American Volunteer in the RCAF Uniform

[Ricardo]

Hi All,

 

Please, I would like the opinion of this patche of American Volunteer in the RCAF:

 

 

Thanks!!

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Ricardo]

Hi All,

 

More images:

 

 

Please, I need some opinions.

 

Thanks!!

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Ricardo]

Hi All,

 

Some informations about The Americans In The RCAF:

 

Recruiting American citizens on American soil to fight in a foreign war was a violation of the United States Neutrality Act but the RCAF needed pilots and recruits. Canadian World War I ace, "Billy" Bishop, recalling that a substantial number of Americans had come to Canada during World War I to join the Royal Flying Corps under similar circumstances, believed that history might repeat itself and saw the need for an organization to select and screen the American volunteers and assist them in joining the RCAF.

 

 

The establishment of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was noted by both trained pilots and would-be airmen south of the border. Experienced Canadian pilots needed as flying instructors and for other duties were quickly recruited by the RCAF, but many more were required. At the same time many young Americans, for various personal reasons, wanted to get involved in the air war. They began appearing at RCAF recruiting centres near border crossings causing some embarrassment to Canadian authorities. Canada had declared war on September 10, 1939 but it would be well over two years later that the United States joined the Allies in the fight against the Nazis.

 

 

Air Marshal W.A. "Billy" Bishop V.C., one of the greatest Allied aces of World War I,

pins wings on Leading Aircraftman R.N. Harrison of Montclair, New Jersey

upon his graduation from No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands, Ontario (31 July, 1942).

[ Canadian Forces PL-9628 ]

 

The day after Britain declared war, Bishop contacted Clayton Knight, an American friend who had flown with a British fighter squadron during WW I. Knight was one of the United States' foremost aviation artists and Bishop knew he had lots of contacts. Bishop told him, "American boys will want to help Canada as they did in the First War. But this time they must have direction and be screened. We need someone in the States to sort them out before they cross the border." Knight agreed to cooperate.

 

Knight then travelled to Ottawa where he was briefed on the manpower needs of the RCAF and instructed to develop an organization to locate American pilots and assist them in coming to Canada. This organization became known as The Clayton Knight Committee. Its aim was clearly to recruit Americans for the RCAF, despite the fact that this was in violation of United States law.

 

Together with Homer Smith, another Canadian WW I pilot who had fallen heir to an oil fortune and had promised financial backing, Knight rented a suite in the Waldorf Hotel in New York City and opened branch offices in fine hotels in various cities across the US, each with a manager and staff. Unable to advertise in the media, the committee's recruiters depended on word-of-mouth references and brochures sent to aviation schools and airports that simply noted that the Clayton Knight Committee would assist applicants interested in the many positions available in both British and Canadian aviation.

 

One problem was that upon joining the RCAF, recruits had to pledge allegiance to the British monarch, something that could result in forfeiture of citizenship for the young Americans. This obstacle was removed when the Canadian government passed an Order in Council replacing the oath with a temporary agreement to obey RCAF rules and discipline for the duration of the war.

 

During November 1940, a note from the American State Department was released stating that the Clayton Knight Committee was openly spending Canadian government funds to lure Americans to Canada to serve in the RCAF and that this was in violation of American law.

 

In response, the Canadian government created the "Dominion Aeronautical Association" as a buffer between the Clayton Knight Committee and the RCAF. Correspondence by the Committee with potential recruits was directed to the Association. When recruits arrived at their office in Ottawa they were told, "We really haven't anything for you right now but maybe the RCAF does. Their office is right next door."

 

With the enactment of lend-lease legislation in March 1941, the American government made it easier for its citizens to join the RCAF by treating the enlistment of its citizens in Canadian forces as part of its aid policy and exempting such recruits from its own military draft.

 

After Pearl Harbour was attacked, everything changed. Young Americans wanted to join their own air force which was welcoming recruits, not Canada's. The Clayton Knight Committee's work was done, having been responsible for sending 900 trained aircrew and 1450 trainees to the RCAF, as well as 300 pilots to the RAF.

 

Other young Americans had made their way to Canada on their own and by the time the United States declared war against the Nazis in December 1941, approximately 9000 American citizens had joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, having made their own personal decision to enter the war. According to Spencer Dunmore, author of "Wings for Victory," "They were colourful, those volunteers -professionals and playboys, convicted felons and husbands on the run, idealists and mercenaries, kids seeking adventure, youngsters seeking nothing but an opportunity to fly, middle-aged men looking for work -and to all of them, the RCAF's need was their golden opportunity.

 

Of these 9000, about 800 were killed in RCAF service and of these 379 have their names inscribed on Canada's Bomber Command Memorial Wall on the front lawn of the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum.

 

After Pearl Harbour 1759 American members of the RCAF transferred to the armed forces of the United States. Another 2000 transferred later on and about 5000 completed their wartime service with the RCAF.

 

Arguably the most illustrious of the Americans in the RCAF was Wing Commander Joe McCarthy DSO DFC and Bar of Long Island, New York. W/C McCarthy played a leading role in the well-known "Dambusters Raid" and completed a distinguished wartime and post-war career with the RCAF.

 

Another renowned American in the RCAF was Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, author of the classic aviation poem, "High Flight". P/O Magee was killed in 1941 while serving as a Spitfire pilot with No. 412 Fighter Squadron RCAF.

 

Another American in the RCAF was F/Lt. Charles Lesesne who, after his aircraft was attacked by an enemy Me-262 jet fighter, stayed at the controls of his No. 425 Halifax to enable his Canadian crewmembers to escape. Sadly, he was then trapped in the bomber and was killed. F/Lt. Lesesne's was one of 379 Americans whose names appear on Canada's Bomber Command Memorial.

 

From: http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/americansrcaf.html

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Alonzo]

Excellent information and a killer uniform.

I have group of RCAF uniforms in the collection and I check to see if there is one similar to yours.

Cheers

[Ricardo]

Excellent information and a killer uniform.

I have group of RCAF uniforms in the collection and I check to see if there is one similar to yours.

Cheers

 

Thank you Mate!!!

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[doyler]

USA patch looks fine to me.Similiar to the ones I have from my ex-father in-law.He was a Mosquito pilot in RAF Squadron 21.Took his flight training in Canada on frozen lakes used for airfields.He also flew the mission to Coppenhagen in Feburary of 1945,the Shell House Raid.He was actually the last plane out as he was the photograher for the mission that day.He had an Army photograpgher with him and had no Navigator that day as the photograher was in his place.the photograher took the mission footage with a hand held movie camera.They had practiced for 6 weeks for the mission.

 

He had all his flight gear and uniforms(tunic,trousers,overcoat,battle dress,goggles,helmet,gaunlet gloves,o-mask,parachute,escape boots,regular flight boots,escape kit with maps, Irvin jacket,the works) but in 1968 his wife threw it all away.He came home from work and she had tossed it.He still has the map and a escape saw and his log book.In 1994 he recieved a package in the mail and it was his medals he never recieved after the war.They were current strikes.He couldnt figure out how he recieved them.I figure the guy who was working on the squadrons 50th reunion put him in for them or requested them as he was doing a lot of research and also had a print of the Shell House Raid done for the vets.He was one of two Americans in the squadron.In 1944 he was approached by the US Army Air Force to join.They promised better pay and a bump in rank.He refused as he stated the rumor was the USAAF were looking for pilots to fly gliders for airborne operations and he didnt want a suicide mission.Maybe a bad decision on his part as he doesnt qualify for veterans benefits from the US as he flew for the RAF.At one time he had dual citizenship,US/Canadian.He had to give up the Canadian in 1952(another story in itself).But on the other hand he is here to tell the tale.

[4STARCHRIS]

Ricardo,

Thanks for sharing the great topic. Enjoy the other post as well. Keep up the good posts. Enjoyed the uniform.

4starchris

[Ricardo]

Ricardo,

Thanks for sharing the great topic. Enjoy the other post as well. Keep up the good posts. Enjoyed the uniform.

4starchris

 

Thank you Mate!! (Obrigado!)

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Wailuna]

This is the Canadian War Medal awarded (posthumously) to my late father-in-law, George S. Smith. According to the accompanying text, the War Medal was awarded "...to all full-time personnel of the armed forces and merchant marines for serving for 28 days between September 3, 1939, and September 2, 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea."

He enlisted in the RCAF "Special Reserve" September 29, 1941, and was discharged May 19, 1942. At discharge he was a Leading Aircraftman assigned to Number 6 Initial Training School in Toronto. Back in America, he enlisted the same day as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces. After completing flight training he flew 31 combat missions as an 8th Air Force B-17 pilot. He was released from active duty with the rank of Captain, June 13, 1945. Sorry, we have no picture of him in RCAF uniform but here is one of him standing by the B-17 "Joker" in 1944.

 

[Wailuna]

On 11/13/2007 at 10:21 AM, Wailuna said:

This is the Canadian War Medal awarded (posthumously) to my late father-in-law, George S. Smith. According to the accompanying text, the War Medal was awarded "...to all full-time personnel of the armed forces and merchant marines for serving for 28 days between September 3, 1939, and September 2, 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea."

 

 

 

He enlisted in the RCAF "Special Reserve" September 29, 1941, and was discharged May 19, 1942. At discharge he was a Leading Aircraftman assigned to Number 6 Initial Training School in Toronto. Back in America, he enlisted the same day as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces. After completing flight training he flew 31 combat missions as an 8th Air Force B-17 pilot. He was released from active duty with the rank of Captain, June 13, 1945. Sorry, we have no picture of him in RCAF uniform but here is one of him standing by the B-17 "Joker" in 1944.