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His First Confirmed Kill

Heroes Remember

His First Confirmed Kill

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Transcript
One of the times I was in behind Paris and we saw, we were flying at about 8000 feet, we saw some activity on an airfield and we went down to have a look and it was, they were 109s getting off the field. We assumed that they were massing to climb and attack the B17s so we gave chase and attacked them. There were four of us and they, there were about twenty-one or twenty-two ME109s. And we got in, into a dogfight with them. I was fortunate enough to, to get in behind one of them and I started to fire my machine guns and cannon at him and then I was in some doubt as to whether or not it was the 109. I didn't want to hit another Spitfire, so I withheld my fire until I got in a little closer and I was able to identify him definitely as a 109 and immediately got strikes on him and he rolled over and hit the deck. I think of the four of us we got three 109s that day and several damaged. That was my first experience and, at shooting down an enemy. It surprisingly didn't really bother me as I thought it would. I felt that I hadn't killed or wounded another human being, but rather I'd shot down an air plane and I guess in that regard justified the action.
Description

Mr. Lindsey describes the events surrounding his first experience of shooting down a German aircraft... and his reaction to the "kill".

James Douglas Lindsey

Mr. Lindsey was born in Arnprior, Ontario, and spent his early years on a reservation in Quebec, returning to Arnprior for his schooling. He was active in school sports. He had one younger sister who died of cancer when she was about 38 years old. His father was in the lumber and logging business as was his grandfather. Mr. Lindsey's father was a Regimental Sergeant Major during the First World War and was active in the 42nd Renfrew Regiment Reserves after his First World War service. Mr. Lindsey tried to enlist when the Second World War was declared but was turned down because of his age. He was finally accepted by the RCAF at the age of 17 years with the condition that he complete his schooling first. Eventually, he received training in Toronto and Trenton, Ontario, and Victoriaville, Quebec. It was then on to Chatham, New Brunswick, for pilot training at the Elementary Flying School and additional training at CFB Summerside, PEI. He was then posted back to Trenton to train as a pilot instructor.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
02:57
Person Interviewed:
James Douglas Lindsey
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
France
Branch:
Air Force
Units/Ship:
127 Wing - 403 Squadron
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Occupation:
Pilot

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

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