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1,542 Allies lost their lives in the Battle of Britain including 23 Canadian pilots

Three Canadians received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts during the Battle of Britain: the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Ernie McNab; his second-in-command, Flight Lieutenant Gordon Roy McGregor; and Flying Officer Blair Dalzell “Dal” Russel
BayToday Staff
2023-battle-of-britain
Trumpeter, the 22 Wing Volunteer Band plays The Last Post during the 79th Annual Battle of Britain Ceremony Each year, members of 22 Wing Canadian Forces Base in North Bay, hold a ceremony remembering the battle that took to the air during World War II in which Canadian pilots along with their allies defended against the German enemy, known as the Battle of Britain. The ceremony took place at the Branch23 Royal Canadian Legion, North Bay on, September 15, 2019. 22 Wing North Bay, North Bay

This coming Sunday, September 15 at 1 p.m. North Bay will commemorate the 84th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. 

The ceremony will include a 30-person flight from 22 Wing/CFB North Bay, Veterans and Air Cadets. There will also be a wreath-laying ceremony.

The ceremony will take place at the Memorial Park Cenotaph on the corner of First Avenue West and Ferguson Street to mark the historic occasion. In the event of bad weather, another announcement will be sent out to provide additional information. 

"During the Battle of Britain, Canadian aircrews composed of more than 100 young men, and ground crews in even greater numbers, teamed up with almost 3,000 allies from over a dozen countries to fight a war that definitively drew the line in the air to halt the deadly Nazi advances westward," says a news release from 22 Wing.

A total of 1,542 Allies lost their lives in the Battle of Britain including 23 Canadian pilots. 

Significant this year, in addition to commemorating the Royal Canadian Air Forces (RCAF) Centennial, it was in 1947 that the RCAF formalized the Battle of Britain ceremony to be held on September 15th or on the third Sunday of the month.  September 15th was chosen as it represented the culminating engagement during this historic battle in the skies of which the RCAF played a significant role.

Three Canadians received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts during the Battle of Britain: the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Ernie McNab; his second-in-command, Flight Lieutenant Gordon Roy McGregor; and Flying Officer Blair Dalzell “Dal” Russel.

As well, a small number of Americans flew in the Battle of Britain as members of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force, in combat against the Luftwaffe over England in the summer of 1940. 

The airmen who Churchill dubbed “the few” included about 2,353 pilots and aircrew from Great Britain and 574 from other nations.