Gordon MILLER (1914-

Name:	MILLER, Gordon
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Service No.:	J/11239

MILLER, F/L Gordon (J11239) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.426 Squadron - Award effective 9 October 1945 as per London Gazette dated 19 October 1945 and AFRO 1822/45 dated 7 December 1945. Born 1914 in Norfolk County, Ontario; home in Paris, Ontario (miner); enlisted in North Bay, 9 January 1941. Trained at No.1 AOS (graduated 29 January 1942), No.1 BGS (graduated 14 March 1942) and No.2 ANS (graduated 13 April 1942). Commissioned 1943. Medal presented in Toronto, 30 November 1949. In No.426 Squadron, January 1943; navigator in Sergeant I.R.A. Runciman's crew. Incidents described took place 12/13 May 1943 and he became a POW.

This officer has taken part in many operational sorties. On one occasion in May 1943 he was navigator in an aircraft detailed for an attack against Duisburg. After bombing the target his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and severely damaged. The second pilot was killed, the main petrol cock to both engines and the control cables and rods to the elevator and rudder controls severed, and a six-foot hole blown on each side of the fuselage. Displaying great coolness and initiative, Flight Lieutenant Miller, with the hasty use of linen maps, managed to mend the broken petrol lines, thus enabling his captain to restart the port engine despite most erratic flight. He then spliced the elevator and aerial wire. As a result of this officer's gallant efforts, his captain was able to keep the crippled aircraft airborne until the Dutch coast was reached where, owing to lack of petrol, he was forced to abandon it. Throughout this harassing experience Flight Lieutenant Miller showed courage, determination and initiative and his success in accomplishing such ingenious repairs was largely responsible for giving to other members of his crew an opportunity to leave the aircraft by parachute and land safely.