Frank Edward "Bitsy" Grant

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TWENTY PILOTS GIVEN TRAINING FOR WAR DUTIES
Aero Club Provides Important Stage of Tuition — Many Flying Hours
Five More Future Aerial Warriors Here Now —
Civilians Take Courses

23 February 1940 - The Hamilton Aero club had more flying hours last month than in the first three months of 1939. No less than 338 hours were flown, with 128 dual hours and in all, 560 flights. In the previous year the hours flown in January were 110, February 94 and in March 106.
The great increase, not only in January, but also in months prior to this date, has been directly due to the advanced training of provisional pilot officers, 20 of whom have already received their complete instruction and five more recently arrived to take the course.
The local Aero club, it will be remembered, was one of the first clubs in the Dominion to be chosen, with six others across the country, as a location for advanced training for R.C.A.F. pilots under the National Defence scheme. Four pilots arrived here last June; in September nine others came and by November had completed the course. These were followed by seven others who left the airport last week after being fully trained by four instructors headed by Ernest Taylor, one of the foremost flying teachers in Canada. Under him are Donald Rogers, Arthur Leach and Norris Hart. The club has now received five new students who will study and train for the Royal Canadian Air Force examination which terminates their instruction here in two months' time, after which they are moved to Ottawa, Trenton or Camp Borden.
The five new men here are: Herbert E. Mitchell, Kingston; Douglas G. Chown, Winnipeg; Eugene L. Neal, Quebec City; Hubert H. Gilchrist, Toronto & Frank E. Grant, Brockville.

Civilians Also Train
The fact that provisional RCAF pilots are being trained at the club does not mean that civilians may not learn to fly. To the contrary, the club has just purchased a new 50 horse power cub plane, the second in a year, with the anticipation of greatly-increased business in civil aviation. Four other instructors are now taking a course at the airport and will be qualified to instruct within a month or so, making one of the largest groups of instructors at any aero club in the country.

Gained Licenses
Stewart S. MacNaughton, president of the Hamilton Aero club, stated this morning, "Each year we improve the club's facilities to handle civil aviation training, not only for private pilot's licenses, but also commercial, transport and instructor's tickets. Last year, for instance, 18 members received their private pilot's license, six their commercial, six others became qualified instructors and four more gained their transport license. The club now has seven planes of its own, not counting several others which are used solely to train the RCAF students."

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CAMP BORDEN PILOT OFFICERS RECEIVE WINGS
Mothers, Wives Watch as Commanding Officer Commends 35 Airmen
FROM MANY CITIES

Camp Borden, 6 Aug.1940 (Special) - Their heads high and their eyes smiling, thirty-five young airmen, representing every Province in Canada, stepped smartly forward at the R.C.A.F. Station, Camp Borden, this afternoon to receive their coveted wings from Group Captain A. T. Cowley, officer commanding the station.
Adding to the effectiveness of the occasion was the presence of the mothers and wives of the new pilot-officers of the station. With loved ones looking on proudly, the newest class acquitted themselves most creditably and were highly congratulated by their commanding officer. Presence of relatives of the "graduating" class was an innovation at the Camp Borden station.
The ceremonies took place just south of the control tower in the line of hangars. Shining Oxfords, Fairey Battles, and Harvard trainer planes formed a hollow square on the level flying field where the personnel of the air station, every man dressed in natty khaki summer drill with air force blue ties and hats, was formed up in steady lines. A gala air was added to the occasion by the presence of the band of the Royal Canadian Regiment, under Bandmaster J. E. Frederick.
The following pilot-officers received their wings: I. H. Sims, Toronto: E. C. Hamber, Vancouver, B.C.; C. H. Mussells, Montreal; J. L. Kennedy, Fort William; R. B. Edwards, Glace, Bay, N.S.; J. R Farquharson, Vancouver; H. A. Gilchrist. Glasgow, Scotland; I. M. S. Brown, Victoria, B.C.; R. D. Forbes- Robertson, Regina, Sask.; W. S. Quint, Calgary, Alta.; C. A. James, London, Out.; A. Michaud, Montreal; E. C. Mair, Windsor; D. F. Phalen, Toronto; B. W. C. Pearson, Brockville; D. J. Brooker, Brantford; J. E. Morgan, Calgary; C. D. Bricker, Grenfell, Sask.; R. W. Day, Vancouver; E. F. Treleaven, Haywood, Man.; J. D. Hall, Toronto; R. E. Reynolds, Ottawa; J. L. McFarland, Toronto; V. C. Stuart. Ottawa; D. S. Jacobs, Montreal; J. C. Hebert, Magog, Que.; K. L. Morham, St. Lambert, Que.; M. W. Hees, Toronto; K. G. Southam, Toronto; C. A. Brennan, Summerside, P.E.I.; W. N. MacKinnon, Moncton, N.B.; J. M. Connell, Toronto; F. E. Grant, Brockville; J. E. Bisson, Hull, Que.; J. M. Godfrey, Port Credit.

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HAMILTON PILOT FERRIES BOMBER ACROSS ATLANTIC
Flight-Lieut. Frank E. Grant Has Arrived Overseas, Parents Informed
Former Member of Hamilton Aero Club Has Achieved Career Ambition

The Hamilton Aero club has contributed another former student of elementary flying to the growing ranks of ex-members serving overseas, for today it was learned that F/L Frank E. Grant, son of Wallace and Mrs. Grant, Lyn road, Brockville, has successfully piloted a bomber across the Atlantic. The parents of the popular young officer, known to his friends as "Bitsy," were notified of his safe arrival by cable.
F/L Grant received his primary training under the Commonwealth Air Training plan at the Hamilton Aero club between January and April, 1940, and later proceeded to Camp Borden. During the time he trained here, he was associated with the famous "Jeep" Neal, of Quebec, who has been mentioned for participating in various, raids over enemy territory, and with Herbert Mitchell and John McColl, of Waterdown. His numerous friends in Hamilton visualize a grand time for this quartet if they manage to arrange a meeting.

Popular Airman
Before being called to make the Atlantic crossing, F/L Grant evidenced great patience while still attached to the No. 14 S.F.T.S. at Aylmer. So pronounced was this trait that the station publication, the Aylmer Airman, commented on it in a farewell article.
"As nearly everyone knows," said the item, "Bitsy's fondest hope for the last two years has been for a posting overseas. Beaming from ear to ear with evident pleasure at the early prospects, he expressed the hope that he would land with a fighter squadron.
"'I expect that I'll be flying a bomber over,'" he was quoted, irradiating the greatest pleasure.
The article described Flight-Lieutenant Grant as "a boyish, happy-go-lucky fellow with a dashing disposition, who took a moment off occasionally to poke his head in the orderly room doorway to jolly the girls of the staff. Anyone who has been up with him could quite easily elaborate on the larynx-gripping qualities of Bitsy's flying prowess."

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CANADIAN AIRMEN TAKE PART IN RAIDS THROUGHOUT EUROPE
Blast Genoa, Patrol Bay of Biscay and Fight Over France
BUSY AT WEEKEND

London, Nov. 9, 1942 - (CP Cable) - Canadian airmen, flying with both R.A.F. and R.C.A.F., squadrons, participated during a busy weekend in the heavy Genoa raids, extensive fighter operations over northern France and lively patrol of the Bay of Biscay, where axis submarines prowl on allied shipping.

Engine Busters
R.C.A.F. squadrons formed no part of the bomber forces sent to Genoa Friday and Saturday nights but, there were a number of Canadians in the big R.A.F. bombers which carried out the two successful raids.
Spitfire pilots of an R.C.A.F. fighter wing, including the "engine busters" squadron commanded by S/L John Fee, of Calgary, were engaged in a number of low-level sorties Saturday against enemy communications between Calais and Cherbourg. They destroyed or damaged 14 locomotives. The fighters were out again Sunday, escorting American Flying Fortresses in a successful raid on the steel and engineering works at Lille and in a diversionary raid on the Abbeville aerodrome. Four of the fighters were lost.
Late on Saturday Mustangs of the Canadian Army Co-operation Squadron raided a factory and freight train at Caen.
Three Hudson bombers of the Coastal Command Demon Squadron engaged three German Arado floatplanes during a patrol Saturday, destroying two and severely damaged the other.
The Saturday-night attack on Genoa seemed to "saturate" the city's defences, F/S Bob Farquharson, of Charlottetown, reported. Farquharson, a bomb aimer, said the bomber he was on "had time to make a circuit after dropping our bombs. I saw them burst near some fires. It was the first time I’d ever seen our own bombs explode."

Brantford Flyer
Sgt. Olaf Forland, of Brantford, told of "fires galore of every colour and description all over the target area." He said they lit up the entire city and the rear gunner added that flames could be seen at least 100 miles away before his Halifax ran into snowstorms and 30-below-zero weather on the return flight. P/O Kenneth Mackenzie, of Toronto, described Friday's raid —his third flight to Genoa— as "effective," while Sgt. K. N. Read, of Saskatoon, declared it was a "wizard show." Read, a wireless operator, said his aircraft encountered "a little excitement" over Genoa when one engine cut out, but the bomber went on without mishap.
Other Canadians in the Friday night raid were F/S C. C. McAlpine, of Moose Jaw, Sask., and George Graham, of Aurora, Ont.
The "engine busters" shot up seven locomotives by themselves Saturday to bring their score for a three-week period to 24. Members of other squadrons completed the day's bag.
P/O L. Powell, of Edmonton, shared in three attacks, bringing his personal score to 12 destroyed or damaged. P/O George Keith, of Taber, Alta., shared in attacks on four engines and P/O Rick Ellis, of Montreal West, who helped shoot up three, flew so low over one as it exploded the steam covered his Spitfire's windshield and temporarily blinded him,
Ellis and W/O D. McCrimmon, of Sylvan Lake, Alta., made separate attacks on two locomotives, both of which blew up. They teamed up for an attack on a third.
Workers in fields waved at F/Ls Frank Grant of Brockville, Ont., and Ted Wood of Renfrew, Ont., when they swept low to attack another locomotive. F/L John Godfrey, of Toronto, attacked still another, scoring direct hits.
P/O L. H. Jenner, of Windsor, Ont., led a Demon, formation which fought a sharp and successful operation with the Arados. Jenner's rear gunner, Sgt. T. M. O'Neill, of Ottawa, shot down one. F/S J. D. Ferguson, of Halifax, piloted the Hudson which got the second Arado and later he attacked an enemy ship.
After taking care of the first float plane, Jenner turned to the assistance of F/S R. C. Dalagleish (Dalgleish?), of Comber, Ont., and together they forced the third German off homeward, limping and barely skimming the wave tops.

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Canada's Airmen Get Chance To See How the Army Works

With the RCAF somewhere in England, Dec. 15, 1942 - CP) - Canadian airmen are being given a chance to see how the army works, with the object a closer liaison between the forces when the combined operation season opens again. Pilots in the R.C.A.F. fighter squadrons commanded by S/Ls Knobby Fee of Calgary, Keith Hodson of London, Ont. and Bud Malloy of Halifax, have been asked which army unit they would like to visit, giving each man a chance to spend a week with army men from his own district.
Each squadron plans to send one man each week to organize the army this winter. . . . F/O Alex Ince of Toronto was first to leave this station, going to a brigade headquarters for posting to two or three units for a few days each. . .
Among others expected to visit the army soon are Sgt. Bill Ferguson of Peterborough, Ont., who has asked for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders; Sgt. B. W. Evans, Porcupine, Ont, who wants to see some Ontario tank men, and Sgt. John Chapin, Brantford, an Ontario battery.
The main problem in an operational squadron is to work out a plan whereby enough seasoned pilots will be kept on duty while the army visits are taking place.
Commanding officers also have to consider other men being away on leave. The army will return the compliment, sending men to air stations for a. better understanding of the air force's problems.
It sounded like a terrific battle the way F/L Frank (Bitsy) Grant of Brockville, Ont., was describing it to a group of officers in the mess. . . He was waving his arms excitedly.
"This big job flew up right in front of us," he said. "We let him have it with everything we had, but he got away."
It turned out that Grant, a former boxing star at Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., was telling about a pheasant-shooting safari he and several other Canadian pilots had organized that foggy afternoon, when all fighter planes on the station were grounded. . . . They saw lots of birds, but didn't bring any down.
"We didn't get a single destroyed," he said. "I don't think we even got a probable. I think we did have one damaged."
Accompanying F/L Grant on the shooting trip (to a nearby estate which had been made available to Canadian airmen) were S/Ls Knobby Fee of the Engine-Busters and Keith Hodson of another Canadian Spitfire squadron, F/L Fred Kelly of Beaverton, Ont. and Sgt. B. W. Evans of Porcupine, Ont.

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Bombing Trains, Buildings, Battling Foe in Dogfight Day’s Work For Canadians
Four German Fighters Shot Down, Others Damaged in Sunday Operations—
Boys in Great Spirits On Return

With the R.C.A.F. Somewhere in England, Jan. 18, 1943 - (CP Cable) - Adding to the fury of Britain's renewed aerial assault on the enemy, Canadian Spitfire pilots Sunday destroyed four German fighters, damaged a number of others and successfully attacked several locomotives inside France in their biggest day's operations of recent months.

Three Planes Missing
Pilots from three Canadian squadrons took part in the operations, which ended in what several described as one of the biggest dogfights they had been in.
Three Canadian planes are missing.
The Canadian squadrons were led by S/Ls Bud Malloy, of Halifax; Fred Kelly, of Beaverton, Ont., and Keith Hodson, D.F.C., of London, Ont. While some planes remained thousands of feet over France to guard against enemy fighters, designated pilots dived for attacks on trains and buildings with cannon and machine-gun fire. In some cases a lone pilot would attack a locomotive. Varying the technique for other cases; a succession of machines streaked in for one attack after another, and pilots on watch high up reported plumes of steam from damaged engines rising up at a number of points.
Kelly; F/L Dick Ellis, of Montreal; P/O M. Johnston, of Selkirk, Man., and P/O Ed Gimbel, of Chicago, shot down the fighters.
"I got in about a three-second burst at one coming almost head-on," said Ellis. "I saw him go right into the ground!”
P/O L. W. Powell, of Edmonton, a D.F.C. decorated engine-buster with more than a score of locomotives to his credit, added another when he raked a freight train from end to end.
Sgt W. J. (Jock) Kinniard, of 12424 102nd street, Edmonton, flew No. 2 with Powell, and said: "I saw only a big cloud of smoke on the first run and could not see anything to shoot at after Powell had gone over the engine ahead of me.”
On the second run Kinniard managed to get in a burst of fire at the engine, while Powell was strafing a gun post near the tracks.

Had to Race For Home
P/O Bob Earle, of 60 East Drive, Victoria, B.C., and Sgt. A. M. B. Ketterson, of 3652 Northcliffe Avenue, Montreal, damaged an engine at the outskirts of a shunting yard. On the way out Earle fired at three Focke-Wulf 190's and later was attacked by three others when without ammunition. He had to race for home.
F/L Barry Needham, of Wynyard, Sask., shared in attacks on two locomotives with Sgt. G. L. Marshal, of 2982 West 3rd avenue, Vancouver, and P/O K. I. Robb, of Lachine, Que.
F/L J. D. Hall, of 3 Ridgeway road, Toronto, attacked three trains. Other locomotives were fired on by F/O Hugh Godefroy, of 3 Oriole Parkway, Toronto; F/L Frank Grant, of Brockville; F/O Dave McKay of Winnipeg, and Sgt. E. J. Levesque, of 71 Melrose Avenue, Ottawa.
Up top, engagements with enemy fighters were going on while the Spitfires thundered back and forth at a low altitude for their strafing activities.
"The one I got came at me from an angle," said Johnston. "I pulled away from him and saw tracers going by me. Then I got behind him and got in a long burst."
P/O E. J. Roff, of Richmond, Que., scored damage on two enemy aircraft during the fray, and Malloy and P/O D. J. McCrimmon, of Sylvan Lake, Alta., each scored a single damaged.
Godefroy notched strikes on two enemy fighters in addition to a locomotive he hit earlier. Others damaging Nazi fighters were F/L D. G. Murray, D.F.C., of Halifax, and Sgt. Frank B. Evans, of South Porcupine, Ont.
Altogether it was a great day for Canadians in the fighter command and the boys were in great spirits as their planes shuttled off for the channel crossing after news got around that the R.A.F. had been over Berlin the previous night.

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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, Oct. 13, 1943 - (CP) - The R.C.A.F. reported tonight in its 705th casualty list of the war, containing 57 names, that 14 men are missing on active service after air operations overseas, while 32 others previously reported missing on active service now for official purposes are presumed dead.
Following is the latest list of casualties, with next of kin:

missing after air operations overseas

GRANT, Frank Edward, Sqdn. Ldr., W. S. Grant (father), Brockville, Ont.

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JEAN COWMAN HOPES TO AID IN REPATRIATION OF FLYERS
Keeps in Touch With Countless Graduates of Hamilton Aero Club
Who Are Doing Invaluable Work in Air Force

(By Hal Miller) Ottawa, Dec. 2, 1943 — Miss Jean Cowman has her post-war plans made. She wants only to be back in Hamilton in the repatriation depot, meeting all her Hamilton Aero Club proteges as they come back from the wars. A former secretary of the club, she is still very much in her own aviation element, serving on the staff of the directorate of organization, R.C.A.F. headquarters, in the Lisgar building, Ottawa.

Men Serve Throughout World
In her present job she is constantly in touch with Hamilton people, many of them high in air force and governmental aviation circles, but her heart is with the young flyers who first earned their wings at the Hamilton Municipal Airport, and are now dropping destruction on enemy territory in the far reaches of the globe.
"There is only one thing I want to be doing when this thing looks like it's near the end," she told this writer, "I want to be back at 'repat' headquarters in the old home town and see all the boys coming in.”
There is no paper rationing where Miss Cowman's mail is concerned. She gets letters from Hamilton boys serving in every R.C.A.F. station and establishment in Canada. And letters come to her from the most unexpected places: India, the Far East, the United Kingdom, the Pacific coast, and even from "Way Down Under."
We saw the first of Jean's Christmas mail start to roll in, and it was something to gladden the heart to know that her "boys" never forget her, wherever they may be serving.
Last year, 250 graduates of the old Beach Road Airport and Municipal Airport remembered her with Christmas cards. She knows the total will be somewhat reduced this year, because many of her buddies have gone on.

Said Farewell to Every One
With her" familiar greeting "Hi pal," and a forward wave of the hand — the old-fashioned take-off salute — she said good-bye to all of them. Most of them went into the air force. Others — the Hamilton pioneers — are top-ranking executives in the aeronautical end of the Department of Transport. Some of the youngsters who were not accepted for active service are handling important war jobs in civil aviation.
Typical of the contribution to Canada's war in the air are the casualties among what Jean terms her "pet five," of the non-Hamiltonians. Killed in action were F/L Doug Chown, F/L Herb Mitchell and S/L Hugh B. Gilchrist. Missing is S/L Frank E. Grant. Left to carry on for the quintet is S/L Eugene (Jeep) Neal, D.F.C.
All these boys trained at Hamilton Aero Club before the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was inaugurated. Chown was a Winnipegger, Mitchell from Brampton, Gilchrist from Scotland, Grant from Brockville, and Neal from Quebec City.
Whether from Hamilton or not, the Hamilton Aero Club was a home away from home for all of them.
Almost every dispatch from overseas carries news of what her boys are doing, and there is no more avid reader of the air force news than Miss Cowman.

Pioneers of Organization
She credits Major Robert Dodds, M.C., founder, first president and first instructor of the club, now serving as superintendent of airports and airways for the Department of Transport, with making it possible for Hamilton to make such an outstanding contribution of flying fighting men. Major Dodds is also stationed in Ottawa now.
"The four Aero Club pioneers — Major Dodds, Alex G. Muir, David Green and Bill Hopkins — can be proud of the record of the club in this war," Miss Cowman said.
For instance, here are a few of the directors, mentioned off-hand, who have gone places: Major Lloyd Havill Smith, overseas; W/C Norman L. Drynan, at Trenton; W/C W. J. Peace, D.F.C., Jarvis; S/L Kenneth E. Krug overseas; S/L E. B. Hale, on operational duty; G/C Norman S. McGregor, overseas; F/L John Harrington, Trenton; F/L Albert J. Lewis, Windsor; F/L A. F. (Fay) Head, Rockcliffe; W/C Royden Foley, on operational work; S/L B. W. Hopkins, Toronto; W/C R. D. Byers, A.F.C., at Calgary, and S/L Jack Summer, overseas.
Officers of the club in important posts in the R.C.A.F. are Air Commodore Fred Tice, head of the air force medical section, and Group Capt. Harry Peacock, also of the medical branch, and Group Capt. H. G. Clappison, of air force headquarters.
With the R.A.F. overseas, rank unknown, is Art Lawson, another director.
Other directors with the Department of Transport are: Kenney Whyte, civil aviation inspector at Toronto; Sam S. Foley, inspector of airports and airways for Southern Ontario; W. S. Lawson and Jack Hunter, holding the same posts in the west.
Wellington J. Burtch, Northern Ontario Hydro executive, still maintains an interest in flying. Doug Pickering is in charge of aircraft engine production in an Ottawa war plant. Fred G. Baldwin is a Canadian Legion Auxiliary Services officer at Guelph.
The list of Canadian boys who as members or students have passed through the Hamilton Aero Club on to great accomplishments in uniform or in a civilian capacity is too long to reproduce here.
Perhaps the greatest number received their first instruction from Ernest H. Taylor, former chief instructor, now a test pilot with Victory Aircraft in Toronto. He has had 12 trans-Atlantic crossings and has trained literally hundreds of flyers. His assistant, Don H. Rogers, can claim almost as scintillating a record, and has ferried some ships across during the present year.
The club sponsored No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School which was moved from Hamilton to Pendleton, Ont., and is continuing to maintain Hamilton's flying reputation through capable management of Gerry Moes, of Hamilton. Still actively boosting the school are S. S. McNaughton, Marshall Lounsbury, E. M. Coles, D.F.C., Don Barnes and R. C. Smale, currently on the Hamilton Aero Club directorate.
Whether of high or low estate, of commissioned or non-commissioned rank, Jean Cowman has a cheery "Hi pal" for all of them.
Oh, yes, Jean, ever a good friend of the fourth estate, will have an especially friendly greeting for two Hamilton newspapermen, both honorary members of the club. They are S/L Basil Dean, overseas, and F/L Johnny Johnstone, now in the west. Both are Spectator men.

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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, April 24, 1944 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 865 of the RCAF showing next of kin of those named from Ontario, as follows:

OVERSEAS
Previously Reported Missing — Now Reported Safe in United Kingdom

DAVENPORT, Robert Monroe, F/O Arlington, Va., U.S.A.

Previously Reported Missing, Now Officially Presumed Dead

GRANT, Frank Edward, S/L. W.S. Grant (father), Brockville, Ont.

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Victories Include

1 / 1 / 1

[1] After which he was (shot down? and) killed