John Frederick LEWIS (1922-1998)

Name:	*LEWIS, John Frederick "Jack", DFC & bar*
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Service No.:	J/11224
Unit Text:	No.426 Squadron
Date of Birth:	26 December 1922 - London, ON
Date of Death:	29 August 1998 - Ottawa, ON

LEWIS, F/O John Frederick (J11224) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.426 Squadron - Award effective 01 September 1943 as per London Gazette dated 14 September 1943 and AFRO 2322/43 dated 12 November 1943. Born in London, Ontario, 26 December 1922; home there. Enlisted in London, Ontario, 5 April 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.14 SFTS, 16 July 1941 (guard). To No.1 ITS, 20 August 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 08 October 1941 when posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.4 AOS, 26 October 1941; to No.4 BGS, 31 January 1942; promoted Sergeant and posted to No.1 ANS, 14 March 1942; graduated and commissioned 13 April 1942. To RAF overseas, 08 May 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 13 October 1942. Reported to No.426 Squadron from No.23 OTU, 22 October 1942 (on formation) With S/L Davill on 14 January 1943 as first crew to bomb enemy; later navigator to P/O Millward. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 25 March 1944. Repatriated 25 January 1945. To No.1 AOS, 21 February 1945. Retired 3 May 1945. Award presented 29 May 1947. Died in Ottawa, 29 August 1998.

DHH file 181.009 D.2624 (Library and Archives Canada RG.24 Volume 20628) has recommendation by W/C L.Crooks drafted 18 July 1943 when he had flown 22 ½ sorties (131 hours 50 minutes). Sortie list (almost identical to that of P/O William M. Maxwell) and submission as follows:

14 January 1943	Lorient (5.31)	04 April 1943	Kiel (6.45)
15 January 1943	Lorient (5.00)	08 April 1943	Duisburg (5.25)
03 February 1943	Hamburg (6.15)	11 April 1943	Gardening (3.25)
07 February 1943	Lorient (6.35)	14 April 1943	Stuttgart (7.45)
12 February 1943	Gardening (5.00)	16 April 1943	Mannheim (7.20)
13 February 1943	Lorient (6.50)	27 April 1943	Gardening (6.25)
16 February 1943	Lorient (6.50)	04 May 1943	Dortmund (4.35)
18 February 1943	Gardening (3.55)	13 May 1943	Bochum (5.20)
24 February 1943	Wilhelmshaven (4.15)	23 May 1943	Air-Sea Rescue (5.55, counted as one-half sortie)
26 February 1943	Cologne (6.15)	25 May 1943	Dusseldorf (5.05)
03 March 1943	Hamburg (6.15)	29 May 1943	Wuppertal (5.39)
05 March 1943	Essen (5.30)

In spite of continuous air sickness the navigational ability displayed by Flying Officer Lewis has been of the highest order. He has taken part in attacks on some of the most heavily defended targets in the Ruhr Valley.

One night in February his aircraft was badly damaged over Hamburg but the long journey home at a reduced speed was accomplished without further incident due to the navigational skill displayed.

He has at all times displayed courage and determination. I recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

LEWIS, F/L John Frederick (J11224) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.405 Squadron - Award effective 5 August 1944 as per London Gazette dated 15 August 1944 and AFRO 2101/44 dated 29 September 1944.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9632 has recommendation by W/C R.J. Lane dated 22 May 1944 when he had flown 46 sorties (264 hours 45 minutes) of which 23 sorties (136 hours 35 minutes) had been flown since his previous award. The sortie list and text add to the record.

First Tour		Second Tour
14 Jan 43	Lorient (5.30)	18 Nov 43	Berlin (7.00)
15 Jan 43	Lorient (5.00)	2 Dec 43	Berlin (6.05)
3 Feb 43	Hamburg (6.15)	24 Dec 43	Berlin (7.25)
7 Feb 43	Lorient (6.35)	29 Dec 43	Berlin (6.40)
12 Feb 43	GARDENING (5.00)	20 Jan 44	Berlin (7.00)
13 Feb 43	Lorient (6.50)	21 Jan 44	Magdeburg (6.40)
15 Feb 43	Lorient (6.50)	27 Jan 44	Berlin (7.25)
18 Feb 43	GARDENING (3.55)	29 Jan 44	Berlin (8.05)
24 Feb 43	Wilhelmshaven (4.15)	30 Jan 44	Berlin (6.25)
26 Feb 43	Cologne (6.10)	15 Feb 44	Berlin (7.05)
3 Mar 43	Hamburg (6.20)	20 Feb 44	Leipzig (6.35)
5 Mar 43	Essen (5.30)	21 Feb 44	Stuttgart (6.15)
9 Mar 43	GARDENING (2.10, no op)	24 Feb 44	Schweinfurt (6.50)
4 Apr 43	Kiel (6.50)	15 Mar 44	Stuttgart (6.45)
8 Apr 43	Duisburg (5.30)	18 Mar 44	Frankfurt (4.50)
11 Apr 43	GARDENING (3.20)	22 Mar 44	Frankfurt (5.15)
14 Apr 43	Stuttgart (7.50)	24 Mar 44	Berlin (6.40)
16 Apr 43	Mannheim (7.20)	30 Mar 44	Nuremburg (6.40)
29 Apr 43	GARDENING (6.20)	26 Apr 44	Essen (4.05)
4 May 43	Dortmund (4.45)	27 Apr 44	Montzen (3.10)
13 May 43	Bochum (5.20)	3 May 44	Montdidier (3.05)
25 May 43	Dusseldorf (5.05)	9 May 44	Haine St. Pierre (2.30)
29 May 43	Wuppertal (5.40)	11 May 44	Boulogne (2.20)
		19 May 44	Mount Couple (1.45)

This officer is a very keen and capable navigator, who has completed 46 operational sorties against such heavily defended enemy targets as Berlin, Dusseldorf and Essen. The skill, determination and devotion to duty displayed by this officer in the performance of his operational tasks has, undoubtedly, set a fine example not only to the rest of his crew, but to the squadron generally. Strongly recommended for the award of the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.