BOUSKILL, F/L Russell Reginald (J10254) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.401 Squadron (deceased) - Award effective 1 December 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 239/45 dated 9 February 1945. Born at Trout Creek, Ontario, 18 September 1915. Educated in Toronto, clerk from 1936 to 1939; gas station attendant to 1941. Enlisted in Toronto, 22 May 1941. To No.4A Manning Depot, St. Hubert, 25 June 1941. To No.3 ITS, Victoriaville, 9 August 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 12 September 1941; posted next day to No.17 EFTS, Stanley, Nova Scotia; graduated 7 November 1941 when posted to No.8 SFTS, Moncton; awarded wings and commissioned , 27 February 1942. To Central Flying School, Trenton, 30 March 1942. Instructor at No.1 SFTS, 18 May 1942 to 6 June 1943; promoted Flying Officer, 15 January 1943. To No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 6 June 1943. To “Y” Depot, 22 August 1943. Embarked from Canada, 13 September 1943; disembarked in Britain, 19 September 1943. To No.57 OTU, 12 October 1943; to No.401 Squadron, 10 January 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 27 February 1944. With No.401 Squadron, 10 January to 2 October 1944 when he was killed in action. Victories as follows: 7 June 1944, one FW.190 damaged; 27 July 1944, one FW.190 destroyed southeast of Caen; 3 August 1944, one Bf.109 destroyed south of Domfort; 17 August 1944, one FW.190 destroyed over Laigle; 25 September 1944, one FW.190 destroyed over Nijmegen plus one Bf.109 damaged; 29 September 1944, one Bf.109 destroyed plus one Bf.109 damaged southeast of Nijmegen. Photo PL-44139 shows him, waist up, in flying gear. Award presented to next-of-kin, 28 February 1946. This officer has set a fine example of skill and courage. He has displayed the greatest keenness for air operations and his successes include the destruction of five enemy aircraft. Throughout a long period of fighter activity his devotion to duty has been of a high order. Notes: On 24 October 1942, instructing Aus 420680 LAC W.B. Keough at No.1 SFTS (Harvard 2675) in instrument flying, the aircraft landed on runway and a slight swing developed to the left. Applying brakes, they seemed to grab very hard and the aircraft went up on its nose. Damaged Spitfire MJ152, Category AC, Tangmere, 1130 hours on 1 June 1944 in the course of an aircraft test. At the time he had 1,236 hours flying, 192.50 on type. He reported: During an aircraft test I put the aircraft into a dive at 20,000 feet. About 15,000 feet, I felt a sharp pull on the port side and also a loud noise. I straightened out of the dive and returned to base at once - the aircraft performed normally on the way back. On landing it was found that the port radiator casing had pulled away and had town the wing. The speed of the dive would not have exceeded 450 m.p.h. The cause was deemed to be technical failure; “A weakness in manufacture or repair is suspected”, and no blames attached to him. Training: At No.3 ITS, course was 8 August to 13 September 1941. Courses and marks as follows: Mathematics (74/100), Armament, practical and oral (88/100), Signals (100/100), Hygiene and Sanitation (35/40), Drill (74/100), Law and Discipline (59/60). Placed 16th in a class of 155. “No outstanding characteristics. Good educational background. Keen. Calm. Dependable. Quiet.’ (W/C D.D. Findlay). At No.17 EFTS, course was 13 September to 7 November 1941. All flying on Finch II - 34 hours 45 minutes dual, 29 hours ten minutes solo. Of these times, six hours 50 minutes on instruments. Also logged ten hours 15 minutes in Link. Recommended for twin-engine aircraft. CFI wrote, “Appearance and discipline good. Good all round student.” Ground courses were Airmanship (190/200), Airframes (88/100), Aero Engines (89/100), Signals, practical (85/100), Theory of Flight (80/100), Air Navigation (193/200), Armament, oral (165/200), Qualities as an Officer (150/200). Placed first in a class of 26. “Very intelligent and able. Reserved, quiet, not impressive; is a good student and very likeable.” Course at No.8 SFTS was 10 November 1941 to 27 February 1942. Flew Harvard aircraft (53.35 day dual, 59.00 day solo, 4.45 night dual, 11.15 night solo). Of these times, 28 hours on instruments. Also logged 20 hours in Link. “A high average pilot. Satisfactory at navigation. A confident student with a good knowledge of flying and of his aircraft.” (F/L H.C. Ledoux). Further assessed by S/L N.S. Anderson who wrote, “This student is very conscientious and worked very hard. Highly recommended as instructor material. Pupil’s choice - Fighter, Bomber, General Reconnaissance.” Ground courses were Airmanship and Maintenance (141/200), Armament, written (76/100), Armament, practical (80/100), Navigation (132/150), Meteorology (48/50), Signals, written (43/50), Signals, practical (90/100). “Quiet, capable and modest type. Work above average at all times. Has ability. Above average on course.” (F/L J.S. Williamson). Graduated first in a class of 43. At Central Flying School, Trenton, instructor’s course (30 March to 10 May 1942) he flew Single Engine Elementary aircraft (2.25 solo and 1.45 dual by day), Single Engine Advanced trainer (18.25 solo and 10.45 dual by day) and Twin Engined Advanced trainer (16.50 solo and 14.55 dual by day). “This pupil has worked hard throughout his course. Knowledge of patter very good and flying ability above average. Should become a good instructor.” (F/L E.B. Osler). Ground training supervised by F/L G.P. Silke who graded his 65 % on Airframes, 81 % on Airmanship, 75 % on Engines and 91 % on Air Navigation. F/L F.B. Folkins tested him on Cranes on 10 May 1942 and graded him under the following headings - Voice (Clear), Manner (Pleasant), Ability to impart knowledge (Good average), Ability as pilot (Good average). Awarded “C” Category Instructor. “Instructs in a very pleasing manner. Should become a very capable instructor with experience.” He was retested on 3 March 1943 and his assessment upgraded to “B” Category. At No.57 OTU course was 12 October 1943 to 4 January 1944. Flew in Master (two hours 30 minutes dual including 25 minutes dual to first solo plus 45 minutes solo, all by day) and Spitfire (64 hours five minutes day solo and three hours night solo). In addition he logged 15 hours 25 minutes in Link. Of the Spitfire time, 21 hours 50 minutes was formation and two hours 35 minutes were on instruments. Ground Examinations were in Recognition (93/100), Operations and Tactics (156/200), Armament (276/300), Intelligence (90/100), Navigation (192/200), Signals (95/100). Flying Tests in General Flying (350/400), Applied Flying (160/200), Instrument Flying (200/250), Night Flying (75/100), and Link (41/50). Under “Remaks” he was assessed as following: (a) General Assessment as a pilot - Good average (b) Assessment on formation flying - Above average (c) Combat - Good average (d) Marksmanship (air firing) - Above average; Low level bombing - Above average (e) Rounds fired air to air - 2,650 with 3.2 % hits; air to ground, 2,400 rounds. (f) Cine gun feet exposed - 280 feet “A keen, well disciplined officer with lots of initiative” (S/L F.W. Lister, CFI, 3 January 1944). Assessments (selected): “An extremely cheerful individual who keeps his students well above average in time and instruction.” (F/L H. Card, No.1 SFTS, 30 September 1942). “Very cheerful and cooperative. Always does his best in whatever duties he undertakes.” (W/C G.A. Hiltz, No.1 SFTS, 7 June 1943). “F/L Bouskill is a keen, conscientious pilot with improving ability. He is well liked by all other pilots.” (S/L I.F. Kennedy, No.401 Squadron, 15 July 1944). Circumstances of death: S/L R.I.A. Smith, reporting on the loss of Spitfire MJ300, noted that F/O A/.L. Sinclair was leading Blue Section with Bouskill as Blue 3. At about 12,000 feet they ran into four long-nose FW.190s. Sinclair went after these four while Bouskill pursued a gaggle below. This was the last seen of him.