A Canadian No. 8 Pathfinder Group DFC for Sorties Against Berlin, Leipzig, & Frankfurt

A Canadian No. 8 Pathfinder Group DFC for Sorties Against Berlin, Leipzig, & Frankfurt - Distinguished Flying Cross, George VI GRI (engraved "FLT WD RENTON RCAF" and "1944" on the reverse); 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and War Medal 1939-1945. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, most with original ribbons, thoroughly cleaned, extremely fine. Footnote: William Douglas Renton was born in Britain in 1922, later making his home in Victoria, British Columbia. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force (J22484) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on April 14, 1941. He trained at No. 1 Initial Training School in Toronto, Ontario, graduating on May 9, 1942 and at No. 9 Air Observer School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec on Avron Anson aircraft, graduating on September 11, 1942 and commissioned in 1942. He is documented in his records as follows: "This officer is a highly efficient Navigator who has completed 29 operational sorties against such heavily defended enemy targets as Berlin, Leipzig, and Frankfurt. The courage, skill and devotion to duty displayed by this officer in the performance of his duties has set a fine example to his crew and the squadron generally. Strongly recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross." No official citation exists other than "completed...many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." The Public Records Office Air 2/8780 has a recommendation by W/C R.J. Lane, dated March 23, 1944, when he had flown twenty-nine sorties (179 hours, 42 minutes). Renton's sortie list is extensive: Berlin (5.48 hrs, December 2, 1943; 7.07 hrs, December 16, 1943; 7.05 hrs, December 23, 1943;  6.12 hrs, December 29, 1943; 6.39 hrs, January 1, 1944; 6.08 hrs, January 2, 1944; 6.59 hrs, January 20, 1944; 6.56 hrs, January 27, 1944; 7.24 hrs, January 28, 1944; 6.06 hrs, January 30, 1944), Cologne (4.03 hrs, November 3, 1943), Frankfurt (5.45 hrs, October 22, 1943; 4.45 hrs, December 20, 1943; 4.40 hrs, March 18, 1944), Frankfurt-on-Oder (7.05 hrs, February 15, 1944), Hagen (4.55 hrs, October 1, 1943), Hanover (5.11 hrs, October 18, 1943), Leipzig (6.31 hrs, October 20, 1943; 6.22 hrs, February 19, 1944; 6.33 hrs, December 3, 1944), Magdeburg (6.27 hrs, January 21, 1944), Mannheim (5.35 hrs, September 23, 1943; 5.11 hrs, November 17, 1943; 5.42 hrs, November 18, 1943), Munich (7.19 hrs, October 2, 1943), Schweinfurt (6.40 hrs, February 24, 1944), Stettin (8.27 hrs, January 5, 1944) and Stuttgart (5.47 hrs, February 20, 1944; 6.20 hrs, March 15, 1944). Renton was with 405 Squadron, which had returned from Coastal Command at the Bay of Biscay in March 1943. The Squadron flew with No. 6 (RCAF) Group for a few weeks, before being selected for No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group with which it served until the end of the war. Through the last twenty months of the bomber offensive, 405 Squadron was equipped with Lancasters, later becoming the first unit to operate a Canadian-built Lancaster. This was KB700 (nicknamed The Ruhr Express), the first production Mk. X. Flight Lieutenant Renton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while with No. 405 Squadron, effective June 19, 1944, the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 36584 of Friday, June 23, 1944, on Tuesday, June 27, 1944, page 3043 and in AFRO 1861/44 on August 25, 1944. His award was sent by registered mail on November 7, 1950 to his residence in Brandon, Manitoba. Post-war, he served with the RCAF and later, with Trans-Canada Airlines (which became Air Canada in 1965), where it was noted that "This officer's devotion to duty and efficiency with which he has cheerfully carried out all tasks assigned to him has been outstanding. He has at all times set a high example and standard which has been a source of encouragement to all ranks." (C:42)