JESSUP, P/O Clifford Gerald (J46883)

[Laurence Strong]

Here's my latest score. This is what I know about him at this point in time

JESSUP, P/O Clifford Gerald (J46883) - Air Force Cross - Eastern Air Command Meteorological Flight - Award effective 21 April 1945 as per London Gazette dated 24 April 1945 and AFRO 802/45 dated 11 May 1945. Born in Cache Bay, Ontario, 3 November 1916. Enlisted in North Bay, 9 January 1941. Went to No.1 Manning Depot (19 March to 24 April 1941) and No.4 Manning Depot (25 April to 4 May 1941). Trained at No.1 WS, Montreal (24 June to 7 November 1941; graduated 8 November 1941) and No.3 BGS (graduated 8 December 1941). To No.120 Squadron (17-20 December 1941) and No.119 Squadron (30 December 1941 to 6 October 1943). To Station Yarmouth, 6 October 1943 to 24 September 1945. Served in postwar RCAF. AC2, 9 January 1941; LAC, 25 July 1941;Sergeant, 8 December 1941; FS, 8 June 1942; WO2, 8 December 1942; P/O 20 March 1943; F/O 20 September 1944. Governor General's Records (RG.7 Group 26 Volume 58, file 190-I, dossier 6) has citation. When recommended he had flown 2,020 hours, 824 of them operational (168 sorties).

Throughout a long period on operational and meteorological flying this officer has proved himself to be a most efficient and resolute wireless operator and crew member. He has flown hundreds of hours on operational and meteorological flights under difficult and hazardous weather conditions and has at all times demonstrated his keenness and devotion to duty which is worthy of the highest praise.

This is his flight tunic, from what I was told he considered it a bit of a good luck piece and wore it on all flights, it sure looks like it I will take better photo's in the morning

[Laurence Strong]

Close up of the ribbon bar and Kings Crown navigator wings.

Air Force Cross (AFC)

Terms

The cross is awarded to an officer or a Warrant Officer for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, but not while in active operations against an enemy.

Bar

A bar is awarded for an additional act which would have warranted the AFC. The straight slip-on silver bar has an eagle in the centre. The year of the award is engraved on the reverse.

Description

A silver cross (1.625" across), shaped as a thunderbolt in the form of a cross, the arm terminates with a bomb. The cross is surmounted by another cross composed of aeroplane propeller blades, with the ends of the four blades enscribed with the Royal Cypher. For the WWII DFCs the letters G (top), R (left), VI (bottom), and I (right) and for the Korea DFCs E (top), II (left), R (right), and the bottom blank. The top arm is ensigned by an Imperial Crown.

Obverse

In the centre of the obverse is a roundel displaying Hermes, mounted on a hawk in flight, bestowing a wreath.

Reverse

Within a central circle, the current Royal Cypher (GV, GVI, EIIR) above the date 1918. The year of award appears on the lower arm.

Mounting

A small link at the top of the crown attaches to a slot in two sprigs of laurel firming the underside of a straight clasp.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternating red and white stripes (0.125 wide) leaning to the left at 45 degrees from the vertical. The red colour is to appear in the bottom left and upper right corners when viewed on the wearer's chest. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.

Naming

The medals are issued unnamed.

Dates

The award was established on 03 June 1918, the birthday of King George V.

Issued

First World War: 70 to Canadians in the RAF

Second World War: 428 to RCAF 1 bar to RCAF (S/L John HONE, AFC*) 34 to Canadians in the RAF (no bars)

Korea: 4 to RCAF (EIIR types)

Post War: 22 to RCAF (11 GVI and 11 EIIR) 2 to Canadians in the RAF 2 bars to Canadians in the RAF

Edited September 14, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

A photo of the Air Force Cross, His medals "disappeared" during his move from his residence to the Old folks home I will make up a medal bar from photo's and post it in the rouge's gallery maybe it will show up someday.

Edited September 14, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

A shot of the side showing the faded Canada's and the rank stripes

[Laurence Strong]

One last one for tonight, I will get some nicer and more detailed shots of the jacket in the morning.

Thanks for looking and if you know some more about the gentleman I would appreciate the info

[Laurence Strong]

Some trivia on the Squadrons he flew with:

No. 119 Squadron

Nickname: City of Hamilton, Hamilton Tigers

Motto: NOLI ME TANGERE - "Touch Me Not"

The tiger represents Hamilton, where the squadron was formed, and also symbolizes, by its springing attack, the dive bombing operations of a bomber reconnaissance unit.

Authorized as No. 19 (Bomber) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Hamilton, Ontario on 15 May 1935, the squadron commenced flying training in May 1937 when it received four Moth aircraft. It was renumbered No. 119 Squadron on 15 November 1937. Called out on voluntary full-time duty on 3 Septernber 1939, and redesignated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Bolingbroke and Hudson aircraft on anti-submarine duty over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the waters adjacent to Cape Breton Island until disbanded at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 15 March 1944.

Operational History

First Mission: 16 March 1941, 4 Bolingbroke's from Yarmouth - escort to HMS Ramillies en route to Saint John, N.B.

Last Mission: 11 March 1944, six sorties - 1 ice patrol, 3 inner anti-submarine patrols, and 2 patrols from Sydney to Port aux Basques.

Summary

Sorties: 3417

Operational/Non-operational Flying Hours: 15,792/8143.

Victories: U-boat: nil; 4 attacks on 11 sightings.

Casualties: Operational: 6 aircraft; 5 aircrew killed. Non-operational 8 aircraft; 6 aircrew killed.

Honours and Awards: 2 DFC's, 1 AFC, 1 BEM, 3 MiD's.

Looks like you died flying ice patrols also.

Edited September 14, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

His first Sqn for a few days:

No. 120 Squadron

Authorized as No. 20 (Bomber) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Regina, Saskatchewan on 1 June 1935, the unit commenced flying training in April 1937 when it received four Moth aircraft. It was renumbered No. 120 Squadron on 15 November 1937. Called out on voluntary full-time duty in September 1939, and redesignated Bomber Reconnaissance on 31 October, the squadron flew Delta, Hudson, Stranraer, Canso A and Catalina aircraft on West Coast anti-submarine duty until disbanded at Coal Harbour, British Columbia on 1 May 1944.

Operational History

First Mission: 30 June 1940, Delta'675 from Sea Island with F/0 M.P. Fraser and crew - patrol and search over Juan de Fuca Strait. (Although the squadron was to fly a total of 18 patrols in June and July 1940 (9 for the Department of Fisheries), it did not commence regular patrols until 11 December 1941, after Japan had entered the war. On that day, Stranraer 950 from Coal Harbour with F/L Addington and crew flew a reconnaissance patrol.)

Last Mission: 21 April 1944, Catalina JX571 from Coal Harbour with FS I.A.H. McFariane and crew - patrol.

Summary

Sorties: 1058

Operational/Non- operational Flying Hours: 5617/6451.

Victories: nil.

Casualties: Operational: nil. Non-operational: 3 aircraft; 5 aircrew killed.

Honours and Awards: 1 AFC, 1 AFM, 1 BEM

Edited September 14, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Guest Darrell]

Niiiiiice .... who'd ya score it off Larry?

[Laurence Strong]

Hi Darrell

I found it squirreled away at the Kings Coat just behind the John Deere dealer in Red Deer

[Guest Darrell]

Hi Darrell

I found it squirreled away at the Kings Coat just behind the John Deere dealer in Red Deer

Wow ... any medals lying around behind the racks?

Great find ... amazing huh?

Edited September 15, 2006 by Darrell

[Laurence Strong]

Yeah and no medals , bought out his hat badges though rest is run of the mill surplus

[Guest Darrell]

Yeah and no medals , bought out his hat badges though rest is run of the mill surplus

hmmm ... never been in there ... maybe I'll check it out for kicks ...

[Laurence Strong]

Here's another piece I have found elsewere

Globe and Mail for 23 Apr 1945

[Laurence Strong]

I have 2 photo's and his service record that should be here this week. Update coming.

[Laurence Strong]

F/L C.G. Jessup AFC

[Laurence Strong]

F/L and Mrs C.G. Jessup of Cache Bay Ont, sign the register shortly after being joined together in holy matrimony at the RCAF chapel, Rockcliffe, 15 Mar 1952

Edited October 31, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

I want to go thru all this and I will find some pertinent parts and scan close ups as soon as possible.There are about 15 pages or better.

What a difference from the Brit service records, my Dad's docs were 3 type written pages

[Laurence Strong]

But I think the missus has something else in mind for me tonight.

[Michael Johnson]

Larry, what's his Korea service? Most R.C.A.F. types didn't qualify for the Queen's Korea (didn't get past Japan). Exchange pilots with the U.S.A.F. got it, maybe some serving as Army Co-op.

He might have been 426 Transport Squadron. I'll have to check at home.

[Laurence Strong]

Well here is his story

It all starts here at Cache Bay:

Cache Bay is situated on the shores of Lake Nipissing. It gets its name from early voyageurs because the spot was a natural hiding place for fur traders to "cache" their supplies. There are many camps, lodges and outfitters around the lake as well as on the French River System, which flows down to Georgian Bay. The Sturgeon River House Museum, 4 km off Hwy. 17 between Sturgeon Falls and Cache Bay, is an actual site of a Hudson's Bay post (1848-1879) located on the west bank of the river, 1 km from Lake Nipissing.

[Laurence Strong]

Civilian occupation prior to enlistment, he worked as aunderground driller in a mine, it might explain his joining up in 1941 as he was probably waiting for "Rosie the riveter" to show up and relive him. A typical canadian - like's to play hockey

Edited November 9, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

he joined up at North Bay, which is a major underground base for NORAD.

[Laurence Strong]

First part of his service record 10.1.41 to 18.5.44, 119 Sqn, and 120 Sqn, flew to the US a fair bit. Floyd Bennet Field was one stop, Floyd Bennett Field was an important US Naval Air Station during World War 2. It was an embarkation point for newly manufactured Naval aircraft. The field was also the home of many operational combat units including several long-range anti-submarine patrol squadrons. http://www.geocities.com/floyd_bennett_field/ww2.html.Some of it blacked out for some reason, from 10.7.42 till 25.3.43

Edited November 9, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

A different section shows he was with 119 Sqn during that time

[Laurence Strong]

The later part of the war..went to Bermuda lots, Kindley Field is now Bermuda's main airport, the airfield was intended to be a joint US Army/Royal Air Force facility, to be used by both primarily as a staging point for trans-Atlantic flights by landplanes. When the US Army occupied the area, it created Fort Bell. The next two years were spent levelling Longbird Island, and smaller islands at the North of Castle Harbour, infilling waterways and part of the harbour to make a land-mass contiguous with St. David's Island. This added 750 acres to Bermuda's land mass, bringing the the total area of the base to 1,165 acres. The airfield was completed in 1943, and known as Kindley Field, for Great War aviator Field E. Kindley. Most of the base was taken up by the US Army Air Forces. The Western end of the airfield was taken up by the RAF. RAF Air Transport Command, formerly based at Darrell's Island, re-located to the landplane base, leaving only RAF Ferry Command operating on Darrell's.