RAF RCAF WW2 FIGHTER PILOT SILK WHITE SCARF \"JIMMY WESTAWAY AFC 403 SQUADRON
![RAF RCAF WW2 FIGHTER PILOT SILK WHITE SCARF \](img-large/g/1B8AAOSwB-1YqhW5/s-l1600/RAF-RCAF-WW2-FIGHTER-PILOT-SILK-WHITE-SCARF-JIMMY-.jpg "RAF RCAF WW2 FIGHTER PILOT SILK WHITE SCARF \")
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RAF RCAF WW2 FIGHTER PILOT SILK WHITE SCARF \"JIMMY WESTAWAY AFC 403 SQUADRON :
$48.48
WELCOME:.....RAF RCAF WW2 FIGHTER PILOT SILK WHITE SCARF ....when first listed this scarf had no provenance but query from advanced collector \'\'Brake Man\'\' stirred my memory of when I owned original medal group of Jimmy Westaway obtained from John Marskell this is one of the few bits I kept ...HAVE LISTED HIS RIBBON BAR ALSO.........
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- Who remembers Jimmy Westaway?
1898-1948
This blog does so doesAirforce.caWebsite where I found this information about Jimmy.
Wing Commander Godwin’s name is mentioned only once in the despatch.
That’s how I found all about Jimmy Westaway.
WESTAWAY, F/O Horace William (C10734)
– Mention in Despatches
– Station Gander
– Award effective 3 November 1944 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 2479/44 dated 17 November 1944.
Born 16 August 1898 in Plymouth, Devonshore. British-born and a First World War veteran of both the infantry and Royal Flying Corps, being commissioned as Temporary Second Lieutenant, on Probation (General List), 7 June 1917.
Graded as Flying Officer and confirmed in rank, 28 July 1917. Lieutenant in Royal Air Force, 1 April 1918. As Lieutenant, to Unemployed List, 29 April 1919. Granted short service commission as Flying Officer, 27 August 1920.
In Middle East after the war; Flying Officer H.W. Westaway, RAF, to Home Depot, 21 October 1924 on transfer to Home Establishment.
Placed in Class “A” Reserve, 27 August 1927.
Transferred to Class “C” Reserve, 19 May 1928.
Migrated to Canada in 1929 and joined the Ontario Provincial Air Service. Home in Simcoe, Ontario; enlisted in RCAF at North Bay, 27 March 1942, immediately commissioned as Flying Officer and posted to No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto.
To Conversion Training Squadron, Rockcliffe, 18 April 1942.
To No.1 BGS, Jarvis, 15 September 1942 where he was in charge of the Gunnery Flight (so described by G/C A.D. Bell-Irving who recommended him for promotion to Acting Flight Lieutenant, 9 March 1943).
To Eastern Air Command, 21 May 1943.
To Gander, Newfoundland, 13 June 1943.
To No.9 Release Centre, 6 March 1945.
Retired 19 March 1945.
Returned to Ontario Provincial Air Service.
Killed in a crash, 25 May 1948.
Travelling with Henry Crosswell (forest ranger) and William Taylor (mechanic) to repair a ranger’s boat that had run onto rocks. After examining it they determined what parts were needed and attempted to return to Parry Sound. Newspaper report said that they attempted to take off from Severn River but strong winds frustrated first try. “On their second attempt they did achieve lift-off, but the plane seemed to stop dead 20 feet above the water. The motor did not stop, but the left wing tipped and the machine swooped down. The plane cartwheeled and settled on the water upside down.”
Westaway drowned; the others escaped.
Credited with 16,000 hours flying.
This officer has faithfully and capably discharged his duties as a service pilot over a long period of time. His outstanding ability in the operation of aircraft on skiis and floats, often in localities far from base and under hazardous conditions, has been most praiseworthy. Many of these flights have resulted in the saving of civilian lives by making hospital treatment possible for serious cases. His cheerful willingness and untiring devotion to duty, under difficult circumstances, have brought high respect for himself and the service in a foreign area.
The above award began as a recommendation for an Air Force Cross, raised on 20 July 1944 by W/C M.P. Martyn. He was noted as having flown 7,000 hours (civil and military) of which 60 hours 20 minutes had been in previous six months. Text was as follows:
This officer has faithfully and capably discharged his duties as a service pilot over a period of many years, both in the RAF and the RCAF. His outstanding ability in the operation of aircraft on skiis and floats, often in localities far from base and under conditions of extreme hazard, has been most noteworthy and commendable. Many of these flights have definitely resulted in the saving of civilian lives, by making possible hospital treatment to cases of dangerous illness and for serious accidents. Flying Officer Westaway’s cheerful willingness to do his best, even under difficult circumstances, has made him a popular and a respected officer and has brought credit to the service in a foreign area.
This was highly recommended by the Base Commander on 20 July 1944, and by A/V/M Morfee (Eastern Air Command) on 23 July 1944. However, at an uncertain date, Air Commodoe H.L. Campbell (AFHQ) turned it into a Mention in Despatches.
WESTAWAY, F/O Horace William (C10734) – Air Force Cross – Station Gander – Award effective 1 December 1944 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 1/45 dated 5 January 1945. Award sent by registered mail 11 August 1945 when he was at SaultSte.Marie.
One day in September 1944, a Harvard aircraft crashed approximately twelve miles from a Royal Canadian Air Force station in Newfoundland, injuring the two occupants. This officer, a rescue pilot at the station, took off in quickly deteriorating weather, when all other rescue aircraft had been recalled. He discovered the crashed aircraft after all other air search had failed and landed the rescue party on a small lake. To enable ground crew parties to be briefed, he returned to base in face of the most hazardous weather. The following morning, with no improvement in weather conditions, he returned to the scene of the crash and flew the two injured men to the hospital. His outstanding courage and skill in this rescue operation were undoubtedly responsible for saving the lives of the two men. The determination and devotion to duty displayed by Flying Officer Westaway are most praiseworthy.
The original recommendation was raised on 6 October 1944 byG/C H.B. Godwin,Station Gander. Westaway was noted as having flown 479 service hours, 69 in previous six months. Submission read:
On September 6th, 1944, at 1645 hours, Harvard NK2-3068 crashed approximately twelve miles from RCAF Station Gander, Newfoundland. The occupants, P/O Leonard and LAC Smithers, suffered severe injuries. Flying Officer Westaway, rescue pilot at this station, took off in weather which was deteriorating quickly, when all other rescue aircraft had been recalled. He discovered the crashed aircraft after all other air search had failed and landed the rescue party on a small lake. To enable ground crew parties to be briefed, he returned to base in the face of the most hazardous weather. The following morning, with no improvement in weather conditions, he returned to the scene of the crash and flew the two injured men to hospital. His skill and courage undoubtedly resulted in the saving of the lives of the two men.
NOTE: The following entry from the ORB of Station Gander is worth quoting:
6 September 1944 – Harvards 3068 and 2897 were doing local flying and at 1930Z P/O Wenz, J24391, pilot of HarvardNo.3899returned over the station and reported Harvard 3068, piloted by F/O E.J. Leonard (J36211) has crashed. Also inNo.3068was ground crewman LAC Smithers, G.L. (R206266). At 2110Z F/O H.W. Westaway (C10734), rescue pilot, in Norseman 789, sighted the crashed aircraft approximately 2 1/2 miles northeast of Botts Lake, and approximately four files north of Gander Lake. One man could be seen walking about. F/O Westaway landed on Miller’s Pond and a ground party proceeded to the scene of the crash. F/O Leonard had a sprained ankle and LAC Smither a wound on the upper leg. Both suffered from bruises and shock. The following morning F/O Westaway made one of his famous small area landings in adverse weather condition and brought the injured men and rescue party back to the Station. Both occupants of the crashed plane were admitted to hospital.
The following appeared in The Gander (station newspaper), December 1944. The First World War material has not been substantiated.
The whole station congratulates F/O H.W. Westaway on his latest decoration – the Air Force Cross. According to KR (Air) this award is made “for exceptional valour or devotion to duty whilst flying though not in active operations against the enemy.”
Jimmy (figure out if you can how that name comes from the initials H.W.) had more than one crack at the Hun in World War I. 1916 found him in the muddy trenches of France, but his heart was with the RFC boys who flew overhead, The following year his dreams came true and he was in the perilous skies over France and Germany. His was an artillery spotting job. His final sortie in that war came near to being very final. His gunners got three Jerries before the ack-ack got him, and sent his plane spinning to the ground. In the explosion which followed Jimmy was hurled 40 feet. Someone in the infantry got the Military Medal for dragging him back to safety – out of range of enemy guns.
In World War II, if we consider as enemies disease, accident and the gremlins that cause crashes, F/O Westaway is still facing the enemy. And there’s certainly no question about his exceptional valour and devotion to duty while doing it, either.
Ten years of flying with the RAF in India and Mesopotamia in skirmishes with frontier tribes, and another decade with the Ontario Provincial Air Service, penetrating the wilds of the northern part of the province, have given Jimmy ample preparation for the task he has carried on so well in Newfoundland.
He’s Officer Commanding of the Mercy Flight Division on RCAF Station Gander. That division, incidentally, is a small but mighty one. It consists of one Norseman plane and one pilot, none other than the OC himself. Every pilot on the station will tell you that Jimmy hasn’t an equal and everyone has a warm spot in his heart for this jolly, broad-shouldered man with such a merry twinkle .in his eyes – the fellow who can take off and land in weather when even the pigeons are walking.
The list of mercy flights resulting in saving of life is indeed a long one. There’s scarcely a bay along the rugged North and East coast of this island on which his Norseman hasn’t landed. The plane is equipped with two stretchers, and accommodates a doctor and a nurse. F/O Westaway is his own crew.
“No matter what the weather is when he takes off – or how long he’s gone, we never worry. We know that Jimmy will return safe and sound”, say the Commanding Officer.
A hospital assistant who was fortunate enough to go along on one of the mercy flights tells how all the inhabitants of the little village turned out to meet them. After a brief pause for a cup of tea and a sample of warm Newfoundland hospitality, they made a speedy return to the hospital with a cancer-afflicted patient. “The people all over that part of the island just about worship F/O Westaway. Though the little villages all along the coast look the same to us, Jimmy knows just where to land. Our own admiration of him was enthusiastic”.
Sometimes a boat voyage or ride behind dog-teams is required in order to supplement the plane ride. The length of their stop-over depend on how many of the “sick and maimed” from the surrounding countryside are brought to the doctor when he is summoned for one particular patient.
There have been closely competed races with the Stork more than once. So far the Norseman has been the winner.
The particular feat that won the Air Force Cross for our hero was the rescue of two men who had crashed in a Harvard last September. Weather was closing in and the aircraft sent to the vicinity of the crash failed to spot the two victims. Seventeen minutes after his takeoff from Gander Lake, Jimmy had sighted them. He landed on a rocky lake, left the M.O. [Medical Officer] and two other men on the shore with First Aid and sleeping bags and took off again. Weather conditions were considerably worse by this time. Nearing Gander, F/O Westaway called the tower for landing instructions.
“Norseman 789 – Ceiling and visibility zero zero. Hold your position above cloud. Stand by for further instructions. Over.”
Instantly came back the reply:
“Hell, I’m no b—- angel. I’m going to land”.
And he landed.
The next day, clouds were hanging on the tree tops. Nothing could fly – Nothing but the Norseman. Jimmy went back to the little lake, picked up the injured men and rescue party – returned to base using a sixth sense he evidently possesses.
It is doubtful if the two men would have survived if they had not been found when they were.
Forced landings on the desert, rescue work in Ontario would make a long, long story.
In 1929 when Jimmy was operating from Oba Lake, Ontario a certain Vedette landed, and its pilot and mechanic cut up a gas drum belonging to Jimmy. He has been offered numerous other gas drums to replace it, but still maintains that the pilot owes him $ 8.00.
It was the CO who told this story – I’d be disobeying orders if the name of the Vedette pilot was revealed – but maybe you’re good at guessing.
Jimmy once lived near a golf course – which was a very expensive site – because on warm days his friends used to come in after a round of golf and drink up all his beer.
F/O Westaway’s wife, son and daughter are living in Simcoe, Ontario. His son is air-minded too – is an enthusiastic Air Cadet.
“If I have enough money left for a ticket to South America, I’d like to go there after the war,” says Jimmy. So if in postwar years we hear of someone untangling jungle vines from the propellers and taking off using an alligator as a runway or landing safely on 100 square feet on a peak in the Andes, we’ll be ready to wager 50 to 1 that was Jimmy Westaway.
Further notes: He was short (64 ½ inches tall) and stocky (171 pounds). When medically examined he was described as an experienced pilot with 6,500 hours to his credit; “Fit physically other than poor ocular muscle balance and manifest hypermetropia.”
On enlistment he was recommended by George Ponsford (OPAS), his lawyer H.S. Hamilton (“Westaway has been a pilot with the Provincial Air Serviice for years and has proven himself a man of resource and ability and is well thought of in this community.”) Also recommended by Dr. A.R. Stevenson and Frank MacDougall (OPAS).
Course Report from Conversion Training Squadron stated he had flown 20 hours dual and 3,838 hours solo on civil single-engine aircraft; with the RAF he had flown 100 hours dual and 1,500 hours solo (900 on operations). His course at Rockcliffe was 19 April to 21 August 1942 during which time he had flown Battles (35 minutes dual, two hours solo), Harvard (50.10 day dual, 30.25 day solo, 3.00 night dual, 2.15 night solo), Oxford (10.30 day dual, 7.25 day solo) and Anson (6.55 day dual). Of this time he had flown 23.20 on instruments and logged 21.45 in Link. Ground courses in Airmanship (74 %), Airframes (50 %), Engines (90 %), Navigation (51 %), Armament (60 %), Meteorology (50 %), Wireless (80 %). Placed 15th in a class of 18. The Chief Ground Instructor wrote, “Older type of student, very slow to learn. Conduct and attitude excellent.” However, he was classed as “Above average” in all flying skills. “This officer is very safe and reliable with very good air sense but his instrument flying should be watched.” (CFI, 21 August 1942); “This officer should be capable of holding any type of staff pilot job. His conduct on and off the station has been very good.” (S/L D.I. Mackkin, 21 August 1942).
On 5 May 1943, W/C Z.L. Leigh wrote:
“A qualified pilot is urgently required at Gander to take charge of rescue and salvage operations. For this work, it is necessary to have experience on Norseman aircraft, both on skiis and floats, and ‘bush’ experience, if possible.” He was specifically looking for Westaway – “the above officer is very well qualified for this position.”
Royal Air Force Service:
“The above named officer served under my command for a considerable period in India. I found him a steady, reliable pilot and a trustworthy and hard working officer. In my opinion he can be safely employed in any suitable capacity, and will prove of read value to those so employing him.” (G/C R.M. Pine, Air Defence Great Britain, 15 July 1927).
“Flying Officer H.W. Westaway served under me on the Kurdistan frontier in Iraq for a period of two years. During that period he distinguished himself on several occasions and rendered excellent service in connection with the various operations against the frontier tribes. He is a hard working officer, of outstanding ability, and can always be relied upon, both from an administrative and flying point of view.” (W/C V. Gaskell Blackburn, Headquarters,No.21Group, 20 July 1927, who added, “I can conscientiously recommend him for a colonial or Indian Office appointment.”
On 27 July 1927, W/C W.R. Read (No.2 Apprentices Wing, No.1 School of Technical Training [Apprentices], Halton, wrote that for the past two years Westaway had been in command of a Squadron of Aircraft Apprentices at that unit; “While I have known him Flying Officer Westaway has at all times commanded his Squadron with ability, conscientiousness and zeal. In the successful commanding of such a Squadron there are many cases which call for thoughtful consideration and tact in the handling of personnel, and in these respects and in clerical and officer work he has shown his capability.” Read then added, “From a flying point of view I am able to say that he is the most efficient pilot that I have in the Wing. He has flown consistently and regularly, and has not confined his flying to one type of aircraft. Neither has his flying been confined to local work. He is a good and experienced cross country pilot who takes the weather as it comes. He has had no flying accidents during the time he has been under my command. To the best of my knowledge he is strictly sober.”
OPAS Service:
On 5 June 1936, F/O G.L. Lumsden (in charge of RCAF Recruiting, Sudbury) wrote of him, “Mr. Westaway joined the service in 1927 [sic]. After two years in the capacity of Senior Pilot I posted him to the remote operating station at Oba Lake as pilot in charge of the station. He is still in charge of Oba Operations and holds this position through his steady, reliable and very trustworthy efforts.” Although Lumsden had no personal contact with Westaway after resigning from the OPAS in 1935, he stated that he believed Westaway still logged 400 hours each six-month season, and concluded, “Mr. Westaway is a willing and hard working pilot. I have no hesitation in recommending him for employment in any senior piloting capacity.”
On 29 November 1939, G.E. Ponsford wrote that Westaway had been ten years in OPAS service. “We consider Mr. Westaway one of the finest pilots we have ever had in the Service, and he possesses an Engineer’s license in addition to his flying qualifications.” To this he added, “We have always found him very willing and very diligent in the carrying out of any work assigned to him, and he has the happy faculty of being able to get along with any staff to which he has been assigned. His character and integrity are beyond reproach, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who may be able to use his services.”
On 19 January 1942, OPAS Headquarters certified that he had flown 3,773 hours ten minutes in that service, his last flight being on 9 October 1941.
On 1 November 1945 he wrote to AFHQ inquiring about rejoining the RCAF. He had been looking for something new in flying; did not wish to go back to OPAS work.
In April 1991, John Westaway (172-1045 Morrison Drive, Ottawa) was asking about him.
Who remembers Jimmy Westaway?
This Website does…
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RAF RCAF WW2 FIGHTER PILOT SILK WHITE SCARF \"JIMMY WESTAWAY AFC 403 SQUADRON :
$48.48