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Lionel Gaunce

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This flight commander has displayed excellent coolness and leadership since the return of the squadron to England. In July, 1940, his flight took part in resisting an enemy air attack on Dover, when three of our aircraft were attacked by forty Junkers 87's. At least two of the enemy aircraft were
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on 10 May. Its aircraft upgraded to Hurricanes, it was heavily involved in bomber escort and interception duties. It was withdrawn to England on 23 May for a rest. On its return, Gaunce and five other pilots were briefly detached from the squadron to form a flight of Gladiators and sent to
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fighter but what was actually a Bf 109 two days later near Kenley. He himself was shot down in the engagement, baling out of his Hurricane and receiving minor burns. In recognition of his aerial successes in the aerial campaign over the south of England, he was awarded the
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Gaunce did not return to operational duties with No. 3 Squadron until after the outbreak of the Second World War. In the interim, he had returned to his previous rank of flying officer. By this time, the squadron was operating the
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in April 1939. Two months later he was involved in a road accident, crashing his motorcycle into a car. Hospitalised for just over a month as a result of his injuries, he spent several more weeks after his discharge recuperating.
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was named for him. He is credited with the shooting down of six aircraft, one of which was shared with another pilot. He is also credited with three aircraft probably destroyed, one being shared, and six damaged.
902: 475:'s offensive against England was declining in intensity by this time and it was only infrequently in action. On 11 November, the squadron was scrambled to intercept a raid mounted by the 210:. At the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, he was recovering from injuries caused by his involvement in a road crash. In early 1940 he was sent to France to serve with 544:, his final aerial victory. Flying a sortie to France on 19 November, his Spitfire was hit by anti-aircraft fire as he passed near Ivigny. He was seen to crash into the sea off 882: 540:
on 27 August, and the following day, near Le Havre, damaged a second. On 1 September, his squadron leader rank was made substantive. He damaged a Bf 109 to the south of
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until he took ill at the end of the year. Limited to ground duties for several months, he returned to operational flying in July 1941 as commander of
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fighter. Gaunce was confirmed in his pilot officer rank at the start of 1937, and eighteen months later was promoted to
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Briefly hospitalised before returning to No. 615 Squadron, on 26 August Gaunce destroyed a Bf 109 over the
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Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII
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Gaunce was kept in a non-flying role for several months until, in July 1941, he was given command of
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hospital. He did not return to his unit until 15 September. By this time the squadron was resting at
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shot down. Flight Lieutenant Gaunce has shot down three enemy aircraft since returning to England.
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Gaunce was survived by his wife of four years, Queenie Paula Scott, and is commemorated on the
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fighter crashed into the sea off the French coast after being hit by anti-aircraft fire.
445: 418: 324: 298: 866: 493: 453: 410: 282: 38: 525: 391: 286: 206:, Gaunce joined the RAF in 1936 and after his training was completed was posted to 406:, he shot down one Bf 109 and claimed another as probably destroyed. He damaged a 486: 403: 367: 350: 294: 279: 500:. The following month he took ill and relinquished command of No. 46 Squadron. 537: 398:. On 6 August, he was promoted to flight lieutenant. On 12 August, while on a 309: 243: 242:
Lionel Manley Gaunce was born on 20 September 1915 to Hope and Earl Gaunce in
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No. 615 Squadron quickly became drawn into the aerial fighting over the
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Canadian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
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in Scotland after its extensive operations over southeast England.
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Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few
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for two years until January 1936, at which time he joined the
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fighter and probably destroyed a second, both to the east of
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but a few months later started to receive the more modern
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but achieved the first of his aerial victories during the
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and southern England and on 20 July, Gaunce destroyed a
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At the time of his posting, No. 3 Squadron was based at
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which, at the time, was based in France as part of the
191:(20 September 1915 – 19 November 1941) was a Canadian 646: 644: 642: 640: 638: 636: 634: 632: 630: 394:. Five days later he shot down another Bf 109 near 272:
No. 9 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School
170: 143: 129: 119: 104: 92: 84: 70: 46: 23: 903:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II 808:Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft 428: 417:on 16 August, and damaged what he claimed as a 363:German invasion of France and the Low Countries 705: 459:In late October Gaunce was promoted to acting 825:Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). 301:and completed his training, he was posted to 8: 467:. This Hurricane-equipped unit was based at 481:(Italian Air Corps). Gaunce shot down one 214:. He flew through the early stages of the 31: 20: 610:"The Airmen's Stories – F/Lt. L M Gaunce" 559:. After the war, a mountain in Alberta's 883:Canadian military personnel from Alberta 769: 757: 680: 665: 528:. On 20 August he damaged a Bf 109 near 573: 898:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II 585:"Squadron Leader Lionel Manley Gaunce" 579: 577: 278:before receiving his commission as an 604: 602: 270:. His initial flight training was at 7: 650: 587:. Commonwealth War Graves Commission 353:. In February 1940 he was posted to 923:Aviators killed by being shot down 727:. 27 September 1940. p. 5715. 548:and presumed to have been killed. 14: 893:Canadian World War II flying aces 810:. London: MacDonald & James. 791:. 9 September 1941. p. 5223. 614:Battle of Britain London Monument 512:. His new unit was equipped with 908:Royal Air Force squadron leaders 222:. From late October 1940 he led 747:. 23 August 1940. p. 5154. 1: 848:. Barnsley: Frontline Books. 516:fighters and was engaged in 291:No. 5 Flying Training School 37:Portrait of Gaunce, made by 536:. He damaged a Bf 109 over 463:and appointed commander of 439:, No. 34929, 23 August 1940 359:Advanced Air Striking Force 16:Canadian flying ace of WWII 939: 706:Shores & Williams 1994 424:Distinguished Flying Cross 175:Distinguished Flying Cross 844:Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). 266:(RAF) on a short service 230:. He was killed when his 30: 327:. He was made an acting 829:. London: Grub Street. 806:Rawlings, John (1976). 260:Loyal Edmonton Regiment 442: 250:, Canada. Educated in 297:. Once he gained his 289:. He then went on to 105:Years of service 561:Jasper National Park 553:Runneymeade Memorial 514:Supermarine Spitfire 478:Corpo Aereo Italiano 408:Messerschmitt Bf 110 388:Messerschmitt Bf 109 232:Supermarine Spitfire 195:who served with the 80:off the French Coast 708:, pp. 274–275. 683:, pp. 503–504. 254:, he served in the 788:The London Gazette 744:The London Gazette 724:The London Gazette 370:. There it joined 888:Canadian aviators 855:978-1-39901-465-6 668:, pp. 19–20. 504:Later war service 469:Stapleford Tawney 378:Battle of Britain 329:flight lieutenant 321:Gloster Gladiator 312:and operated the 220:Battle of Britain 180: 179: 158:Battle of Britain 57:20 September 1915 930: 859: 840: 821: 793: 792: 779: 773: 767: 761: 755: 749: 748: 735: 729: 728: 715: 709: 703: 684: 678: 669: 663: 654: 648: 625: 624: 622: 620: 606: 597: 596: 594: 592: 581: 557:Englefield Green 522:Circus offensive 440: 372:No. 604 Squadron 355:No. 615 Squadron 347:Hawker Hurricane 340:Second World War 333:flight commander 256:Canadian Militia 216:Battle of France 212:No. 615 Squadron 190: 163:Circus offensive 153:Battle of France 148:Second World War 114: 94: 77: 74:19 November 1941 56: 54: 35: 21: 938: 937: 933: 932: 931: 929: 928: 927: 863: 862: 856: 843: 837: 824: 818: 805: 802: 797: 796: 781: 780: 776: 768: 764: 756: 752: 737: 736: 732: 717: 716: 712: 704: 687: 679: 672: 664: 657: 649: 628: 618: 616: 608: 607: 600: 590: 588: 583: 582: 575: 570: 518:Fighter Command 510:No. 41 Squadron 506: 465:No. 46 Squadron 461:squadron leader 441: 435: 402:to the east of 384:English Channel 380: 342: 314:Bristol Bulldog 264:Royal Air Force 240: 228:No. 41 Squadron 224:No. 46 Squadron 197:Royal Air Force 186: 138:No. 46 Squadron 136: 134:No. 41 Squadron 124:Squadron Leader 110: 108:1936–1941  99:Royal Air Force 79: 75: 58: 52: 50: 42: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 936: 934: 926: 925: 920: 915: 910: 905: 900: 895: 890: 885: 880: 875: 865: 864: 861: 860: 854: 841: 835: 822: 816: 801: 798: 795: 794: 774: 772:, p. 108. 762: 760:, p. 126. 750: 730: 710: 685: 670: 655: 653:, p. 185. 626: 598: 572: 571: 569: 566: 505: 502: 446:Thames Estuary 437:London Gazette 433: 419:Heinkel He 113 379: 376: 341: 338: 325:flying officer 303:No. 3 Squadron 239: 236: 208:No. 3 Squadron 178: 177: 172: 168: 167: 166: 165: 160: 155: 145: 141: 140: 131: 127: 126: 121: 117: 116: 106: 102: 101: 96: 90: 89: 86: 82: 81: 78:(aged 26) 72: 68: 67: 48: 44: 43: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 935: 924: 921: 919: 916: 914: 911: 909: 906: 904: 901: 899: 896: 894: 891: 889: 886: 884: 881: 879: 876: 874: 871: 870: 868: 857: 851: 847: 842: 838: 836:1-8-9869-7000 832: 828: 823: 819: 817:0-354-01028-X 813: 809: 804: 803: 799: 790: 789: 784: 778: 775: 771: 770:Rawlings 1976 766: 763: 759: 758:Rawlings 1976 754: 751: 746: 745: 740: 734: 731: 726: 725: 720: 714: 711: 707: 702: 700: 698: 696: 694: 692: 690: 686: 682: 681:Rawlings 1976 677: 675: 671: 667: 666:Rawlings 1976 662: 660: 656: 652: 647: 645: 643: 641: 639: 637: 635: 633: 631: 627: 615: 611: 605: 603: 599: 586: 580: 578: 574: 567: 565: 562: 558: 554: 549: 547: 543: 539: 535: 531: 527: 526:Tangmere wing 523: 519: 515: 511: 503: 501: 499: 495: 494:medium bomber 492: 488: 484: 480: 479: 474: 470: 466: 462: 457: 455: 451: 447: 438: 432: 427: 425: 420: 416: 412: 411:heavy fighter 409: 405: 401: 397: 393: 390:fighter near 389: 385: 377: 375: 373: 369: 364: 360: 356: 352: 349:fighter from 348: 339: 337: 334: 331:and became a 330: 326: 322: 318: 315: 311: 306: 304: 300: 296: 292: 288: 284: 283:pilot officer 281: 277: 273: 269: 265: 261: 257: 253: 249: 245: 237: 235: 233: 229: 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 205: 200: 198: 194: 189: 184: 183:Lionel Gaunce 176: 173: 169: 164: 161: 159: 156: 154: 151: 150: 149: 146: 142: 139: 135: 132: 128: 125: 122: 118: 115: 113: 107: 103: 100: 97: 91: 87: 83: 73: 69: 65: 61: 49: 45: 40: 39:Cuthbert Orde 34: 29: 25:Lionel Gaunce 22: 19: 845: 826: 807: 786: 777: 765: 753: 742: 733: 722: 713: 617:. Retrieved 613: 589:. Retrieved 550: 507: 476: 458: 443: 436: 429: 392:Cap Gris-Nez 381: 343: 307: 305:in October. 246:, a town in 241: 201: 182: 181: 144:Battles/wars 111: 76:(1941-11-19) 18: 878:1941 deaths 873:1915 births 783:"No. 35270" 739:"No. 34929" 719:"No. 34954" 487:Orford Ness 404:Beachy Head 867:Categories 800:References 538:Saint-Omer 491:Fiat BR.20 483:Fiat CR.42 268:commission 244:Lethbridge 238:Early life 204:Lethbridge 193:flying ace 85:Allegiance 60:Lethbridge 53:1915-09-20 651:Wynn 2015 619:17 August 591:18 August 473:Luftwaffe 454:Prestwick 450:Herne Bay 413:south of 258:with the 546:Janville 542:Boulogne 530:Le Havre 471:but the 434:—  415:Brighton 287:Uxbridge 252:Edmonton 202:Born in 130:Commands 93:Service/ 66:, Canada 918:The Few 534:Dunkirk 498:Harwich 368:Manston 351:Croydon 317:fighter 295:Sealand 248:Alberta 112:† 64:Alberta 41:in 1941 852:  833:  814:  400:sortie 310:Kenley 280:acting 171:Awards 95:branch 88:Canada 568:Notes 496:near 396:Dover 299:wings 276:Ansty 850:ISBN 831:ISBN 812:ISBN 621:2023 593:2023 120:Rank 71:Died 47:Born 555:at 520:'s 293:at 285:at 274:at 188:DFC 869:: 785:. 741:. 721:. 688:^ 673:^ 658:^ 629:^ 612:. 601:^ 576:^ 185:, 62:, 858:. 839:. 820:. 623:. 595:. 55:) 51:(

Index


Cuthbert Orde
Lethbridge
Alberta
Royal Air Force

Squadron Leader
No. 41 Squadron
No. 46 Squadron
Second World War
Battle of France
Battle of Britain
Circus offensive
Distinguished Flying Cross
DFC
flying ace
Royal Air Force
Lethbridge
No. 3 Squadron
No. 615 Squadron
Battle of France
Battle of Britain
No. 46 Squadron
No. 41 Squadron
Supermarine Spitfire
Lethbridge
Alberta
Edmonton
Canadian Militia
Loyal Edmonton Regiment

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