Distinguished Flying Cross, GRI, 1943 engraved on reverse of 6 o’clock arm, with original case of issue, 79x148x21 (wxhxd), inside lid stamped ROYAL MINT; 1939 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defense Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, all extremely fine condition; RCAF Air Observer Wing, white embroidery on black wool, 97x36mm, very fine condition; RCAF Wings Insignia, bronze gilt, 54.5x15mm, two screwback pins with backings, marked C. LAMOND MTL on reverse outer edge of each wingtip, very fine condition; Ribbon Bar (DFC, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe), 102x11mm, mounted on swing bar pin, ribbons do not reach end edge of bar, very fine condition; Ribbon Bar (Defense Medal, CVSM with Maple Leaf, 1939-45 War Medal), 99x10mm, mounted on swing bar pin, ribbons do not reach end edge of bar, very fine condition; American Legion School Award, bronze, 75mm, struck by Medallic Art Company, engraved (J.F.W. TOWSE SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL MAY 1932 SEWICKLEY VALLEY POST No 4), stamped M22 on obverse, and impressed MEDALLIC ART Co N.Y on edge, extremely fine condition.
Accompanied by: Display case with blue velvet inner backing and glass lid, 205x305x25mm (wxhxd); Royal Canadian Air Force Certificate of Service, dated May 1945 and Official Decree of Purchasing Freedom, dated May 12 1982 in hard tube; Official Certificate of Operation Wing of RCAF, dated July 25 1944; Official Decree from Canada Minister of National Defence to be P/O in RCAF, dated February 16 1943, embossed with royal seal; Watercolour painting on cardstock. 266x190mm, titled “Hadley- Page Halifax Out in the Moonlight” signed TWAITS 43; Correspondence letters from A.D Ross (Commanding No. 1 Air Command) to Towse, dated April 11 1945; from Minister of National Defence for Air to Mr. and Mrs. Towse, dated July 14 1943; Official invitation for Investiture at Buckingham Palace, March 10 1944; Telegram from RCAF Headquarters to aid Towse’s movement, dated November 3 1944; ‘Achievement’ booklet documenting the record of the 102 (Ceylon) squadron; Several newspaper clips regarding Towse RCAF involvement; 22 photographs of various sizes depicting group images, aircrafts, Towse and other individuals.
Footnote: John Fielding Wrench Towse was born on November 2, 1917 in Toronto, Ontario to Hugh and Letitia Towse. He received his education in Pennsylvania from 1928-1935, and attended the Aviation Institution of America, located in Washington D.C in 1937. Prior to enlisting in Toronto in September 1940, he worked as a clerk and stock room reported in New Jersey, and enjoyed building model planes. After enlisting, he was stationed with the No. 2 ITS. He embarked for overseas on August 5, 1941 and was taken on strength with the No. 3 PRC. After brief stints with various Overseas Training Units (No. 27, No. 20 and No.19), Pilot Officer Towse took part in bombing an Axis supply ship off the coast of Norway. Newspaper reports state that he enjoyed the clear view of the Alps. He then joined the No. 102 Squadron on December 18, 1941. The 102 squadron was responsible for a total of 14,118.25 tons of bombs dropped and 1,865 mines laid throughout the course of the war. On February 1, 1942, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant. Three months later on May 11, Towse was participating in a training flight near Pickhill, Thirsk in a Halifax V9982. The instructor allowed the flying pupils (F/Sgt Towse and F/Sgt Harris) to man the controls with the two port side engines off. However, due to the changing weather, the instructor was unable to unfeather the engines, and the aircraft crash-landed in a field at 16:30. Towse was injured and sent to the hospital. On June 21, 1942 Towse was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class and was again promoted on October 1, 1942 to Warrant Officer 1st Class. Four days following his promotion to WO1, the Halifax DT518 containing Towse and crew was struck by lightning. The inner starboard engine and wireless equipment were damaged, resulting in the decision to abort the operational flight and return to Pocklington. In a training exercise in January 1943, Towse performed a forced landing near Huby, Easingwood, in a Halifax W7910 after the inner port engine lost power at 500ft, due to a bolt fracture in the outer propeller. In late March 1943, he was transferred to No. 1659 Conversion Unit, which was operating from the Topcliffe Airfield. It was recorded at this time that Towse had flown 34 sorties, accumulating 200 hours of flight time. He was later briefly associated with the No. 3 Flying Instructor School in May 1943.
His sorties include: 26 January 1942- Emden; 31 January 1942 - Bourges; 24 April 1942- Dunkirk; 6 September 1842 - Duisburg (attacked by fighters, shaken off. Force-landed due to severe damage from ground defences over target); 5 October 1942 - Aachen (aircraft struck by lightning, rendered unserviceable, returned early); 10 October 1942 - GARDENING; 15 October 1942 - Cologne; 24 October 1942 - Milan; 9 November 1942 - Hamburg; 15 November 1942 - Genoa; 18 November 1942 - Turin (returned early, starboard engine unserviceable); 2 December 1942 - Frankfurt ; 6 December 1942 - Mannheim ; 8 December 1942 - GARDENING; 9 December 1942 - Turin; 11 December 1942 - Turin; 9 January 1943 - GARDENING; 15 January 1943 - Lorient ; 27 January 1943 - Dusselorf; 2 February 1943 - Cologne; 3 February 1943 - Hamburg; 7 February 1943 - Lorient; 11 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven; 13 February 1943 - Lorient; 14 February 1943 - Cologne; 18 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven; 19 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven; 25 February 1943 - Nuremberg; 26 February 1943 - Cologne; 28 February 1943 - St. Nazaire; 1 March 1943 - Berlin; 3 March 1943 - Hamburg; 5 March 1943 - Essen; 8 March 1943 - Nuremberg.
His DFC was awarded to him in Spring 1943 (officially Gazetted June 15, 1943) and the citation reads:“Warrant Officer Towse has a long operational record of attacks against a wide variety of targets and has been conspicuous for sustained courage, determination and endurance. He has been successful in attaining the primary objective on most occasions. A very capable and reliable captain to aircrew, this airman has earned the confidence of his crew to whom he has been an inspiration.”
In August of the same year, he was promoted to Flying officer and on March 21, 1944 Towse was invested by King George in Buckingham Palace. The following month he was promoted for a final time to Flight Lieutenant. In September 1944, he was assigned to the RCAF Overseas Headquarters. The role of the RCAF Overseas was to liaison with the British Military and host the personnel records in a central location. He was repatriated on March 9, 1945 and officially retired “on completion of a term of voluntary service during an emergency and was transferred to Class E of the General Section of the Reserve” on May 11, 1945. He became a member of The Fishmongers’ Company and a Freeman of the City of London, England. Towse died on October 20 1988 in Ottawa, Ontario. He was survived by his wife Alice.