McINTOSH, FS William Philip MacDonell (R82852) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.35 Squadron - Award effective 01 September 1943 as per London Gazette dated 10 September 1943 and AFRO 2322/43 dated 12 November 1943. Born in Cornwall, Ontario, 21 June 1922; educated at St. Andrew’s Convent (Cornwall), St. Andrew’s High School (Cornwall), and Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School. Home in St.Andrews, Ontario (grocery clerk); enlisted in Ottawa, 07 February 1941 and posted that date to No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon. To No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, 28 February 1941. To No.1 SFTS, Camp Borden (guard duty), 22 April 1941. To No.1 ITS, Toronto, 10 June 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 21 July 1941; to No.1 AOS, Malton that date; to No.1 BGS, Jarvis, 12 October 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 22 November 1941, To No.2 ANS, 23 November 1941; may have graduated 20 December 1941 but not posted to “Y” Depot until 24 December 1941. To RAF overseas, 7 January 1942. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 21 January 1942. To No.2 AOS, 23 February 1942. However, record also shows him being struck off strength of No.14 Initial Training Wing, Hastings, 24 February 1942 on posting to No.2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit. To No.22 OTU, 28 April 1942. To No.35 Squadron, 16 July 1942. To No.35 Squadron Conversion Flight, 21 August 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 1 September 1942. Returned to No.35 Squadron, 3 September 1942. Promoted WO2, 22 November 1942. Promoted WO1, 22 May 1943. Subsequently commissioned with effect from 25 March 1943 (Appointments, Promotions, Retirements, 27 September 1943). Missing, presumed dead, 23/24 August 1943 (No.35 Squadron, Halifax HR928). HR928 was one of four No.35 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation, the others being HR846, HR865 and JB786. Records show that he had been awarded No.35 Squadron “Target Finder Badge” as of 14 September 1943 and a Permanent Target Finder Badge as of 25 August 1943. See entry for Walter D. Craig for details of loss plus combat reports. Award presented to next-of-kin, by Governor General, 27 June 1945.

Notes on Training:

Interviewed on 20 January 1941 by F/O A.W. Fraser who described him thus: “A good type, intelligent, well-spoken, clean, keen to fight and fly - should make a good air gunner.”

Course at No.1 ITS lasted from 09 June to 14 July 1941. Courses as marks as follows: Mathematics (90/100), Armament, P and O (74/100), Signals (94/100), Drill (74/100), Law and Discipline (99/100). Graduated 14th in a class of 27 which had already been classified for Observer training. Described as follows: “Reserved, self-conscious type, willing but unimpressive.”

Course at No.1 AOS was 27 July to 12 October 1941. All flying in Anson aircraft - 30 hours ten minutes as First Navigator (day), 29 hours ten minutes as Second Navigator (day), nine hours 50 minutes as First Navigator (night), three hours 45 minutes as Second Navigator (night). Ground training courses and marks as follows: D.R. Plotting (84/150), D.R. Written (128/200), Compasses and Instruments (132/150), Signals (68/100), Maps and Charts (71/100), Meteorology (79/100). Photography (80/100), Reconnaissance (69/100). Placed 27th or 29th in a class of 37. Generally deemed “Below Average” and described as “Very young and immature. Not a very good worker.” (S/L G.W. Jacobi, Chief Supervisory Officer).

Course at No.1 BGS was 13 October to 22 November 1941. All flying time in Battle aircraft - 16 hours 55 minutes on bombing by day, six hours 20 minutes on gunnery by day, seven hours as a passenger. In high bombing exercises he averaged 134 yards error (best record was 111 yards error). In gunnery he scored 6.1 percent hits in Beam Test, 6.5 percent hits in Beam Relative Speed Test and 3.2 percent hots in Under Tail Test. He was further examined in Bombing-W (99/150), Bombing-P (109/150), Gunnery-W (73.5/100) and Gunnery-P (79/100). Described as an average gunner, above average bomb aimer. Although not suitable for commission, he was assessed as “Energetic and hard working but has difficulty in guiding that energy. Would respond well to direction from others. Should make a good Sergeant Observer.” (G/C G.E. Wait).

Course at No.2 ANS was 24 November to 22 December 1941. Flying in Anson aircraft - five hours 40 minutes as First Navigator (Day), six hours 25 minutes as Second Navigator (day), six hours 15 minutes as First Navigator (Night) and 11 hours 55 minutes as Second Navigator (Night). Obtained air marks of 200/250 and deemed as follows: “Good charts and logs. Satisfactory results." Ground training in Astronomical Navigation - Plotting (130/150) and Astronomical Navigation - Written (74/100). Ground school assessment was: “Good results in ground work. Worked hard, showing good deal of interest in the classroom.” Placed 29th in a class of 54.

While overseas he applied for pilot training. An RAF Form 5002 dated 26 July 1943 (signed by G/C Sidney Smith, No.4 Aviation Candidates Selections Board) stated that he had flown 200 hours on operations (34 sorties). His Commanding Officer had recommended him for pilot and the Board assessment was that he was “fully suitable.”