Wing Commander W J 'Mike' Lewis, DFC (RCAF)

LEWIS, Wilfred J. (Mike) - On Friday, July 17, 2009 at Dorothy Ley Hospice (Toronto) in his 92nd year. Predeceased by his wife Winnifred (nee Mumby) survived by his wife Dorothy McCabe Lewis (nee O'Hearn), his sons William (Sandra) and Robert (Linda) (JoAnn), his six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and Dorothy's children, Michael McCabe (Karen), Arthur McCabe (Diane) and Lori McSweeny (Gord) and their families. Mike served in the Royal Air Force (Bomber Command) from 1938 - 1944. He was shot down on the night of September 7/8, 1941 and was a Prisoner of War for 3 years and 8 months. Returning to Canada in 1945, he continued to serve in the RCAF until his retirement in 1965. Mike was a member of Dalhousie Lodge no. 52, AF & AM, Ottawa; Rameses Shriners (Toronto); Shriners Club of Hamilton; the Hamilton Shrine Oriental Band; Fort York Branch, Royal Canadian Legion; the Ex-RCAF P.O.W. Association; the National P.O.W. Association and the Aircrew Association.

'Mike' escaped from a Nazi prison train with my father in a hail of bullets (Oct/41) and went to my grandmother's home in Hannover for help, only to learn she'd committed suicide 2 years earlier. I was in contact with him for 10 years, and he graciously wrote the Foreword to my new book "Escape, Evasion and Revenge: The True Story of a German-Jewish RAF Pilot Who Bombed Berlin and Became a POW".

A day or two after the completion of his SECOND full tour, the squadron CO saw Mike packing to go on leave, and said "We're short one pilot for tonight. Would you mind doing one extra trip?" That one extra cost him his freedom for 3 years and 8 months, after being shot down along the north coast of Holland.

The man was a true hero in every sense of the word.

 

may he rest in peace!

 

A hero he was, is, and will always be !

 

From the Honours and Awards database by Hugh A. Halliday of Ottawa, Ontario:

LEWIS, P/O Wilfred John (41188) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.44 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette dated 8 October 1940. Born in Durham Country, Ontario, 24 March 1918; home in Port Hope. Served in Durham Militia, 1936-38 (machine gunner). First applied to join RAF, 1 May 1937; interviewed in Kingston by militia officers; report sent to Ottawa, 22 November 1937; tentatively selected fr Short Service Commission, 29 June 1938 subject to passing a militia medical examination. Instructed to take SS Alaunia to England, 15 July 1938. Pupil pilot, 25 July 1938 to 13 May 1939 (3 Elementary Flying Training School, Hamble, to 16 September 1938; 5 Flying Training School. Sealand, to 30 May 1939); to RAF School of Air Navigation, 31 May to 3 August 1939 (qualified as 2nd class navigator); with same school, 11 October to 11 November 1939 (astro-navigation course); to No.44 Squadron, 14 May 1940; Commissioned 17 September 1938; confirmed as Flying Officer, 3 September 1940; confirmed as Flight Lieutenant 3 September 1941. Served in No.44 Squadron, 4 December 1939 (first recorded sortie) to 1 December 1940; with No.207 Squadron, 1 December 1940 to 26 February 1941; with No.97 Squadron, 27 February to 2 April 1941; with No.207 Squadron, 2 April to 8 September 1941 (shot down and taken prisoner; held in Stalag Luft III). Gave BBC talk on 26 September 1940; reprinted in Winged Words. Invested with DFC by King George VI at Waddington, 27 January 1941. Many sorties listed by W/C F.H. Hitchins on cards held by DHist; DFC incident was probably 17/18 August 1940 while attacking barges. Specifically listed in AFRO 1292/41 dated 7 November 1941 as a Canadian in the RAF who had been decorated as of that date. Air Ministry Bulletin 2035 refers. Transferred to RCAF, 24 November 1944 (C94001); repatriated to Canada, 8 July 1945; released on 1 October 1945. Recalled to RCAF service, 11 October 1946 to 25 December 1965, rising to Wing Commander (15 May 1961).

One night in September 1940, this officer successfully pressed home, in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire and searchlight glare, a dive-bombing attack on a concentration of barges in Antwerp Docks. During the dive his aircraft was severely damaged by gunfire from the ground defences and was rendered temporarily out of control. Since March 1940 Pilot Officer Lewis has taken part in 38 operational flights over enemy territory, and as a captain of aircraft has displayed outstanding coolness, determination and devotion to duty.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9489 has a recommendation for a DFC dated 27 August 1940.
Since 1 March 1940 this officer has carried out 35 operational flights over enemy territory with conspicuous success and gallantry, totalling over 200 hours operational flying. Some of the missions undertaken have been of an arduous nature and have necessitated sea crossing of over 800 miles.

He has always displayed the utmost coolness and determination in pressing home his attacks, often in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire. To his fellow pilots, his consistency has set an example of resourcefulness and determination to do his duty.

This was minuted on 30 August 1940 by Air Vice-Marshal A.T. Harris, Air Officer Commanding, No.5 Group, who wrote, "Very Strongly Recommended". However, no action was apparently forthcoming, for on 18 September 1940 the Officer Commanding, RAF Station Waddington, submitted a further recommendation (Public Record Office Air 2/9456):

On the night 17th/18th September 1940, Pilot Officer Lewis successfully pressed home a dive bombing attack on a concentration of barges in Antwerp docks.

During the preliminary reconnaissance over the target area, the aircraft was subject to intense and accurate enemy anti-aircraft fire and searchlights. During the dive bombing attack, intense anti-aircraft fire and tracer severely damaged the tailplane in seven places, the starboard engine and the fuselage, causing the aircraft to be temporarily out of control.

Since 1 March 1940, Pilot Officer Lewis has taken part in 38 operational flights over enemy territory and has completed over 200 hours operational flying. As captain of aircraft he has displayed outstanding tenacity, determination and devotion to duty, and in pressing home his attacks he has shown the utmost coolness and determination, often in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire.

On 19 September 1940, Air Vice Marshal A.T. Harris added his comments:

Strongly recommended. This pilot has done consistently good work.


The citation placed before the Air Ministry Honours Committee more closely resembled this draft than the text appearing in the London Gazette.

Since March 1940, this officer has carried out 35 [sic] operational flights over enemy territory, totalling over 200 hours flying. Some of the missions undertaken have been of an arduous nature and necessitated sea crossing of over 800 miles. Pilot Officer Lewis has carried out these flights with conspicuous gallantry and success; he has displayed the utmost coolness, pressing home his attacks, often in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, with a determination which has proved an inspiring example to his fellow pilots.

NOTE: Approximately March 1947 he estimated his flying time as follows: Avro Cadet (62.00); Hawker Hart (25 minutes); Oxford (83.35); Anson (109.10); Hampden (392.45), Magister (5,45); Harvard (20 minutes); Manchester (221.05); Battle (2.25); Wellington (15 minutes); Hurricane (30 minutes); Tiger Moth (20 minutes), Whitley Straight (3.45); Beaufighter (20 minutes); Blenheim I (30 minutes); Expeditor (74.20); Norseman (one hour); Goose (7.10); Lodestar (14.10); Dakota (238.40); he was credited with 57 sorties

 

Rest In Peace, winged warrior. We hardly knew ye.

 

Mr. Stevens - please contact me back at rlaplander@wi.rr.com at your convenience! I would like to talk to you about your book and one that I am writing on the Wooden Horse escape and one that I am planning on the Schubin latrine escape. I look forward to hearing from you!

Rob