Vernon Peter Bruce HILL (1923-1999)

Name:	HILL, Vernon "Peter" Bruce, DFC
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Service No.:	J/16225
Date of Birth:	1 March 1923 -
Date of Death:	July 29, 1999 - St. Catherines, ON

HILL, F/O Vernon Peter Bruce (J16225) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.692 Squadron - Award effective 13 June 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1660/44 dated 4 August 1944. Born 1 March 1923. Home in St. Catharines, Ontario. Enlisted in Hamilton, 21 May 1941. To "R", 9 June 1941. To No.1 ITS, 15 July 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 21 August 1941; posted that date to No.1 Manning Depot; to No.1 AOS, 15 September 1941; graduated 20 December 1941 when posted to No.1 BGS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 31 January 1942; to No.2 ANS, 31 January 1942; graduated 2 March 1942. To "Y" Depot, 3 March 1942. To RAF overseas, 13 March 1942. Commissioned 1 December 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 June 1943. Repatriated 12 August 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 October 1944. Retired 11 July 1945. Cited with F/L J.H. Barron (see below). Postwar he obtained a degree in Business Engineering from McGill University. RCAF photo PL-25519R (right) shows him on repatriation to Canada; caption states he had been "a navigator on Wellington and Mosquito bombers" and had "operated from bases in Britain and North Africa." Died in St. Catharines, Ontario, 29 July 1999.

Public Record Office Air 2/9156 has recommendation drafted 15 May 1944 when he had flown 57 sorties (239 hours 40 minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows:

7 September 1942	Gardening, Lorient	2 March 1944	Munchen/ Gladbach
15 September 1942	Gardening, Frisians	4 March 1944	Duisburg
16 September 1942	Essen	6 March 1944	Hanover
24 September 1942	Garening, Frisians	9 March 1944	Dusseldorf
26 September 1942	Gardening, Heligoland	11 March 1944	Muchen/ Gladbach
2 October 1942	Krefeld	13 March 1944	Frankfurt
23 October 1942	Essen, daylight	15 March 1944	Stuttgart
27 October 1942	Gardening, Lorient	16 March 1944	Cologne
6 November 1942	Essen, daylight	17 March 1944	Cologne
7 November 1942	Gardening, Brest	21 March 1944	Cologne
9 November 1942	Hamburg	22 March 1944	Hanover
22 November 1942	Stuttgart	24 March 1944	Kiel
5 January 1943	Transport to North Africia	27 March 1944	Duisburg
9 January 1943	Bizerta	29 March 1944	Kiel
14 January 1943	Bizerta	30 March 1944	Kassel
17 January 1943	Bizerta	1 April 1944	Hanover
18 January 1943	Bizerta	13 April 1944	Hanover
23 January 1943	Medenin	18 April 1944	Berlin
13 February 1943	Bizerta	21 April 1944	Cologne
23 February 1943	Bizerta	23 April 1944	Mannheim
28 February 1943	Bizerta	26 April 1944	Hamburg
20 March 1943	Ferryville	28 April 1944	Hamburg
22 March 1943	Spax El Macu	1 May 1944	Ludwigshaven
1 April 1943	Bizerta	3 May 1944	Ludwigshaven
19 February 1944	Berlin	6 May 1944	Ludwigshaven
24 February 1944	Kiel	8 May 1944	Osnabruck
25 February 1944	Saarbrucken	9 May 1944	Berlin
29 February 1944	Dusseldorf	12 May 1944	Minelaying, Special Mission

On the night of the 12th/13th May 1944, this officer was detailed as navigator of a Mosquito to take part in a most important low level operation which involved considerable danger from a well defended target. The success of the operation was largely due to the high degree of skill and great accuracy in navigation which was achieved by this officer and his courage and devotion to duty was commendable. He is recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

This officer has completed a large number of sorties during which he has shown a high standard of skill as a navigator. The success of a special operation on the night of May 12/13 was in large part due to the accurate timing and navigation achieved despite the low level from which the attack was pressed home and strong opposition from a well defended target. Strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Air Vice-Marshal Bennett, Air Officer Commanding, No.8 Group, wrote on 19 May 1944:

This officer took part in the most difficult and dangerous operation of laying mines in the Kiel Canal. The attack was carried out at a low level in the face of intense opposition from guns and searchlights and in spite of the additional hazards of balloon barrages and for the precision and skill with which this navigator carried out his duties in the face of the fiercest opposition, I strongly recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

BARRON, F/L John Hollis (J9161) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.692 Squadron - Award effective 13 June 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1660/44 dated 4 August 1944. Born in Fonthill, Ontario, 22 September 1916. BA from McMaster University. Home in New Liskeard, Ontario; enlisted in Hamilton, 6 January 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1A Manning Depot, 24 January 1941. To No.1 BGS, 8 February 1941 (guards). To No.3 ITS, 23 March 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 21 April 1941 when posted to No.11 EFTS. Ceased training and posted to No.1 Manning Depot, 8 May 1941; To Trenton, 12 May 1941; to No. 3 AOS, 23 June 1941; graduated 15 September 1941 when posted to No.2 BGS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 27 October 1941. Posted next day to No.1 ANS; graduated and commissioned 24 November 1941. To "Y" Depot, 25 November 1941; to RAF overseas, 13 December 1941. Promoted Flying Officer, 4 October 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 24 November 1943. Repatriated 25 September 1944. Retired 12 February 1945. Living in Ottawa as of November 1950. Medal sent by registered mail, 17 September 1945. See also F/O V.P.B. Hill, below. Died in Ottawa, 6 February 1995.

One night in May 1944 several crews of Mosquito aircraft were detailed for a difficult and dangerous mine-laying mission. The operation called for the highest standard of skill and accuracy in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, balloon defenses and considerable searchlight activity. The attack was pressed home with great precision from a low level. That complete success was achieved in spite of such hazards is a high tribute to the calm courage and iron determination shown by Flight Lieutenant Barron and Flying Officer Hill who participated in various capacities as leaders and members of aircraft crew.

Although the citation does not give a date, this was an operation on 12/13 May 1944 when 22 Mosquitos of No.8 Group attempted to block the Kiel Canal by low level mining. Intelligence had reported that flak defences on part of the canal had been removed. Twenty crews laid their mines in this stretch and one Mosquito was lost. Public Record Office Air 2/9156 has recommendation drafted 15 May1944 when he had flown 51 sorties (266 hours 15 minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows:

28 August 1942	Nuremburg	29 February 1944	Dusseldorf
31 August 1942	Gardening	2 March 19944	Munich/ Gladbach
3 September 1942	Karlsruhe	4 March 1944	Duisburg
6 September 1942	Duisburg	9 March 1944	Dusseldorf
8 September 1942	Frankfurt	17 March 1944	Cologne
10 September 1942	Dusseldorf	18 March 1944	Frankfurt
19 September 1942	Munich	21 March 1944	Cologne
24 September 1942	Gardening, Baltic	22 March 1944	Hanover
6 October 1942	Osnabruck	23 March 1944	Dortmund
12 October 1942	Wismar	4 April 1944	Cologne
13 October 1942	Kiel	6 April 1944	Hamburg
15 October 1942	Cologne	8 April 1944	Essen
17 October 1942	Le Creusot (daylight)	9 April 1944	Mannheim
24 October 1942	Milan (daylight)	10 April 1944	Hanover
6 November 1942	Genova	12 April 1944	Osnabruck
20 November 1942	Turin	18 April 1944	Berlin
28 November 1942	Turin	21 April 1944	Cologne
8 December 1942	Turin	23 April 1944	Mannheim
9 December 1942	Turin	1 May 1944	Mannheim
17 December 1942	Gardening, Baltic	2 May 1944	Leverkusen
21 December 1942	Munich	4 May 1944	Mannheim
23 January 1944	Dusseldorf	7 May 1944	Leverkusen
27 January 1944	Berlin	8 May 1944	Osnabruck
19 February 1944	Berlin	10 May 1944	Ludwigshaven
20 February 1944	Stuttgart	12 May 1944	Mine Laying, Special Mission
24 February 1944	Kiel

This officer has displayed coolness and courage of a high order throughout his many sorties. The successful attack on the night of May 12/13 was largely due to the accurate timing and navigational skill achieved by this navigator. He is recommended for the above award.

Air Vice-Marshal Bennett, Air Officer Commanding, No.8 Group, wrote on 19 May 1944:

The accurate and precise navigation of Flight Lieutenant Barron in the mine-laying attack on the Kiel Canal showed extreme tenacity of purpose. In spite of intense opposition from the ground, he carried out his instructions meticulously with the result that his attack was pressed home to a most successful conclusion. Strongly recommended for an immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

SOURCE: Air Force Association of Canada website and Hugh Halliday (August 10, 2010 & August 21, 2010).