U.S.A.A.F. Officers in Bomber Command

**HughAHalliday** · 21st January 2008, 22:20

I can now confirm that John Edmund Russell was an American citizen who enlisted in the RCAF in Montreal, 15 July 1941. He qualified as a pilot at No.4 SFTS, 7 November 1941 and after further training in Canada was posted overseas in June 1942. He was commissioned in the RCAF (12 May 1943) and was discharged from the RCAF (presumably on transfer to American forces) on 10 June 1943.

I can find no connection for W.S. Treacy to the RCAF, and the frequency of names like "R. Wright" in the record makes it difficult to make an RCAF connection.

**David Layne** · 21st January 2008, 22:30

Many thanks for your efforts Hugh.

**David Layne** · 18th February 2008, 10:45

I have found this reference to John Russell by one of his 97 Squadron crew members.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/37/a7983237.shtml

**alieneyes** · 2nd January 2022, 02:07

Hello,

2nd Lt William Sewell Treacy, DFC hailed from Lexington, Ky. Born there 15 April 1916. Enlisted in the Royal Air Force receiving NCO number 605497, indicating a March 1942 Canadian enlistment.

Commissioned Pilot Officer 1 March 1943. Gazetted 1 June 1943. New number 144004. DFC gazetted 13 July 1943. Information on his DFC comes from an article in Lexington (Ky) Herald Leader from 13 September 1943. States he was visiting his family after completing a 33 operation tour "with the Royal Air Force before joining the United States Army Air Forces in June". The article makes mention of his RAF training and receiving his wings at Imperial, California.

He's also mentioned in the Paducah (Ky) Sun-Democrat in June 1943 for his DFC. Mention is also made of Pilot Officers Richard Seymour Clinton (J16202) of Whitney Point, NY and Jerome Arthur Zee (J17230) of Jewett City, CT, both Americans in the RCAF and both decorated with the DFC.

https://www.rcafassociation.ca/herit...d_all&type=all

https://www.rcafassociation.ca/herit...d_all&type=all

Treacy died in Spokane, WA 13 May 1976. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-sewell-treacy

Regards,

Dave

**John Williams** · 2nd January 2022, 03:12

Hi David,

I have the graduating class photo of Course 58, 4 SFTS Saskatoon June-October 1942, the photo was taken on 9 October 1942 and contains 6 Americans who joined the RCAF prior to the USA entry into WW2.

They are;
James Edward Braithwaite
Whitney Millard Bray
Edward Victor Cherye
Bertram James Furey
Richard Norman Geary
Frank Raymond Henderson

Braithwaite was shot down with 622 Sqn on 31 May/1 June 1943. Made a pow.
Bray was shot down and made a pow on 16 November 1943 with the USAAF
Furey was shot down with 419 Sqn on 13/14 July 1943. Made a pow.
Geary posted to 654 Sqn USAAF

The other two unknown fates. I do have a number of photos of Braithwaite and the graduating photo which I’m happy to share f you contact me on harleyDOT158ATbigpondDOTcom replace the DOT & AT with the usual.

Cheers,

John.

**alieneyes** · 2nd January 2022, 03:37

Hi John,

Edward Victor Cherye was a captain in the USAAF. Also served in Korea. Born 26 September 1917; deceased 6 February 1993. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...dward-v-cherye

In 1955, Cherye was a private detective. Made the local Colorado press when he walked into the motor pool office at Fitzsimons Army Hospital and was asked to leave by the two dispatchers. He refused, pulled a pistol and fired it at the two staff hitting one of their desks.

"He was disarmed and taken into custody by military police"

Cheers,

Dave

**John Williams** · 2nd January 2022, 03:41

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the information sounds like he was a bit of a handful!

Cheers,

John.

**Alex Smart** · 2nd January 2022, 04:14

Just read this thread on the TOCH forum, and have responded with a question which I now ask here.
As the DFC awarded to Russell was an RAF award, when he later transferred to the USAAF would he have automatically have been entitled to the American DFC ?

**bvs** · 2nd January 2022, 08:25

Hi Alex
AFAIK - the RAF and USA DFC awards were completely separate and therefore would not 'transfer' between air forces.
However British DFC's were awarded to some USAAF personnel and American DFC's were awarded to some RAF Personnel.
In post war USAAF personnel photographs and American Movies the occasional British DFC ribbon can be spotted.

**bvs** · 2nd January 2022, 08:35

Perhaps one of the better known USAAF Pilots to be awarded the British DFC was Curtis LeMay - seen below as a One Star (Brig),he was still wearing the DFC medal as a 4 Star in later pictures.