|
--------------------------------------------------
KERRY, P/O Ivan Gordon (J92975) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.432 Squadron
Award effective 5 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 20 July 1945 &
AFRO 1619/45 dated 19 October 1945.
This gunner has completed thirty-six sorties over some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany as a rear gunner. This officer could have been screened on completion of thirty-four trips, but completed the other two in order to remain with the rest of his crew. Pilot Officer Kerry has displayed exceptional keenness and a high standard of professional ability. In his section, the cheerful confidence and strong sense of duty shown by him was noticed by all. For his keenness and fine offensive spirit this officer is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate).
--------------------------------------------------
Born 3 November 1925 at Strico, Ontario.
Home in Port Perry, Ontario (labourer).
Enlisted in Toronto, 22 June 1943 (17 years old).
Posted to
No.3 Manning Depot.
Posted 23 August 1943 to uncertain unit.
No.13 SFTS (guard), 3 October 1943.
No.1 Air Gunner Ground Training School, 29 October 1943.
Promoted LAC, 10 December 1943 when posted to
No.3 BGS (graduated and promoted Sergeant, 25 February 1944).
No.3 Aircrew Graduate Training School, 10 March 1944.
To “Y” Depot, 4 April 1944.
Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 10 April 1944.
Commissioned 9 November 1944.
promoted to Flying Officer, 9 May 1945.
Repatriated to Canada, 13 June 1945.
released 20 December 1945.
Award sent by registered mail 28 June 1949.
Sgt-at-arms in the PEI Legislature from 1997-2003.
Until about 2014, he spoke at high schools on PEI about the
war and the importance of remembering and of never taking
freedom for granted.
Final "flight" 12 April 2016. |
--------------------------------------------------
"After my graduation as an Air Gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force, I left Pier 21 on the Empress of Scotland (previously The Empress of Japan) on April 12, 1944. I was on gunnery duty on the port stern Orlikon anti-aircraft gun during the voyage. We landed in Liverpool, England on April 19, 1944 (my mother’s birthday).
I completed 36 bombing missions, 9 daylight and 27 night, on France and Germany as Tail Gunner in Halifax bombers. My last mission was March 13, 1945. I then volunteered to return to Canada to train for war in the Pacific. I returned on the ship, Isle de France. I crewed up in RCAF, Dartmouth until the Japanese surrendered.
I am enclosing a picture of my crew taken by the Air Force Photography Department before we flew on operations." - Ivan Kerry
The Crew
--------------------------------------------------
Sortie List :
28 September 1944
30 September 1944
14 October 1944
14 October 1944
23 October 1944
25 October 1944
28 October 1944
30 October 1944
1 November 1944
2 November 1944
16 November 1944
2 December 1944
4 December 1944
6 December 1944
18 December 1944
28 December 1944
29 December 1944
30 December 1944
2 January 1945
5 January 1945
16 January 1945
28 January 1945
1 February 1945
2 February 1945
4 February 1945
7 February 1945
8 February 1945
13 February 1945
14 February 1945
17 February 1945
20 February 1945
21 February 1945
7 March 1945
8 March 1945
11 March 1945
12 March 1945 |
Cap Gris Nez
Sterkrade
Duisburg
Duisburg
Essen
Hamburg
Cologne
Cologne
Oberhausen
Dusseldorf
Julich
Hagen
Karlsruhe
Osnabruck
Duisburg
Opladen
Trois Dorf
Cologne
Ludwigshaven
Hanover
Magdeburg
Stuttgart
Mainz
Wanne Eickel
Osterfeld
Goch
Wanne Eickel
Bohlen
Chemnitz
Wessel
Monheim
Worms
Hemmingstadt
Hamburg
Essen
Dortmund |
(4.05, day)
(4.45, day)
(5.10, day)
(5.30)
(5.15)
(5.00, day)
(5.30, day)
(6.05)
(5.40)
(5.15)
(5.15, day)
(7.10)
(6.40)
(6.05)
(6.15)
(6.00)
(6.35)
(6.15)
(7.05)
(5.30)
(6.50)
(7.10)
(6.40)
(5.55)
(5.45)
(5.30)
(6.15)
(8.45)
(8.20)
(6.15)
(7.05)
(7.10)
(6.10)
(5.55)
(5.40, day)
(5.45, day) |
--------------------------------------------------
Ivan in his bomber jacket.
--------------------------------------------------
Ivan at the Club
Ivan as Sgt. at Arms for the PEI Legislature |
|
 |
|
