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ST.LAURENT, Fernand Flight Sergeant, No.162 Squadron (deceased), R55019 Mention in Despatches RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
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ST.LAURENT, FS Fernand (R55019) - Mention in Despatches - No.162 Squadron (deceased) - Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 425/45 dated 9 March 1945. Born 22 July 1917. Home in St.Anaclet, working as a lighthouse guard at Pointe au Pere, Quebec; enlisted in Quebec, 20 October 1939. Initially an airframe mechanic. Trained at St. Thomas, Ontraio, 11 November 1939 to 2 May 1940. Posted to Trenton Ontario where he was attached to No.6 Repair Depot. Promoted LAC, 1 October 1940. Promoted Corporal, 1 September 1941. In January and June 1942 he was commended as diligent and reliable, being recommended for promotion to Sergeant. Posted to No.1 GRS, Summerside, 7 July 1942. To Station Gander, 5 November 1942. To Station Torbay, 15 May 1943. To No.145 Squadron, 4 June 1943. Posted to No.9 BGS, Mont Joli, 6 August 1943 on remustering for Flight Engineer duty. Reclassified as a Flight Engineer, 15 November 1943 and promoted Sergeant. He had already been described as “A superior student, eager to learn, with a good practical knowledge of engines” (S/L H.E. Bishop, Chief Instructor, 4 October 1943). . He had already been on strength of No.162 (BR) Squadron from 8 October 1943. Posted to Iceland with that unit, 31 December 1943. Killed in action 24 June 1944 while in Hornell's crew. No citation. His Flight Engineer training is interesting. He was first given a gunnery course (9 August to 17 September 1943) in which he fired 430 rounds from VGO guns in Fairey Battles and 600 rounds in the air from a Bristol turret (5.3 hours spent in turret manipulation). This part of the course involved guns, pyrotechnics and ammunition, turrets, and aircraft recognition, while he spent 12 hours 15 minutes in the air. The actual flight engineer syllabus is not described, but entailed study from 20 September to 2 October 1943 with both written and oral examinations. There is also on file a report of a Unit Examination Board convened at No.162 (BR) Squadron on 15 November 1943. This dealt with the following: Oral examination to determine the candidate’s general knowledge of the operational problems connected with the aircraft power plants, auxiliary and ancilliary equipment (70 percent of marks allotted). Oral examination to determine knowledge of armament (10 percent of marks) Observation of his practical application of aircraft drill and discipline during normal flight, combat and emergency landing routine. The Board was presided over by J10110 F/L F.J. Grant and members were 1862 WO S.G. Cable and 333A Sergeant Codrenso. It duly found St.Laurent qualified in accordance with APS Bulletin 224 (paragraph 6) dated 15 March 1943. His flying with No.162 (BR) Squadron was as follows: October 1943 - 17.05; November 1943 - 9.50; December 1943 - 45 minutes; January 1944 - 27.20; February 1944 - 31.10; March 1944 - 11.40; April 1944 - nil; May 1944 - 48.20; June 1944 - 58.10.