Édifice Squadron Leader HW McLeod

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L'Edifice
Squadron Leader HW McLeod
Hall

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Squadron Leader
Heanry Wallace "Wally" McLeod
DSO, DFC
Squadron Leader McLeod was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on December 17, 1915.
A graduate of the Regina Normal School, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on September 2, 1940
and received his Pilot Wings in April 1941 at Borden, Ontario
prior to his posting overseas and subsequent assignment to No. 132 (Fighter) Squadron.
Seeing action in the skies over England, Malta, and again from England and Northwest Europe,
he accumulated a record of 21 confirmed aerial victories with 16 probables, making him the RCAF's
highest scoring fighter 'ACE' of the Second World War.
For his many exploits Squadron Leader McLeod was twice awared the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC),
along with the Distinguished Service Order (DS)).
On December 23, 1943 Squadron Leader McLeod was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 127 (Fighter) Squadron,
which was subsequently renamed No. 443 Squadron, thus becoming its first Commanding Officer.
On September 27, 1944 he was killed while leading his squadron on offensive operations from a forward airfield in Holland.
At a dedication ceremony held on September 15, 2002 Thelma Ann McLeod, his sister, and Colonel B.A. McQuade, Commanding
Officer of 15 Wing Moose Jay unveiled the cairn officially dedicating this building to the memory of Squadron Leader McLeod.