Jack Cameron "Jake" Copeland

use switches Fighter Pilots Air Gunners Navs./ R/Os Other Aircrew Gallery Misc.

use switches HOME Sitemap Slang Thanks/ Sources About Us Links

--------------------------------------------------

Borden Graduates Get Wings From Mothers

Camp Borden, Dec. 19, 1941 (Staff) — A happy innovation was introduced here tonight when a large group of graduates of No. 1 Service Flying Training School received their wings. Mothers who were present to see their sons graduate were invited by Group Captain R. S. Grandy, commandant of the school, to perform the ceremony. Other fliers received their wings from Squadron Leader J. McCulloch, chief instructor.
Group Captain Grandy commented on the help that had been given by the school at Hagersville in putting the men through the course, and thanked the residents of Barrie and neighborhood for the invitations for Christmas that had been received at the camp.
Squadron Leader McCulloch announced that the United States citizens who had started their training with the R.C.A.F. before their own country entered the war had expressed the desire to continue their service in the Canadian force.
J. C. Copeland of Brantford headed the class and received immediate promotion to the rank of pilot officer. Other Ontario fliers who were promoted at the same time were: J. M. Gibson, Kingsville; R. H. Walker, Niagara Falls, and D. A. McIntosh, Parkhill. Three Americans (including Vic Cabas & Al Harrington) and thirteen Australians also were appointed to commissions.
Other Ontarians who graduated were Sergeants J. G. R. Arsenault, Windsor; B. V. Crist, Wallaceburg; H. J. Dowding, Sarnia; J. D. Fairbairn, Windsor; L. A. Frost, Kingsville; J. N. Goldberg, Toronto; F. S. Jamieson, Durham; R. Morris, Windsor; K. J. Thompson, Paris; J. W. Tindale, Toronto; W. G. R. Smith, Mount Brydges, and G. D. Warriner, Toronto.

--------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------

R.C.A.F. Spitfire Fliers Catch 12 FW's, Down 10

With the R.C.A.F. in France, July 14, 1944 - (CP) - In their second spectacular victory in little more than a week, an R.C.A.F. Spitfire squadron commanded by S/L Tommy Brannagan, Windsor, Ont., Thursday night shot down in flames without loss to themselves 10 of a formation of 12 Focke-Wulf 190's spotted flying at tree-top level near Argentan, about 10 miles south of Caen.
Recently when the squadron ran into some Germans it destroyed five and its score stands now at 15 confirmed victories in two sorties, a record unequalled by any other fighter squadron in Normandy.
The squadron is part of the celebrated Canadian wing led by W/C J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, much decorated English airman from Nottingham, who with 35 planes downed in air combat, is the leading Allied ace in this theatre.
Three of the German aircraft destroyed late Thursday fell before the guns of F/O Bill Myers of Windsor, Ont., a veteran of between 80 and 90 operational flights, whose only previous score was a half-share in the destruction of an enemy dive-bomber.
Brannagan himself got two. F/Ls G. E. Mott of Sarnia, Ont., and J. C. Copeland of Toronto, F/Os Lloyd (Lou) Plummer of Toronto, B. M. Mackenzie of Stettler, Alta., and D. H. Kimball of Onatucket, N.B., each got one.
Three of Thursday evening's victors also shared in the previous five-plane triumph when Brannagan shot down two and Kimball and Mott each got one.
Brannagan has been in command of the squadron for only a fortnight. The youthful airman, who started his second tour without any rest period, said the Germans "didn't have a chance because apparently they didn't see us until we were right down on them." He said the FW's were carrying bombs.
Typhoon fighter-bombers destroyed a bridge and smashed a section of rail track near Fleury-sur-Orne last night, in a dive-bombing assault against enemy lines of communication behind the battlefront.
The City of Ottawa squadron took off from this advanced base in two flights. One, led by F/L Harold Gooding of Ottawa, smashed the bridge, and another flight led by the squadron commanding officer, S/L Bill Pentland of Calgary, struck the rail tracks approaching a second bridge near Etavaux, further north.
W/O Pat McConvey, 116 Barton Avenue, Toronto, said two planes ahead of him bombed the bridge with one direct hit right in the center. "The bridge was sagging in the center like a V when I last saw it," he added.
F/O John Dewar of London, Ont. reported, “I think the bridge had a little bent in it before we got there — anyway it's sure got one now.”

--------------------------------------------------

COPELAND, F/L Jack Cameron (J9421) - Mention in Dispatches - No.441 Sq.
Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 1395/45 dated 31 August 1945.

Claimed 99 sorties (154 hours ten minutes) on one form. However, Directorate of History and Heritage file 78/323 folio 9 has recommendation for a DFC drafted 7 January 1945 by S/L R. H. Walker which mentions 104 sorties (148 operational hours). At the time he was second-in-command of a Flight.

Flight Lieutenant Copeland has just left for one month’s leave in Canada, having served actively overseas for three years. He instructed for 18 months on Tiger Moths and is credited with one tour of operations with this squadron.

During his first few engagements, this officer was twice hit by enemy fighters, but in both cases brought his badly shot-up Spitfire back to crash land on the aerodrome. Demoralizing as this was, he continued to carry the attack to the enemy and in his next two engagements, destroyed a FW.190 on the 13th July, 1944, and shared a ME.109 destroyed with his No.2 on 18th July 1944. Both of these successes were obtained in the Argentan area. While providing cover for the paratroop attack at Arnhem on September 27th, 1944 [sic] he attacked and destroyed an additional ME.109. These successes have been achieved while flying protective patrols over the front line, from “D” Day until after the Arnhem show. He has destroyed 22 enemy road transport and damaged two barges by shooting up the Huns ahead of our army from Normandy to Holland. On one occasion he was hit by flak in the Falaise Gap area, but again brought his aircraft back safely to base.

Flight Lieutenant Copeland has displayed great courage and determination to seek out and destroy the Hun where ever he could be found and has contributed largely to the fine record of this squadron. I therefore recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

An appendix to this submission breaks down his sorties as follows: Patrols (49); Armed Reconnaissances (30), Escorts (15), Sweeps (four), Dive Bombing (two), Air/Sea Rescue (two), Scramble (one), Ship Reconnaissance (one). However, the figure of “22 enemy road transport destroyed” is actually broken down as MET Destroyed (13) and MET damaged (nine).

--------------------------------------------------

AIRMEN ARRIVE IN HUGE DRAFT NEXT SATURDAY
Scores of Local, District Men Included
Among 2,500 Veterans of War in Skies

A list of approximately 2,500 repatriated R.C.A.F. personnel, expected to arrive at Quebec City aboard the SS Strathoden on Saturday, July 28, was announced today by air force headquarters.
The list is divided into two parts, the first of which is a group of approximately 1,700 personnel of No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) bomber group. Men are of all ranks and will proceed on leave directly from ship's side. Leave addresses are given. The second part comprises approximately 800 normal "repats," who will proceed to the depot at Lachine before going on leave.
It should be noted that the accuracy of these lists cannot be guaranteed, as there may be discrepancies due to last-minute changes prior to embarkation.

First List
The following are included in part 1 of the list: F/L P. Ardeline, 411 Concession Street; F/O H. H. Bessey, Port Colborne; F/O F. T. Allport, 91 Crosthwaite avenue; F/O S. W. Challen, 17 East 7th street; F/L J. C. Copeland, Brantford; F/L. J. A. Biohler, Ancaster; F/L W. D. Burton, Brantford; F/L G. H. Henderson, 219 Main street east; F/L A. W. Jackson, 36 Matthew's avenue; F/L R. A. Stainer, Burlington; S/L R. A. Westell, 19 Huxley avenue south; F/L R. C. Head, Cemetery office, York street; F/O G. B. Thorpe, Burlington; P/O D. R. Luff, 21 Fairholt road south; F/O W. K. McGrath, Bartonville; F/O F. K. Neville, Dunnville; F/O R. E. Porter, Hamilton; F/L G. A. Stapleton, 386 John street north; F/O M. H. Havers, 1 Lloyd street; F/L A. Hunter, 23 Barnesdale avenue north; F/O B. E. McAndrew, 25 Springer avenue; F/O J. McCurlie, 47 Macaulay street west; F/O W. J. Hutchinson, 632 Barton street east; F/O F. A. Hoyle, 26 Ottawa street south; P/O A. C. Evans, Fenwick; P/O R. C. Hamilton, 31 Stirton street; F/L G. A. Stapleton, 386 John street north; F/S W. E. Goldie, 355 Cannon street east; F/S D. R. Gregory, Burlington; F/S W. H. Arnold, 22 Locke street north; F/S W. V. Axford, 124 Edgemont avenue; F/S D. J. Bastead, Oakville; F/S W. McInness, 42 Campbell avenue; F/S L. H. Conolly, 223 Wentworth street; F/S H. M. Moss, Brantford; F/S R. L. Armstrong, Brantford; Sgt. F. Corbett, 62 Argyle avenue; W/O R. O. Murray, 586 Aberdeen avenue; F/S A. Kufuik, Welland; Cpl. A. E. G. Darby, Welland; Cpl. G. D. Day, Brantford; LAC R. C. R. Dodds, Brantford; F/S D. R. Gregory, Burlington; F/S D. E. Thornber, Brantford; Sgt. W. Keller, Milton; W/O M. L. Laba, Grimsby; Sgt. D. E. Martin, Brantford; Cpl. W. T. Bell, 137 Adeline avenue; LAC T. M. Bennetto, 423 Main street east; LAC R. T. Burford, Oakville; Cpl. G. T. Fozzard, 205 Charlton avenue west; Cpl. J. A. Harris, 307 Wentworth street south; LAC S. D. Hill, Oakville; LAC R. C. Horney, Ridgeway; LAC J. H. Kingston, 91 East 34th street; LAC H. H. MacAlpine, 323 Wentworth street north; AC1 R. C. Michael, Port Colborne; Cpl. H. D. Parsons, 25 Genesee avenue; LAC C. G. Pollard, 49 Fairfield avenue; LAC C. B. Sixsmith, 394 Concession street; Sgt. C. M. Showers, Brantford; Sgt. A. H. Smith, 29 Reginald avenue; F/L G. H. Henderson, 219 Main street east; LAC C. N. Rumley, 165 Barons avenue north; LAC M. M. Schooley, Grimsby; LAC J. R. Marwick, 176 Queensdale avenue; AC1 A. Peekham, Beamsville; Cpl. D. A. Wintemute, 91 Belmont avenue; LAC H. Woofinder, Brantford; Cpl. O. K. Johnson, Burlington; Sgt. J. B. Vanfleet, 154 Young street; F/O A. A. Snyder, Brantford; F/L G. H. Upper, Allanburg; F/O D. M. Wood, Brantford; F/O G. Q. S. Stirling, 14 Crockett street.

Second last
List No. 2 includes the following personnel: F/O L. J. Ellis, Brantford; P/O N. J. Smith, 13 Strathcona avenue north; F/S J. F. W. Prudence, 405 John street north; Sgt. H. E. Rinehard, 253 Balmoral avenue north; LAC G. E. Briggs, Dunnville; LAC E. R. Duncan, 147 Province street north; AC1 S. Fedor, Welland; LAC C. A. Lee, Port Colborne; LAC T. N. Lowry, 1057 Beach boulevard; Cpl. A. S. Lord, 134 Barnesdale avenue north; LAC J. Stewart, Brantford; Sgt. C. V. Freeman, Beamsville; Cpl. R. Blaine, Grimsby; W/O2 E. T. Smith, 700 Cannon street east, and F/S M. N. Tweedle, 72 Francis street.

--------------------------------------------------

Victories Include :

--------------------------------------------------