EVANS, F/L Robert Ernest (J18702) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.417 Squadron - Award effective 18 December 1944 as per London Gazette dated 29 December 1944 and AFRO 379/45 dated 2 March 1945. Born in Swastika, Ontario, 17 May 1920. Educated in Ottawa (1926-1933) and Kirkland Lake (1934-1937); correspondence courses in mechanical drafting; home in Swastika when he enlisted in North Bay, 24 October 1940. To No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, 25 October 1940. To No.1A Manning Depot, Ottawa, 9 December 1940. To No.1 Equipment Depot, 30 March 1941. To No.1 ITS, 10 April 1941; promoted LAC,16 May 1941 and posted that date to No.10 EFTS; to No.1 SFTS, 3 July 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant on 13 September 1941. To Embarkation Depot, 14 September 1941. To RAF overseas, 2 October 1941. To No.52 OTU, 18 November 1941. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 13 January 1942. To No.131 Squadron, 10 February 1942. To Station Tangmere, 9 June 1942. To No.131 Squadron again, 27 July 1942. Flew 101 hours 40 minutes with No.131 Squadron. Commissioned 1 October 1942. To Station Tangmere, 25 November 1942. To Middle East Pool, 16 December 1942 via No.22 Personnel Transit Centre. Ferried Spitfires via Takoradi (logged 24 hours 25 minutes). To No.244 Wing, 10 February 1943. To No.601 Squadron, 20 February 1943 (logged 144 hours 40 minutes with them). Promoted Flying Officer, 1 April 1943. To No.2 BPD (whatever that is), 7 November 1943 (AFU duty, 24 hours 40 minutes on Spitfires). To Rear Air Headquarters, Western Desert, 1 April 1944. To No.417 Squadron, 9 May 1944 (logged 164 hours ten minutes with them). Promoted Flight Lieutenant. 1 August 1944. To No.3 BPD (whatever that is), 28 October 1944. Disembarked in United Kingdom, 30 November 1944. Repatriated 15 January 1945. To No.1 Air Command, Trenton, 26 January 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, Toronto, 2 March 1945. Released 15 March 1945, retiring to Kirkland Lake. Died in Kirkland Lake, 17 May 1978. Flew two tours. First incident described in citation was on 15 August 1944; second was on 15 September 1944. See photo PL-27665. This officer has now almost completed his second tour of operational duty. In August 1944 he led a formation of aircraft with outstanding skill in an attack on a railroad bridge near Bologna. The bridge was damaged and three nearby trains were also attacked. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire on another sortie in September 1944, Flight Lieutenant Evans located and bombed enemy mechanical transport at Faetano. He then circled below heavy cloud through aircraft fire while he directed the rest of the formation to the attack. As a fighter leader and flight commander this officer has inspired the pilots under his command by his skilful leadership and devotion to duty. NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9033 has recommendation dated 22 October 1944, drafted by Squadron Leader O.C. Kallio, at which time Evans had flown 695 hours 45 minutes (143 hours in previous six months), including 345 hours 20 minutes operational time (279 sorties); he was then Flight Commander, "B" Flight: On 15th of August when sent out to bomb an important railroad bridge just outside of Bologna he led a formation of six aircraft with such skill that the bridge was damaged and three trains nearby were strafed successfully through intense light anti-craft fire. His own aircraft had been hit in the bomb dive. On the 15th of September while leading a formation on "Cab Rank" he was ordered to bomb Motor Transport in the village of Faetano. Through 7/10 of cloud he located and bombed the target first so the other pilots could ascertain its location. Then, by Radio Telephone, [he] directed remainder of the formation on to the target while he circled below cloud through light anti-aircraft fire. Flight Lieutenant Evans as a fighter leader and as a Flight Commander with this squadron, through skilful leadership and devotion to duty, has inspired the newer pilots at all times. His determination and indifference to personal danger have on numerous occasions brought about very successful attacks upon the enemy. For these outstanding actions on air operations and numerous other excellent performances during this, his second tour, I strongly recommend that he be given a non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Training: Interviewed at North Bay, 19 August 1940 by F/O G.W.C. Kinney - “Red hair. Nice type. Polite, well mannered, very keen to become a pilot, dif not quite get his Junior Matriculation but consider he is bright enough for training as pilot.” Course at No.1 ITS was 10 April to 16 May 1941. Courses in Mathematics (78/100), Law/Discipline (56/60), Armament, practical and oral (88/100, Drill (79/100), Signals (97/100), and Hygiene and Sanitation (31/40). Placed 62nd in a class of 161. “Average pilot material. Good tough type who would enjoy a scrap. Inclined to be weak in mathematics. Good stolid hard plugging type of trainee with plenty of punch. With service experience should develop into quite useful material.” Course at No.10 EFTS was 16 May to 3 July 1941. Finch II aircraft - 30.35 dual, 25.00 solo; 4.45 on instruments. Logged ten hours in Link. “Progress from first just average. Inclined to be slow on learning new sequences, Interested in flying. Manner courteous. Needs more time on aerobatics.” Ground courses in Airmanship (164/200), Airframes (67/100), Aero Engines (76/100), Armament, oral (141/200), Signals, practical (94/100), Theory of Flight (55/100), Air Navigation (103/200). Graded 165/200 in Qualities as an Officer. Placed 19th in a class of 31. “Fair student, a little slow but very willing. Discipline good.” Course at No.1 SFTS was 3 July to 13 September 1941. Harvard aircraft (27.15 dual and 13.25 solo) and Yale (15.05 day dual, 21.25 day solo, 4.30 night dual, 5.30 night solo.) Was 20 hours on instruments (16.25 in Harvard, 3.35 in Yale). Logged 15 hour 45 minutes in Link. “Average pilot with no special faults.” Courses in Airmanship and Maintenance (122/200), Armament, written (50/100), Armament, practical (72/100), Navigation and Meteorology (121/200), Signals, written (70/100) and Signals, practical (48/50). Placed 57th in a class of 59. “An average pilot who has progressed very satisdactorily and should do well with more experience.” Course at No.52 OTU was 18 November 1941 to 20 February 1942. Flew Master (2.05 dual, 6.30 and Spitfire (30 hours solo, 1.20 on instruments, eleven hours in formation). Logged 11.45 in Link. Rated “Average” in all categories (Natural Aptitude, Skill in Landing, Airmanship, Aerobatics, Cockpit Drill, Instrument Flying, Formation Flying, Map Reading and Air Firing) “An average pilot who is steady and keen. He seems to be a nervous type and is not quite ready to go into action. His aerobatics and dog-fighting should be watched.” Notes: Accident, 8 June 1942, No.131 Squadron, Spitfire W3412. He then had 75 hours 20 minutes on type and 162 hours 45 minutes total. “On returning from a patrol I made a normal approach and on landing I bounced rather high; I put on motor and on touching down again the starboard leg collapsed causing damage to the aircraft’s airscrew, starboard leg and flaps.” The investigation observed, “Pilot held off too high, the aircraft stalled and dropped from a height on to the ground, causing the collapse of the starboard oleo leg; the aircraft bounced and Pilot used engine, and touching down the second time, as damage was already done, the aircraft went up on its nose.” He was vehement that he had not been careless, so was sent to Medical Officer. The MO reported a definite defect in his eye sight. “Sergeant Evans is unable to focus on objects which are altering their distance from him rapidly. It has been arranged for him to see an eye specialist as soon as possible. In the meantime he has naturally been taken off flying duties. In view of the above I do not feel that the pilot can be held responsible for the accident and it would appear that he has been extremely lucky in not having an accident before this.” On repatriation form dated 5 January 1945 he stated he had flown 214 hours 34 minutes in Day Fighter duty, 130.45 on Fighter-Bomber duty, and 157.55 on miscellaneous flying duty. Assessed 19 October 1944 by S/L O.C. Kallio - “F/L Evans has been a good and reliable fighter leader and a Flight Commander with this squadron. Will make a good Squadron Commander if he undertakes another tour of operations. Strongly recommended for non-immediate award of DFC.”