Award Croix de Guerre (France & Belgium) F/O. R.A. Watson, 440 squadron RCAF

Awards Croix De Guerre France & Belgium F/O. Richard Arthur Watson, 440 squadron RCAF (J88228) Watson was shot down on 18th July 1944 whilst in his Typhoon MN644 Bombing hit by flak, baled out near Frementel. Survived the bombs and shells, also German troops looking for him. Returned next day.


W.O. Richard Watson displays the remnants of his bullet torn parachute after he returned to his airfield in France (Socey)

WATSON, F/O Richard Arthur (J88228) - Croix de Guerre (France) - No.440 Squadron - Awarded as per AFRO 1619/45 dated 19 October 1945. Born 1 March 1923. Home in Oba, Ontario; enlisted in Ottawa, 29 October 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1 ITS, 14 March 1942; graduated and promoted LAC, 8 May 1942 but not posted to No.10 EFTS until 4 July 1942; graduated 28 August 1942; to No.14 SFTS, 30 August 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 18 December 1942. To “Y” Depot, 1 January 1943. To RAF overseas, 6 January 1943. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 18 June 1943. Commissioned 24 April 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 24 October 1944. Repatriated 23 July 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, 1 September 1945. Retired 6 September 1945.

Photo UK-12708 shows him with torn parachute following his baleout from a Typhoon. RCAF photo PL-40736 (ex UK-15947 dated 30 November 1944) shows him taking over Typhoon from his fitter (LAC Ivan Black, Grand Prairie) while other rigger (LAC Del Christopherson, Burlington) stands on wing waiting to wave the aircraft out of dispersal. Photo PL-40737 (ex UK-15948 dated 30 November 1944) is captioned as follows - “Pilot Officer Dick Watson of Oba, Ontario, who early in the campaign was forced to bale out over No Man’s Land and worked his way back by assisting Canadian soldiers to escort 120 prisoners, standing beside the cockpit of his Typhoon before a sortie.” Died in Wawa, Ontario, 6 December 2010. Obituary stated he had flown 90 sorties and been shot down three times and went on to say, “this was the beginning of Dick's passion for flying. He began his tourism business, Watson's Algoma Vacations Ltd. in 1946 (Pine Portage Lodge and then Kaby Lodge), and Watson's Skyways Ltd. in 1986. He held his commercial pilot's license until he was 72 years old.”

Public Records Office Air 2/9645 has citation:

WATSON, F/O Richard Arthur - (J88228) - Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium) - No.440 Squadron - Award effective 27 June 1947 as per London Gazette dated of that date and AFRO 403/47 of dated 25 July 1947.

Public Records Office Air 2/9110 has recommended citation with statement he had flown 90 sorties, 94 operational hours. Drafted when he was Warrant Officer.

RCAF Press Release No.5869 dated 21 July 1944 from Laidlaw-Cullen, transcribed by Huguette Oates, reads:

During the Ardennes offensive Watson "RTB On 1st January 1945 he taxies his Spitfire at Eindhoven at about 09:20 for take off. From the end of the runway he fires at the JG 3 attackers and damages one e/a; his own a/c is set on fire and he abandons it. After the war he established a tourism camp, then returned to flying."


AIR 27/1880/9


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