Chrysostom John LEWIS (1913-)

Name:	LEWIS, Chrysostom John, MiD
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Service No.:	C/8335
Unit Text:	Station Dishforth
Date of Birth:	15 May 1913 -

LEWIS, F/L Chrysostom John (C8335) - Mention in Despatches - Station Dishforth - Award effective 1 January 1946 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 388/46 dated 12 April 1946. Born 15 May 1913. Home in Cookstown, Ontario; enlisted Saskatoon, 16 May 1941 and posted to No.2. Manning Depot. To No.7 Equipment Depot, 20 June 1941. To No.4 ITS, 13 July 1941. To Trenton, 21 August 1941. To No.2 ANS, 28 September 1941. Commissioned 28 October 1941 in Flying Control Branch. To “Y” Depot, 31 October 1941. To RAF overseas, 12 November 1941. Promoted Flying Officer, 8 April 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 November 1943. Repatriated 21 January 1946. Retired 22 February 1946. DHist file 181.009 D.2619 (RG.24 Vol.20628) has recommendation for MBE dated 4 May 1945. Certificate sent 17 August 1948.

This officer showed admirable fortitude and courage in that while in the vicinity of an aircraft that had crashed and caught fire with a full bomb load in York on the 5th of March 1945, he immediately proceeded to the scene of the crash and succeeded in guiding a number of civilians away from the danger area. While Flight Lieutenant Lewis was carrying out this good work, part of the bomb load exploded, killing several people around him. Notwithstanding the risk of further explosions this officer continued to assist in removing injured civilians from the immediate vicinity.