Andrew James Phillips (1917-

Name:	PHILLIPS, Andrew James
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flying Officer
Service No.:	J/17013

PHILLIPS, F/O Andrew James (J17013) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.220 Squadron - Award effective 26 January 1945 as per London Gazette dated 6 February 1945 and AFRO 508/45 dated 23 March 1945. Born 1917 in Saskatoon; home there (salesman). Enlisted in Montreal, 8 July 1941. Trained at No.3 ITS (graduated 21 November 1941), No.8 AOS (graduated 16 February 1942), No.4 BGS (graduated 25 April 1942) and No.2 ANS (graduated 25 May 1942). Commissioned March 1943. Medal sent by registered mail.

In the summer of 1944, Flying Officer Phillips was navigator and bomb aimer of an aircraft engaged on an anti-submarine patrol. An enemy submarine was sighted and illuminated by flares and two attacks were delivered by Flying Officer Phillips. As a result of the second attack the U-boat disappeared completely. Flying Officer Phillips has done a great deal to improve the bombing accuracy of the squadron. During his period as bombing leader his enthusiasm and hard work have set a fine example.

NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9046 has original recommendation dated 28 November 1944 when he had flown 28 sorties (330 operational hours). The text is much more detailed than that of the edited published citation. He was an Acting Flight Lieutenant at the time, hence the rank stated:

Flight Lieutenant Phillips joined No.220 Squadron in July 1943 and has completed 330 hours operational flying in 28 sorties in the Western Approaches and Azores areas.

In 1944 he was sent on a Bombing Leaders Course which he passed with an "A" Category and returned to the squadron as Bombing Leader. He went about his duties with exceptional keenness and efficiency, despite the lack of facilities in the Azores, and his improvisation of bombing targets greatly improved squadron bombing training. His enthusiasm for the Mark III Sight and his work in coaching navigators in its use successfully overcame pilot prejudices on its capabilities. In general his enthusiasm and hard work were an inspiration to the squadron during a time when U-Boats were few and far between and keenness in training was an essential to efficiency.

On 28th August 1944, Flight Lieutenant Phillips was navigator and bomb aimer on aircraft U/220 operating from the Azores. Night training with flares had only just commenced on the squadron but the importance of a sortie demanded the use of a semi-trained crew. A U-Boat was illuminated by flares and Flight Lieutenant Phillips, using the Mark III Sight, made two attacks. The first attack was estimated by the rear gunner as a straddle and resulted in the U-Boat remaining stopped on the surface for one and one-half hours. The results of the second attack could not be seen but the U-Boat disappeared immediately afterwards. These attacks were assessed by Headquarters, Coastal Command, as "very promising".