeared through the cloud beneath. All members of the crew saw this happen, and confirm.

Just before the attack the gunners saw a series of green lights pointing out their track on the ground.

Our gunner fired approximately 250 rounds from each gun. No stoppages. The mid-upper gunner did not open fire. The enemy aircraft is claimed as destroyed.

While going into the target, Turin, on the night of August 12th/13th, heading 186 Magnetic, flying at 17,500 feet, speed 120 knots indicated, Halifax II "Z" [HH916] was attacked by a single engine enemy aircraft, presumed to be a Macchi 2002. The rear gunner [Botkin] opened fire at 600 yards range, and because our aircraft "Z" was on Bombing Run-up, no evasive action was given; the rear gunner fired about 400 rounds and the enemy aircraft turned off to port and was not seen again. This attack took place over the target at about 500 feet above the enemy flak. The enemy aircraft and out aircraft were both silhouetted by searchlights at the time of attack, there was a 3/4 moon, no cloud and the visibility was good. No apparent damage noted to the enemy aircraft.