The Valour and the Horror

World War Two, saving private ryan, Second World War, W.W.II

Johnnie Johnson

Arguably the RAFs greatest Ace, at 27, Johnson was promoted to command the RCAF's 127 Airfield at Kenley. He wrote, "The Canadians had a reputation for toughness and they required a firm hand on the reins." He found the Canadians still flying in old-fashioned line-astern formation, which made them easy targets. Pilots had to divide their attention between maintaining position, and watching for the enemy. Johnson introduced the "finger four" formation, in which aircraft flew about 200 yards apart and at different altitudes so they could cover each other's blind spots. This reduced the number of mid-air collisions, and allowed pilots to attack in pairs, one leading and the other watching his tail.
Later he became Air Vice-Marshall.

Jimmie Walker

Wing Commander J. E. Walker, DFC, had a record of ten and a half kills at the age of 24. Born in Claresholm, Alberta, he enlisted in the RCAF in 1940, and received his basic flight training in Canada. When he arrived in Britain, he was assigned to numerous different RAF squadrons, flew at Murmansk in 1941, and the desert campaign of 1942. In June, 1943, he was appointed to lead the new Canadian airfield 127 at Kenney, under Johnson.

Dal Russel

Squadron Leader B.D. Russel, DFC, came from Westmount, Quebec. He had flown with the RCAFs first fighter squadron overseas during the Battle of Britain, and was promoted to Wing Commander Flying of Airfield 127.