John Emilius “Johnny” Fauquier DSO & Two Bars, DFC (March 19, 1909 – April 3, 1981) was a Canadian aviator and Second World War Bomber Command leader. He commanded No. 405 Squadron RCAF and later No. 617 Squadron RAF (the Dambusters) over the course of the war. A bush pilot prior to the war, he joined the RCAF as a flight instructor in 1939. He joined No. 405 Squadron in 1941 and would fly operationally for the rest of the war, taking a drop in rank on one occasion to return to active command. During his three tours of operation he participated in Operation Hydra and dozens of other sorties over Europe. [edit] Early years John Emilius "Johnny" Fauquier was born at Ottawa, Ontario on March 19, 1909, educated at Ashbury College and then entered the investment business at Montreal, Quebec where he joined a flying club. After earning his commercial pilot's licence he formed Commercial Airways at Noranda, Quebec and prior to the Second World War had flown some 3,000 hours as pilot in command on bush operations.[1] [edit] Second World War He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939 as a Flight Lieutenant, completed an advanced course and served until mid-1941 as instructor of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan instructors. After a short period in England at a glider and paratrooper training center, he was posted to No. 405 Squadron RCAF. On returning in difficult weather conditions after bombing Berlin with the squadron on the night of November 7, 1941, he was forced to land his plane on a non-operational airfield, and as a result was temporarily suspected to be a spy by the Home Guard.[2] By February 1942, Fauquier had been promoted to acting Wing Commander and given command of the squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for gallantry.[3] Shortly afterwards he was transferred from operations to the RCAF's Overseas Headquarters for staff duties. He then served a short term with No. 6 Group before once more taking command of No. 405 Squadron in February 1942.[4] During Operation Hydra in August 1943, a bombing raid on a German military research facility at Peenemünde, he acted as deputy master bomber,[5] making 17 passes over the target. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in September 1943, in part for his leadership during the raid.[6] Soon after that raid he was promoted to acting Group Captain of that squadron,[7] which had become a member of No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group.[8] During January 1944, he flew 38 sorties, completing his second tour of operations with No. 405 Squadron. He was then awarded a Bar to his DSO.[9] After promotion to acting Air Commodore—a rank precluded from operational flying—he was Mentioned in Despatches in December 1944.[10] He then voluntarily reverted to Group Captain so that he might begin a third tour of operations, this time as commanding officer of No. 617 Squadron RAF (the Dambusters squadron), which he led from December until the end of the war.[11] Under his command the Dambusters conducted raids against submarine pens, viaducts and other targets.[12] With the end of the war in Europe, he was awarded a second Bar to his DSO for his command of 617 Squadron.[13] Spencer Dunmore, a historian and novelist, remembers Fauquier in his history of Canada's Air Force during World War II:[14] There is no doubt that Fauquier was one of the toughest of commanders. He saw his job as getting every available aircraft on the target on every night of operations and had no patience with any incompetence or inefficiency that might compromise that goal...The ground crews thought the world of him, because he thought the world of them and never took them for granted, always remembering to take them bottles of beer or other treats if they had worked particularly hard. Many considered him Canada's greatest bomber pilot. [edit] After the war After the war was over, Fauquier returned to private business. He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1974.[15] He died on April 3, 1981. [edit] Text of citations - Distinguished Service Order:[6]
Air Ministry, 17th September, 1943. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy: — Distinguished Service Order. Acting Wing Commander John Emilius FAUQUIER, D.F.C. (Can/C.1399), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron. This officer is a first class leader whose skilful and courageous example has proved most inspiring. His sterling qualities were well illustrated during an operation against Peenemunde on the night of 17th August, 1943, and again a few nights later in an attack against Berlin. Wing Commander Fauquier has displayed boundless energy and great drive and has contributed, in a large measure to the high standard of operational efficiency of the squadron he commands. - First bar to his Distinguished Service Order:[9]
Air Ministry, 31st March, 1944. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy: — Bar to Distinguished Service Order. Acting Group Captain John Emilius FAUQUIER, D.S.O., D.F.C., Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron. This officer has commanded the squadron with notable success during the past nine months. He has frequently taken part in sorties against distant and well defended targets, including several attacks on the German capital. He is a forceful and gallant leader, whose outstanding ability and unswerving devotion to duty have been reflected in the fine operational work performed by the whole squadron. Group Captain Fauquier has set an example of the highest order. - Second bar to his Distinguished Service Order:[13]
Air Ministry, 1st June, 1945. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations: — Second Bar to Distinguished Service Order. Group Captain John Eniilius FAUQUIER, D.S.O., D.F.C. (Can/C.1399), R.C.A.F., 617 Sqn. Since assuming command of the squadron in December, 1944, this officer has taken part in almost all the sorties to which the formation has been committed. Early in February, 1945, Group Captain Fauquier led the Squadron in an attack on the U-boat pens at Poortershaven. Photographs obtained showed that the bombing was accurate and concentrated. Since then, this officer has participated in a number of sorties during which the railway viaduct at Bielefeld, a railway bridge over the river Weser at Bremen and a viaduct over a flooded meadow near to Ardbergen bridge were all rendered unusable by the enemy. By his brilliant leadership, undoubted skill and iron determination, this officer played a good part in the successes obtained. He has rendered much loyal and valuable service. - ^ "Johnny Farquier: Likely Canada's Greatest Bomber Pilot". Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum. http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/s,fauquier.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Copp, J. (1996). No Price Too High. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. pp. 88. ISBN 0075527138.
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35654, p. 3410, July 31, 1942. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ Wise, S. F. et al.; Greenhous, Brereton; Douglas, W A B (1980). The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Canada Department of National Defence. pp. 524. ISBN 0802005748.
- ^ Wise, S.F. et al. (1980). 700, 707-708
- ^ a b London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36175, p. 4133, September 14, 1943. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ Campaign Diary: August 1943 http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/aug43.html Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary RAF
- ^ Pariseau, Jean (2008). "Fauquier, John Emilius". in James H. Marsh. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Foundation. ISBN 9780771020995. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002739. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ a b London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36448, p. 1497, March 28, 1944. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36866, pp. 60–100, December 29, 1944. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ Lake, Jon (2002). Lancaster Squadrons 1944-1945. Osprey Publishing. pp. 24. ISBN 978-1-84-176433-7.
- ^ "617 Squadron—The Operational Record Book 1943–1945" (PDF). www.dambusters.org. Binx Publishing, Acknowledgement is given to HMSO as holders of the copyright on the Operational Record Book. http://www.dambusters.org.uk/docs/recordbook.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ a b London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37105, p. 2792, May 29, 1945. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ Above and Beyond. Dunmore, Spencer. McClellan and Stewart. [2000] (2001) ISBN 978-0-77-102931-8 Quoted in: "Johnny Farquier: Likely Canada's Greatest Bomber Pilot". Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum. http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/s,fauquier.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ "John Emilius Fauquier". F Members. Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. 2006. http://www.cahf.ca/Members%20and%20Belt%20of%20Orion/members/F_members.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
[edit] References - Copp, J. (1996). No Price Too High. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 0075527138.
- Dunmore, Spencer [2000] (2001). Above and Beyond. McClellan and Stewart. ISBN 978-0-77-102931-8.
- Lake, Jon (2002). Lancaster Squadrons 1944-1945. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84-176433-7.
- Oswald, Mary (1999). They Led the Way: Members of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. ISBN 0-9684843-0-1
- Wise, S. F. et al. (1980). The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Canada Department of National Defence. ISBN 0802005748.
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