A Commission Document for Pilot Officer Kumsky (Kumchy) DFC RCAF

Embossed with the Royal coat-of-arms with The Earl of "Athlone" (Governor General of Canada) overprint in black at the upper left, hand-numbered in black ink "J35919" at the upper right, inscribed: "George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, Vc. - to Our Trusty and well beloved Fred Joseph Kumsky, Greetings. We, reposing special Trust and Confidence in you Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Royal Canadian Air Force of Our Dominion of Canada from the Seventeenth day of September 1943. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Pilot Officer or in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the Canada Gazette, or in such other manner as may for the time being be prescribed by Us in Council, and you are in such manner and on such occasions as may be prescribed by Us to exercise and well discipline, both the inferior Officers, and other ranks serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. And We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer, and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us, or any your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you. In Witness Whereof Our Governor General of Our Dominion of Canada hath hereunto set his hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this First day of December in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Three and in the Seventh Year of Our Reign. By Command of His Excellency The Governor General", signed by "James A. Sharpe G/C. Air Secretary for Minister of National Defence for Air", with the handwritten inscription in black ink "Pilot Officer Fred Joseph Kumsky / Royal Canadian Air Force / Special Reserve" at the lower left, printed in black with the handwritten entries in black ink, on a white linen stock, 354 mm x 430 mm, lightly soiled on the obverse, undulated, tape residue from previous frame mounting evident on the reverse, better than very fine. Footnote: Fred Joseph Kumsky was born in 1923 in Lambton, Ontario. He was residing in Sarnia, Ontario and employed as a Lab Assistant, when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force on August 28, 1942, in London, Ontario. He did his initial training at No. 5 Initial Training School in Belleville, Ontario, graduating on May 3, 1943, followed by training at No. 5 Air Observer School in Winnipeg, Manitoba and graduating on September 17, 1943. Kumsky received his commission as a Pilot Officer on September 17, 1943. DHist file 181 009 D 1941 RG 24 Vol 20612 has a recommendation by Wing Commander H.M. Smith dated January 14, 1945, when Kumsky had flown 30 sorties 156 hours 55 minutes from August 15, 1944 to January 7, 1945: "This officer, a navigator, has completed thirty operational trips against the enemy and has successfully navigated his aircraft to such distant targets as Nuremburg, Munich, Hagen and Duisburg (twice). A superior navigator and an outstanding crew member, Flying Officer Kumsky through his skill and courage has made a notable contribution to an outstanding crew. In recognition of Flying Officer Kumsky's devotion to duty and sterling qualities, I strongly recommend that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross." J35919 Pilot Officer Fred Joseph Kumsky, No. 431 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the announcement for the award appearing in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette 37094 of Tuesday, May 22, 1945, on Friday, May 25, 1945, page 2669 and in AFRO 1291/45 of August 10, 1945. No citation exists other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude courage and devotion to duty". There is correspondence dated September 27, 1949, suggesting that at that date, his name was either changed or corrected to Kumchy.