KEYS, Flight Officer James Grant (USAAF T-223101) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.424 Squadron - award approved 24 November 1944 as an honourary award to an American national and not published in London Gazette. Citation in DHist file 181.009 D.3051 (National Archives of Canada RG.24 Vol.20634). RCAF photo PL-32721 (ex UK-14590 dated 7 September 1944) is captioned as follows: “Flying Officer J.A. ‘Pheas’ Partridge (Regina), veteran of 29 trips over enemy territory with RCAF Bomber Group, hands a cup of hot coffee to his fellow Tiger Squadron member. Flight Officer Jim G. Keys, Allerton, Pennsylvania, also has 29 sorties to his credit, on the latter’s return from attacking German shipping in Brest harbour. With them in the Tigers’ interrogation room is Flight Sergeant Gordon C. Gillanders, Vancouver, rear gunner. F/O Partridge, star athlete, played for the Regina Roughriders, four times Western football champions. He also was on the RCAF Hurricanes team when it won the Dominion championship. Flight Officer Keys recently transferred from the RCAF to the USAAF but will finish his tour of operations flying with the RCAF.” As captain and pilot of a four-engined aircraft this officer has completed many successful operations against targets in Germany and enemy occupied territory. Flight Officer Keys has displayed outstanding leadership and his skilful flying has enabled his gunners to destroy at least six enemy night fighters. DHist file 181.009 D.2609 (RG.24 Vol.20627) has recommendation dated 15 August 1944 when he had flown 24 sorties (123 operational hours), 14 May to 12 August 1944. His sortie sheet is particularly interesting in view of the claims submitted by his gunners; the entry for 27 May 44 (target, Bourg-Leopold) indicates 14 attacks by fighters and two enemy aircraft destroyed; on 10 June 1944 the target was Paris and again two fighters were claimed shot down; finally, on 12 August 1944 the target was Brunswick when two fighters were claimed destroyed. Flight Officer Keys is the captain of a four-engined heavy bomber who has completed 24 successful sorties over enemy and enemy-occupied territory. By skilful airmanship under most trying conditions and against the most stubborn resistance he has been able, by outstanding crew cooperation, to participate in the certain destruction of at least six night fighter enemy aircraft. His instantaneous cooperation, coolness and exceptional devotion to duty has contributed largely to the success of the gunners in his crew and it is definitely considered that this fine crew spirit is worthy of the highest praise. It is a pleasure to recommend Flight Officer Keys for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The sortie list was as follows: 22 May 1944 - Le Mans (5.35) 24 May 1944 - Aachen (5.00) 26 May 1944 - Mining, Le Havre (4.00) 27 May 1944 - Bourg Leopold (5.25, 14 attacks, two shot down) 30 May 1944 - Au Fevre (4.50) 5 June 1944 - Houlgate (4.55) 6 June 1944 - Conde sur Noireau (6.25) 10 June 1944 - Paris (6.05, two fighters shot down) 12 June 1944 - Arras (4.05) 14 June 1944 - Cambrai (5.00) 15 June 1944 - Boulogne (3.55) 17 June 1944 - Oisemont (4.20) 4 July 1944 - Villeneuve St. George (6.15) 6 July 1944 - Siracourt (4.10, daylight) 12 July 1944 - Bremont (4.00) 14 July 1944 - Alderbelck (3.45) 16 July 1944 - Caen (5.00, daylight) 18 July 1944 - Wesseling (5.50) 20 July 1944 - Anderbelck (3.10, daylight) 25 July 1944 - Stuttgart (9.15) 5 August 1944 - St. Leu d’Esserant (5.25, daylight) 7 August 1944 - Caen (5.00) 8 August 1944 - Mining, Brest (5.10) 12 August 1944 - Brunswick (5.50, two fighters shot down)