Clay, Francis James

Date of birth:: October 31st, 1922 (Coronation/Alberta, Canada)
Date of death:: May 23rd, 1993
Service number:: Can/R.187051
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Home in Red Deer and was educated there and worked on a farm.

Promotions/career:
- Lance Corporal in Army Cadets; enlisted in Edmonton, 27 August 1942.
- Graduated and promoted LAC, 9 July 1943;
- Graduated and promoted Sergeant, 15 October 1943.
- To No.431 Squadron, 12 May 1944.
- Promoted Flight Sergeant, 15 July 1944. Wounded 28 July 1944.
- Promoted WO2, 15 January 1945. To No.425 Squadron, 21 January 1945.
- Commissioned 3 March 1945.
- Attached to No.91 Group, 30 April to 21 May 1945.
- To No.429 Squadron, 16 June 1945.
- Promoted Flying Officer, 3 September 1945.

Released 30 April 1946

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Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Sergeant
Unit:: No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:: October 13th, 1944

"Flying Officer Holden was detailed one night in July, 1944, to attack Hamburg and Sergeant Clay was his rear gunner. Whilst over the target the aircraft was swept by cannon and machine gun fire from an enemy fighter. Sergeant Clay was severely wounded and the aircraft became uncontrollable. It dived steeply and Flying Officer Holden ordered the crew to escape by parachute. The navigator, bomb aimer and mid-upper gunner jumped. After losing 10,000 feet the pilot regained control and rescinded his order to abandon aircraft. Sergeant Clay crawled to the nose of the aircraft where he remained during the return flight helping Flying Officer Holden to navigate his aircraft through a most heavily defended area of Germany. Only when the aircraft was being landed in England did Sergeant Clay indicate that he was injured by requesting Flying Officer Holden to have an ambulance to meet the bomber on the airfield. Flying Officer Holden'and Sergeant Clay displayed unswerving devotion to duty and set an example of the highest standard."

Award presented by King George 13 July 1945.

Air Gunner Badge

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36745/supplement/4691/data.pdf
- https://www.rcafassociation.ca/