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CANADIANS DOWN GERMAN FIGHTER, HIT SIX OTHERS
Beamsville Airman Takes Part in Daring Raid
HEAVY OFFENSIVE
London, Aug, 18, 1942 (CP Cable) Canadian Spitfire pilots who formed part of the united nations' fighter screen around American Flying Fortresses on their first bombing mission from British bases were credited today with the destruction of one Nazi fighter, the probable destruction of four and the damaging of two others.
Credited with one Focke-Wolfe 190 probably destroyed, was Sgt. H. P. Fuller, of Hortonville, N.S., who after tangling with eight enemy craft, saw one of them heading toward the ground with smoke streaming from it.
The engines of the Spitfire were still warm when other Canadian squadrons roared into the night to continue the air offensive that will become heavier as United States forces muster their strength on this side of the Atlantic.
A Boston intruder squadron whipped over German aerodromes in northern France, where another German machine was shot down. At the same time a Hampden bomber squadron commanded by W/C John Twigg, of Ottawa, Joined the R.A.F. force which took advantage of the weather to deliver another bomb blow at Germany.
Canadians Aboard
Two young Canadians, P/O Stephen Best, of Woodstock, Ont., and P/O S. P. Marlatt, of Lillooet, B.C., were aboard the Boston intruder squadron which destroyed the returning German aircraft over a station in occupied France.
Osnabrueck, the target of the bombing raid, was plastered with explosive and incendiary bombs and the navigator in Twigg's aircraft, F/L Gordon Fisher, of Regina, said, "The town really was given a beating and I do not think any sensible German would have wanted to be within miles of it."
The crews, all of whom returned safely, reported night fighters out in force.
Evasive action became even more violent than usual and P/O Dave Williams, of Vancouver, threw his machine around so violently that the entire crew, long experienced on operations, became as air sick as rookies in a training school.
On his first operational trip Sgt. Gunner Bill Coward, of Montreal, found his first glimpse of Germany "a bit of all right." With him were Sgt.-Pilot Thomas Kaye, of Winnipeg, and Sgt.-Observer Ron Moyer, of Beamsville, Ont.
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Home Hortonville, Nova Scotia.
Enlisted Halifax 20 December 1940.
Trained at
No.1 ITS (graduated 14 May 1941),
No.19 EFTS (graduated 26 July 1941) &
No.11 SFTS (graduated 11 October 1941)
Released, 5 June 1945. |
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This chalk drawing was done by Fuller in 1943, probably in England. It now resides in Florida. A partial serial number can be seen on one of the planes and it begins with 0613... |
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FULLER, F/L Harlan Perry (J17752) - Mention in Despatches - Overseas
Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date &
AFRO 1395/45 dated 31 August 1945.
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22 December 1942 - These men are dressed in high altitude gear. They are: F/Sgt H.P. Fuller, of Hortonville, N.S., F/L I.G.S. Keltie of Edmonton, Alberta &
P/O J. Johnston of Selkirk, Sask.
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Victories Include :
Damaged one FW190, 17 August 1942, while serving with 402 Squadron
(The newspaper article above claims he was credited with a probable)
Destroyed one Me109, 27 September 1944, while serving with 443 Squadron
1 / 0 / 1
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