WEISER, F/O William (J10822) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.405 Squadron - Award effective 4 October 1943 as per London Gazette dated 15 October 1943 and AFRO 2610/43 dated 17 December 1943. Born in Newark, New Jersey, 6 March 1919. Learned to fly at Floyd Bennett Field, New York. Home in The Bronx, New York. Enlisted in Ottawa, 9 June 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 25 September 1941), No.20 EFTS (graduated 5 December 1941) and No.16 SFTS (graduated 27 March 1942). DFC and Bar both presented by King George VI, 11 August 1944. Repatriated to Canada, 1944, serving with both Western and Eastern Air Command; remained in postwar RCAF, rising to Air Commodore by June 1963 (service number 19688). Postings included CEPE (1947), US Armed Forces Staff College (1947-48), AFHQ (1948-50), CJS Washington (October 1950-August 1952), Training Command Headquarters at Trenton (1952-53), No.2 Fighter Wing in Grostenquin (July 1953-October 1955), Air Defence Command Headquarters (October 1955-October 1959), AFHQ (1959-63), and NORAD. Awarded Queen's Coronation Medal, 23 October 1953. Retired 16 June 1970, retiring to Welland, Ontario. Died 28 March 1997. See the book Canadian Jews in World War Two and website http://theyweresoldiers.com/index.php/2017/04/03/biography-of-wing-commander-william-weiser-from-canadian-jews-in-world-war-ii/ // Flying Officer Weiser has flown on operations against some of the enemy's most important targets, and has always displayed great determination to complete his mission successfully. By his courage and devotion to duty he has set an excellent example to his crew. // WEISER, S/L William, DFC (J10822) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.405 Squadron - Award effective 10 May 1944 as per London Gazette dated 23 May 1944 and AFRO 1380/44 dated 30 June 1944. // This officer has completed two tours of operational duties. Most of the sorties completed by him have been accomplished in the face of heavy enemy action over such targets as Berlin, Hamburg and Essen. As a flight commander Squadron Leader Weiser has displayed skill, courage and devotion to duty of a high order. His enthusiasm and organizational ability have been valuable assets to his squadron. // WEISER, W/C William, DFC (J10822) - Member, Order of the British Empire - WAC Headquarters - Award effective 1 January 1946 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 82/46 dated 25 January 1946. Award sent by registered mail April 1948. // This officer as Staff Officer Training, Western Air Command, has been responsible for the training of three heavy Operational Training Units in this Command. He has consistently worked beyond normal hours in perfecting a system of training to cope with weather and terrain difficulties experienced on this coast. By his own example, energy and devotion to the service, he has been an inspiration to all personnel associated with him. // Note: The website noted above includes many excerpts from letters he wrote from overseas including the following dated 12 May 1943: // I hope you received the cable I sent last week. I didn’t know for sure whether the Air force would advise you that I had been injured while on operations, but I didn’t want you to worry needlessly. Here is what happened – as much as I can tell you. I was on my way back from … and I couldn’t land anywhere because a thick fog had closed in. After awhile my petrol got very low so I told the boys it looked like a blind crash landing. The boys could have baled out, but they elected to stay. The last thing I remember was one helluva big tree coming up. I came to and found myself lying alone on the ground. It was black as pitch, but I could hear the crew getting out of the kite. I couldn’t get up because there was something wrong with my right leg, so I called to them and they made me comfortable. After awhile an ambulance came and took us all to a hospital. After they got me out of the tatters of my uniform and got some of the plowed field off my hide, a survey was made. They found concussion (mild), gashes on head, right hand and both legs. Six x-rays were taken of my spine because I couldn’t move my right leg before somebody discovered that the only trouble was a bad sprain. Well, I’ve been in bed for a week now. The rest of my crew have all been discharged some three days but I haven’t been allowed out of bed yet. By the way, my face is quite intact. // The incident referred to above occurred during a mission to Dortmund, Germany, on the evening of 4/5 May 1943, and is described in Volume IV of W.R. Chorley’s Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. (Midland Publishing, Hinckley, England, 1996.) According to this, Weiser (then a Flying Officer) and his crew, in Halifax II JB897 (individual aircraft code LQ-T), “Ran low on fuel and while trying to land in misty weather conditions at Wyton, collided with trees and crash-landed 0430 in a field near the airfield. Four crew members received slight injuries.” // Along with F/O Weiser, the crew comprised Sergeant T. Geary, Sergeant G.B. Ellwood, Flying Officer R.E. Baker, Pilot Officer F.D. Mayou, Sergeant L. Colburn, Flight Sergeant H.C. Banks, // Public Record Office Air 50/248 has the following Combat Report relevant to his operations for night of 23/24 November 1943 (target Berlin, Lancaster V/405, JA974). Crew included F/L William Weiser (captain), Flight Lieutenant Glenmore Benjamin Ellwood (navigator), Pilot Officer Frank Cousins, RAF (Bomb Aimer), Pilot Officer Meyer (Wireless Operator), Pilot Officer Lloyd Gerrard Coburn (Mid-Upper Gunner), Flying Officer Henry Cecil Banks (Rear Gunner) and Flight Sergeant Andrew Christian Sondergaard (Flight Engineer). // On the night of 23//24 November 1943, at position 52.33 North 09.40 East, heading 250 degrees True, I.A.S. 168 knots, height 20,000 feet, our aircraft, Lancaster “V”, JA974, 405 RCAF Squadron, was attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft. The attack came from starboard quarter down at a range of 300 yards. One short burst was fired by enemy aircraft at 300 yards. Our rear gunner did not open fire. The evasive action taken was a corkscrew to starboard. The enemy aircraft was lost and seen no more. No damage was sustained by our aircraft. The attack took place cloudy night naze, no moon, there was no flak or searchlights cooperating. Monica gave first indication of attack. There is no damage claimed to enemy fighter.