Page 7 - Nov_2018

Squadron Leader Robert Ross Ferguson
Bob Ferguson's flight
training took place over
the winter of 1940-41.
Assigned to Night Fighter,
410 Cougar Squadron,
whose job was to protect
the coast of Scotland and,
later, England. The first
official sortie of No. 410
Squadron was from RAF
Drem, East Lothian,
Scotland, on the night of
th
June 4 1942, when twelve Beaufighter crews took off.
It went on to become the top-scoring night fighter
squadron in the RAF Second Tactical Air Force during
the period between D-Day and VE-Day. 410 Cougar
Squadron supported the Allied forces flying nightly
patrols during the Normandy Landings and the Battle of
the Bulge, during which time and many of its pilots
gained ace status.
Ferguson was promoted rapidly, achieving the rank of
Flying Officer in October, 1942, Flight Lieutenant in
January 1943, and Squadron Leader in January 1944.
Ferguson also quickly developed a reputation for
innovative training and meticulous preparation with his the squadron, it was flying Spitfire 5s under the
squadron and took them up at night where they would
chase each other in the dark in order to improve their
skills with the use of the radar. He identified several
weaknesses in the aerial gunnery courses which were
all taught with Spitfires while most pilots flew other
more heavily armoured aircraft. Hearing his criticism
Wing Commander Archie Winskill of RAF Winfield called say, "There's your Spit ... now go out and fly."
on Ferguson to set up and develop a twin engine
gunnery course. He did, and the course was very
successful and soon pilots brought their own Mosquito
or Beaufighter planes with them for training from all
over the UK. The Mosquito supported RAF strategic night
fighter defence forces in the United Kingdom from raids,
most notably defeating the German aerial offensive
Operation Steinbock in 1944. Offensively, the Mosquito
units also conducted night time fighter sweeps in indirect
and direct protection of RAF Bomber Command's heavy
bombers to help reduce RAF bomber losses in 1944 and
1945.
Bob Ferguson gave up flying after the war but
maintained an interest in the 410 Squadron. Bob
passed away on September 19, 2006.
F/Lt Don Walz
Nickname “Curly”
Walz was somewhat
of a rarity among
airmen of WW2,
having earned a
private pilot's licence
prewar, when he
owned a half share in a deHavilland Puss Moth and
logged 37 hours flying.
Don enlisted in the RCAF in early 1941, though he
was not called up until later that year. Because he
had previous flying experience, he was designated
as a flying instructor, passing through schools at
Moose Jaw and Trenton before being sent to
instruct at High River, Alberta and because so many
BCATP schools were operated by civilian
contractors, he was also given long-term leave from
the RCAF. Don instructed for about 18 months
before he then to Dunnville, Ont., for training on
Harvards. He went next to the RCAF Home War
Establishment's 127 (Fighter) Squadron at
Dartmouth, N.S. Christmas 1943 saw Don and 127
Squadron designated the 443 Squadron being sent
overseas to Digby. By the time Walz caught up to
command of S/L Henry Wallace "Wally" McLeod, a
Reginan who had 11 (some sources say 13) victories
in the air fighting over Malta in the summer of
1942.
Walz's introduction to the new CO saw the latter
toss him some pilot's notes, point to an aircraft and
During an escort mission during late spring 1944,
Don was shot down over France and escaped back
to England with help by the French.
Unfortunately in April 1945 Don was again shot
down but this time was captured and became a
POW till the end of the war.
With liberation came a flight back to London, the
ritual meeting with the Queen and a trip home to
Canada. Don, who was officially credited with four
confirmed victories, stayed active in aviation,
operating a crop-dusting/charter firm at Moose
Jaw.
Sadly, Don passed away in May 2004.