What i know, and what i am having trouble finding (RCAF)

hello all, i have three family members who all flew for the RCAF during the second world war. Two of my great uncles were shot down and one became a fairly well known canadian fighter ace. The two im having trouble with are

1.Robert leslie Sinclair: shot down feb 1942 in libya

2. Wilbert lorne Sinclair: shot down feb 14 1942 over England


i am looking for details related to squadron , rank , record etc. Unfortunetly all the people who could answer any of these questions in my family are now deceased.


some info on my great uncle Oscar linton (ossie) for those who are interested.




Ottawa, March 19, 1942 - (CP) - The Royal Canadian Air Force tonight made public the names of members who have recently been "commissioned in the field" as pilot officers.
The commissions, said an R.C.A.F. statement, are "in line with Air Minister Power's recent announcement that every effort would be made to obtain recognition of exceptional ability and courage displayed by members of the R.C.A.F."
Following are the names of Ontario's newly-commissioned officers, home towns and next-of-kin:

Pilots:
Linton, O. M., 98 York Mills Road, Toronto
Williams, D., 390 Main Street West, Hamilton
Air observer
Dilworth, R. N., 56 Marmaduke Avenue, Toronto.
Wireless operator air gunner:
Thomas, L. G. D., 5 Argyle Avenue, Hamilton

​

_________________________________________________

Born 21 December 1920 in Eden, Manitoba;
Home in Toronto.
Enlisted in Regina, 12 September 1940.
Trained at
No.1 ITS (graduated 21 December 1940),
No.14 EFTS (graduated 9 February 1941)
No.2 SFTS (graduated 23 May 1941).
To RAF overseas, 18 June 1941;
Commissioned 9 February 1942.
To 603 Sq. Malta from USS Wasp 20 April
Transfered to 249 Squadron until August
To UK / with 421 Sq. until summer '43
To canada on leave
to Great Britain again, May 1944;
with 412 Sq. then
401 Squadron
Repatriated 28 October 1944;
Instructed at
No.13 SFTS, from 4 Dec.'1944;
Released 23 March 1945.
R70731 (NCO) J15205 (officer)
Photo negative PMR 78-307.​

_________________________________________________​

3 Toronto Pilots Fight 40 Huns, Knock Down 7 Without Loss

By William Stewart, An R.C.A.F. Airfield in France, July 25, 1944 (CP) — Three Toronto Spitfire pilots today told how a routine Weather reconnaissance turned into a smashing victory for the RCAF when they ran into a formation of 40 German fighters and destroyed seven without loss.
F/O W. J. Banks of Leaside, F/L O. M. Linton, York Mills Rd., Toronto and P/O D.R. Jamieson 140 Symington Ave., Toronto, were just about to return from a look at the weather Monday afternoon when they sighted 20 Nazi planes over Lisieux, about 27 miles east of Caen.
Jamieson saw them first, and the Spits gave chase as the German formation was joined by another group of similar size.
“They began to orbit in two sections and we came in from above and attacked individually," Jamieson said. In a short, swirling dog-fight, Banks doubled his total score of destroyed planes by knocking down three, and Linton and Jamieson each got two.
Banks' tactic for each of his three was almost identical. In each instance he closed to within 50 to 75 yards before opening fire with cannon and machine guns. Each Nazi plane burst into flames and plummeted to earth.
Jamieson's first victim broke in two when he concentrated his fire behind the German's cockpit. The second went out of control following strikes on the tail. It hit the ground and exploded.
Linton, who was leading the section, shot down his first with a two-second burst from 300 yards. "Then I climbed to 9,000 feet and engaged another one," Linton said. "I was lucky enough to knock off at least half his port wing. He flicked over, spiraled down and went straight into the ground."

_________________________________________________​

14 RCAF MEN ON HONORS LIST

Ottawa, Aug. 10, 1944 - (CP) - Air Force headquarters announced tonight award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross to two members of the RCAF serving overseas and award of D.F.C.'s to 12 other officers. The awards:

BAR TO DISTINGUISHED FLYNG CROSS
S/L W. A. CONRAD, Richmond, Ont.
S/L R. A. BUCKHAM, Vancouver.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
F/L J. C. VAN NES, Saskatoon.
F/L E. W. FOCKLER, Vancouver.
F/L T. B. WINSLOW, St. Agathe, Que.
F/L F. J. SHERLOCK, Calgary.
F/L J. E. PRITCHARD, Middleton, Wis.
F/L A. T. CARLSON, Calgary.
F/L O. M. LINTON, 08 York Mills Rd., Toronto.
F/L V. J. FAUROT, Niagara Falls, .Ont.
F/L D. H. DOVER, 83 Buttonwood Ave., Mount Dennis, Ont.
F/O H. B. DATE, Woodrow Beach, Sarnia.
F/O F. S. SORGE, Pincher Creek, Alta,
F/O N. C. HOWE, 68 Charles St, E., Toronto.

​

_________________________________________________

LINTON, F/L Oscar Mahaffy (J15205) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.401 Sq.
Award effective 8 August 1944 as per London Gazette dated 11 August 1944 &
AFRO 2101/44 dated 29 September 1944. ​

Flight Lieutenant Linton has taken part in a large number of operational sorties. He has destroyed at least one aircraft and damaged others. Throughout a period of intensive operations he showed outstanding ability as a leader which, coupled with his fine fighting spirit, has made him a valuable member of his squadron.
NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9633 has recommendation drafted about 26 January 1944 when he had flown 148 sorties (203 hours 45 minutes). This provides much more detail.
Flight Lieutenant Linton was on his second tour of operations when he broke his back in a forced landing while at the Fighter Leaders Course. During his first tour in Malta, he completed 108 sorties during which he destroyed 1 1/3 enemy aircraft and damaged four others. Beginning his second tour with No.401 (RCAF) Squadron, he was given a flight. This he led with great skill for some 40 sweeps. During this time his squadron was continuously employed on the tedious and exacting work of close escort to USAAF medium bombers.
Flight Lieutenant Linton was an outstanding fighter pilot who concentrated his entire energy and interest on his duty.
On 28 January 1944, W/C K.L.B. Hodson wrote, "F/L Linton is an outstanding fighter pilot and merits an award."
On 3 February 1944, G/C W.R. MacBrien added his remarks:
Flight Lieutenant Linton's sorties were all, to the best of our knowledge, offensive. He fought through a very difficult period in Malta and showed outstanding ability as a leader while operating in this country previous to his accident. Lack of opportunity, due to the type of work being performed by Spitfire Vs during the period, is probably the only reason his present score is not higher. Owing to his return to Canada, I cannot give any more detailed information than above, but I most strongly recommend the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to this officer.
On 19 February 1944 an Air Vice Marshal (signature illegible) wrote:
The recommendation for this award is partly based on this officer's record of service outside this Group, as known to his immediate superiors. I have no means of checking his record and therefore forward the recommendation for consideration. The sound leadership and determination to engage the enemy which he has shown while under my command, combined with his log operational record convince me that the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross is well merited.
The Air Officer Commanding, 2nd Tactical Air Force, approved this on 27 February 1944, but it was not until 31 May 1944 that Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Air Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Forces, also forwarded the document with his notation, "Approved".

_________________________________________________​

Record:
3.5 / 0 / 4.66




this info is off of acesofww2.com if anyone is familiar with the site.

 

You probably have htis already

CWGC :: Casualty Details

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2383171

I assume Robert Leslie Sinclair flew for Bomber Command in North Africa , he was a Wireless Operator /gunner

 

thank you very much skipper, im new to the online research and that helped alot. the information you found about les sinclair is priceless to me.

 

This may be totally unrelated but Alfretta is an unusual name, so I was surprised to also find this entry, again, unfortunately all within 12 days of each other in 1942:-
Name: ARMSTRONG, GORDON KENNETH
Initials: G K
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit Text: 419 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 12/02/1942
Service No: C/15020
Additional information: Son of James Gordon Armstrong and of Mary Alfretta Armstrong (nee Howlett), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 34. A. 1.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY

Do you know if there is a family connection here?

 

Also killed on the same day and buried in the same Libyan cemetery as F/Sgt Leslie Sinclair are:

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

As 108 Squadron was flying Wellington bombers at this time it would appear you have a full crew here.

If you have a look here you might just recognize your great uncle:

RAF Stories of WWII: John Robertson

About halfway down the page is a squadron photo as well as sample pages from Robertson's flying log from the same time frame. Look for the log book sample marked

"Log Book Entries: January 4, 1942 to August 7, 1942"

Strangely on Leslie's CWGC entry it has his age as 38. It's about 10 years wrong according to Library and Archives Canada which holds his service file:

Item Display - Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead - Library and Archives Canada

That link will also tell you how to obtain his service file from Ottawa. Full details on his loss will be in the file.

On to F/Sgt Wilbert Sinclair:

According to the RCAF's 190th Casualty List issued in Ottawa 7 February 1942 F/Sgt Wilbert Sinclair was "Killed on Active Service" which would imply an accident rather than any combat fatality. His full name is given as "Wilbert LORNE Sinclair", not "Wilbert LOME Sinclair" which both the CWGC entry and the Library and Archives entry have for him. That can be fixed. Next of kin given as " Mrs A.J. Sinclair (mother) 98 York Mills Road, North York, Ontario"

If you would like the list with his name on it send me a PM with your email address and I will send it to you.

Once again, you can apply for his service record at the link below:

Item Display - Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead - Library and Archives Canada

Inside his service file there will be much information on him as well as the cause of his death. Make sure you ask the LAC for copies of the photos in each of your great uncle's service files.

Finally, I cannot imagine what the loss of two sons in just 10 days must have done to your great great uncle and aunt. When we look at what "sacrifice" means Mr and Mrs Sinclair are walking definitions.

Hope some of this helps you get the answers you're looking for.

 

hey alieneyes, i really apreciate you going out of your way to help me and my family with these details ( and how to find out more). i was just hoping to maybe get the a couple hints of where to look, but you going the extra mile for a total stranger blows my mind thanks alooooottttt.

 

Also, see the Veterans Affairs Canada Virtual Memorial

For Leslie Robert Sinclair (how he is listed, instead of Robert Leslie Sinclair)

Search Details - Veterans Affairs Canada

and http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/books/bww2/ww2114.jpg

For Wilbert Lorne Sinclair

Search Details - Veterans Affairs Canada

and http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/books/bww2/ww2114.jpg

Their names are one away from being beside each other in the Book of Remembrance - the original being in the Peace Tower in the Houses of Parliament.

 

Hi Micus,

Robert Leslie & Wilbert Lorne Sinclair are also my great-uncles, so it seems we are (great?) cousins.

I might be able to help you - my mother (daughter of Audrey Grace Sinclair, Leslie and Bert's sister) is in possession of Leslie's war diary.

I also have photos.

Are you researching family war history specifically, or family history more generally? I have done some research on the Sinclair and Bassett families. Maybe we can help each other.

Tessa

 

your mother has les' diary? my aunt Deanne? hahaha, left you a facebook message,
love you cousin.