NORSWORTHY, A/S/L Hugh Hoyles (J5114) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.439 Squadron - Award effective 19 September 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2274/44 dated 20 October 1944. Born 9 October 1921 in Montreal (father a war veteran); home in Westmount, Quebec. Attended Bishop's College (Lennoxville) and McGill (one year of engineering); enlisted in Montreal, 14 August 1940. At No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon, 14 August to 30 September 1940; at No.2 ITS, Regina, 30 September to 26 October 1940. While there he was second in a class of 60 - "Excellent type - definitely officer material". There he had taken mathematics, armament, visual Link Training, Drill, Law and Discipline. At No.13 EFTS, St.Eugene, 26 October to 22 December 1940 ( Finch aircraft - 26.30 dual, 28.55 solo; "As a student he was above average in absorbing the particulars of flying. Has a particular liking for aerobatics and is above average in instrument flying. Impresses me as being good officer material. Average on Link Trainer. “ Here his training was Armament, Airframes, Aero Engines, Signals/Practical, Theory of Flight,. Air Navigation, Armament/Oral, and assessed on personal qualifications - graduated 3rd in class of 36.); at No.8 SFTS, Moncton, 23 December 1940 to 7 May 1941 where he trained on Ansons - flew 31.20 (Day Dual), 55.55 (Day Solo), 2.45 (Night Dual), 6.00 (Night Solo). Courses in Airmanship, Armament, Air Navigation, Signals, Maintenance. Qualified for flying badge on 7 April 1941. To "Y" Depot, Halifax, date uncertain. Embarks for UK, 31 May 1941. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 21 June 1941; to No.54 OTU, 23 June 1941 (Oxford, Beaufighter, Blenheim - 92.20 hours); to No.85 Squadron, 8 September 1941 (Havoc, 28.20 hours); to No.1 BAC , 30 October 1941 (Anson, Oxford, 24.00 hours); to No.85 Squadron, 10 November 1941 (Havoc, Mosquito, 459.35 hours; shot down a Do.217, 17 January 1942, shared with HMS Walpole.); to No.3 Squadron, 29 January 1943 (Hurricane, Typhoon, 74 hours); to FIU (Experimental), 25 March 1943 (Beaufighters, Mosquitoes, Havocs, Hurricanes, 143.35 hours); to No.3 Squadron, 25 August 1943 (Typhoon, 15 hours). Attended Junior Commanders Course - 10 October 1943 to uncertain date; to No.3 Squadron, 31 October 1943 (Typhoons , 17 hours); to Repatriation Depot, 29 November 1943 for one month's leave in Canada; to overseas embarkation unit, 24 February 1944; taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 1 March 1944; to No.439 Squadron, 8 March 1944 (Typhoons, 140 hours); to Repatriation Depot, 26 September 1944; to No.2 Release Centre, Lachine, 8 February 1945. Released 15 February 1945. Returned to McGill University (BA), then to Harvard Business School. Joined Alcan, and after retirement taught at McGill Business School. Chairman of the Board, Selwyn House and 25 years with the Victoria Order of Nurses. Died in Montreal, 23 January 2013. // This officer is a courageous and skilful leader and has played a prominent part in the success of the squadron he commands. He has participated in many sorties during which sixteen small vessels have been destroyed. Much of the success achieved can be attributed to this officer's inspiring leadership and great tactical ability. On one occasion whilst flying over a town on the South coast his aircraft caught fire. Displaying great skill and coolness, Squadron Leader Norsworthy effected a successful crash-landing in the only available open space in the area. // NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9159 has recommendation drafted 1 July 1944 when he had flown 181 sorties (300 operational hours). // This officer is now on his second tour of operations, having previously completed 200 operational hours on night fighters during the period 7 September 1941 to 21 November 1943. During this time he has destroyed ½ Dornier 217; after four months with No.3 Squadron re-equipping with Typhoons he was posted to FIU [Fighter Interception Unit] where he did outstanding experimental flying and also continued night operational flying. Returning to No.3 Squadron for three months he did 25 operational hours and sank one 2,000-ton ship. He shared in the destruction of 16 tugs, coasters and “R” Boats. // After a short leave in Canada he returned to take over command of No.439 Squadron (Typhoon bombers) on 6 March 1944. Since then he has completed 75 operational hours. He has taken a prominent part in the operations of No.143 Wing and has consistently led his squadron with outstanding skill and courage both on the Radar attacks before D Day and subsequently in close support of 21 Army Group. // Towards the end of May, his aircraft caught fire in the air while flying at 4,000 feet over a thickly populated area on the south coast. Instead of bailing out, he crash landed his aircraft in flames in the only available open space, thereby probably saving many lives. // His leadership and coolness have been largely responsible for the very high state of morale and efficiency which exists in his squadron today. // RCAF Press Release No.4543 dated 17 April 1944 reads: // Commanding Officer of an RCAF fighter-bomber squadron in Britain, Squadron Leader Hugh M. Norsworthy, Westmount, Quebec, has the unusual distinction of sharing the destruction of an enemy aircraft with a British destroyer. A “half” was credited to the pilot and H.M.S. Walpole after a discussion between R.A.F. fighter command and the British Admiralty, but S/L Norsworthy cheerfully observed, “The argument was a bigger headache than the fight”. // The incident occurred January 17, 1941, when S/L Norsworthy was flying with an R.A.F. night-fighter squadron. A few Nazi aircraft were attacking a British convoy off Harwich under a layer of ten-tenth clouds. The escort ships were throwing up a hail of anti-aircraft fire when the Canadian whipped through the clouds, so he promptly climbed back above the cloud layer and noticed a lone enemy aircraft. He recalled: “A Dornier 217 was flying along right in front of me, taking shots at the Harwich balloons. He shot two of them down, then I shot him down. He went through the clouds on fire and came out over the destroyer Walpole and she let a salvo go at the aircraft and it went on into the sea”. // He is also credited with destroying a 2,000-ton ship, which he sank with bombs off the Dutch Islands in September, 1942. He also shared in the destruction of other enemy ships. The squadron of which he was a member was the leading fighter unit in destruction of sea-craft at that time. // // S/L Norsworthy completed a tour of operations as a night-fighter in this squadron. The squadron later converted to Mosquitos and, when he was due for an operational rest, he transferred to an RAF Typhoon squadron. Three months later, he was ordered to an experimental unit where, he says: “We flew anything with wings and an engine there”. He rejoined his Typhoon squadron to complete his second tour and returned to Canada last November on a month’s leave. During his leave, he married the former Jane Grimley, of Montreal and Philadelphia. He returned overseas as Commander Officer of his present Canadian squadron of which he says: “They’ll be the best in the air force”.