VILLENEUVE,
Joseph Hilaire Roland
Sergeant,
No.63 Base,
Can 7641
Mention in Despatches
RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
Description (click to view)
VILLENEUVE, Sergeant Joseph Hilaire Roland (Can 7641) - Mention in Despatches - No.63 Base - Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 425/45 dated 9 March 1945. Born 31 July 1916. Home in St.Cyrille, Quebec; enlisted in Quebec 25 May 1939 for General Duties. To “E”, 23 July 1939. Promoted LAC, 29 February 1940. Graded as Assistant Armourer, 1 April 1940. To No.118 (Coastal Artilley Cooperation) Squadron, 21 September 1940. To No.1 (CAC) Flight, 27 September 1940. Promoted Corporal, 1 January 1941. To No.118 (Fighter) Squadron, 7 January 1941. To No.5 BGS, 17 May 1941. Graded as Armourer, 1 July 1941. To “K”, 8 May 1942. To No.126 (Fighter) Squadron, 31 August 1942. To “K”, 15 September 1942. To “Y” Depot, 1 October 1942; to RAF overseas, 26 October 1942. Promoted Sergeant, 1 January 1943. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 1 January 1945. Repatriated 18 June 1945. To No.8 OTU, 19 June 1945 (Tiger Force training); to Greenwood, 31 July 1945. Re-engaged for Interim Force, remaining at Greenwood. Reverted to Sergeant in postwar RCAF, 1 October 1946. Released 31 January 1947. DHist file 181.009 D.2619 (RG.24 Vol.20628) has recommendation forwarded 31 July 1944 to No.6 Group Headquarters. Had served 41 months in Canada, 21 months overseas.
This NCO is a very capable fitter-armourer and has carried out his duties in a most conscientious and efficient manner. His ability of overcoming the handicap of not speaking English and becoming so efficient at his trade has earned the respect of all the airmen working with him.
A recommendation drafted by G/C J.L. Plant in the summer of 1943, when he was a Corporal with No.427 Squadron (found in DHH file 181.009 D.2617, National Library and Archives RG.24 Volume 20627) read as follows:
Corporal Villeneuve has shown great ability keenness and exceptional devotion to duty whilst working as an armourer. At all times he has proved himself outstanding and tireless and the splendid example which he has set has inspired other members of the squadron and his work in the armoury section has directly affected the operational efficiency of the squadron.
VILLENEUVE,
Joseph Armand Gerard Fernand
Squadron Leader,
Station Chatham,
32286
Air Force Cross
CF Postwar Aviation Services
Description (click to view)
VILLENEUVE, Squadron Leader Joseph Armand Gerard Fernand (32286) - Air Force Cross - Station Chatham. Awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 20 May 1961. Born in Buckingham, Quebec. Associated with "Golden Hawks" aerobatic team. Secretary of State papers (RG.6 D.1 Volume 359, file 114-2-A1-3 "Awards - Specific - Air Force Cross (Granted)" has much documentation. Recommended by W/C K.C. Lett (OC, No.1 Fighter OTU) on 30 November 1960. Affidavit by S/L S.R. Smith (Duty Flying Control Officer) dated 5 December 1960 stated that his last transmission just before crash was, "I can't leave now - it's pointing at the houses". It was sent to Secretary of State Decorations Committee on 26 January 1961. Committee met on 28 February 1961 and concurred. Invested with award by Governor General, Government House, 6 July 1961.
On the night of November 7, 1960, Squadron Leader Villeneuve was the pilot of an F-86 Sabre aircraft on a local night training exercise in the vicinity of Chatham, New Brunswick when he experienced rapid deceleration and possible engine failure became evident. Squadron Leader Villeneuve had just completed an overshoot and was between the Chatham aerodrome and the town of Newcastle. He chose to turn away from the built-up area before ejecting rather than chance a crash in the town. He completed his turn but had to flame the engine out as he noted sparks coming out through the tail area and a strong burning odour. At this point he again made the decision to remain with the aircraft rather than eject as he was approaching another built-up area. The controls then switched to the alternate system and he selected the gear down, dive brakes out, and flaps down. Just prior to landing at the Chatham aerodrome the controls seized and the aircraft hit hard and bounced. He then levelled the wings with coarse use of rudder before the second impact. The aircraft skidded along the runway on fire and the pilot ejected the canopy and escaped but sustained a compression fracture of the spine. Squadron Leader Villeneuve's skill, courage and determination in landing his aircraft rather than ejecting precluded the possibility of the aircraft crashing into a built-up area with tragic results. The actions of Squadron Leader Villeneuve were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
VILLENEUVE,
Daniel Joseph Gilles
Sergeant,,
SEE DESCRIPTION,
SEE DESCRIPTION
Medal of Bravery - Star of Courage
CF Postwar Aviation Services
Description (click to view)
VILLENEUVE, Daniel Joseph Gilles, Sergeant, CD (Canadian Forces) - Medal of Bravery - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 4 May 2006, with Sergeant Steve Bedard. // On March 30, 2005, search and rescue technicians Sgt Steeve Bédard and Master Corporal Daniel Villeneuve rescued five seal hunters stranded in their disabled fishing vessel in the ocean near les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. After several failed attempts to reach the crewmen on the vessel's deck due to severe weather, the two men decided to conduct individual hoist operations from the water. Braving dangerously high seas, massive ice chunks thrown about by the 30-foot swells and winds in excess of 50 knots, Sgt Bédard was hoisted down to retrieve a first crewman who had unexpectedly jumped into the water. The crewman was floundering dangerously close to the heavy outriggers that threatened to crash onto him. Before the victim could swim to Sgt Bédard, who was being swamped by the waves, the boat crew managed to pull him on board. As night fell, Sgt Bédard and Master Corporal Villeneuve performed several more hoists from the deadly waters under extremely hazardous conditions and successfully recovered the helpless sealers. // VILLENEUVE, Daniel Joseph Gilles, Master Corporal, MB, CD (Canadian Forces) - Star of Courage - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 30 October 2013. Same decoration to Master Corporal Shawn Gregory Bretschneider, Sergeant Janick Joseph Benoit Gilbert (posthumous), Master Corporal Marco A. Journeyman and Master Corporal Maxime Bernard Lahaye-Lemay. // On October 27, 2011, search and rescue (SAR) technicians Shawn Bretschneider, Janick Gilbert, Marco Journeyman, Maxime Lahaye-Lemay and Daniel Villeneuve braved severe weather conditions to rescue two hunters, stranded on the Arctic Ocean, near Igloolik, Nunavut. A team of three SAR techs parachuted down into seven-metre-high waves, but was soon separated in the huge swells. Five hours later, the second team of two SAR techs was lowered from a helicopter and, struggling in the same harsh conditions, succeeded in locating everyone and hoisting them into a helicopter. Sadly, Sergeant Gilbert did not survive..
VILLENEUVE
Description (click to view)
JULES ROBERT RENE SGT(N) R199834. From Verdun, Quebec. Killed Nov 20/44 age 22. #22 Operational Training Unit. Wellington aircraft crashed. Please see Hamel C. for casualty list and flight detail. Sergeant Navigator Villeneuve is buried in the Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire, England.
