Bâtiment et plaque commémoratifs du commandant d’escadre Leslie Sydney Ford

[exterior building sign/panneau à l’extérieur de l’immeuble]
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The
Wing Commander Ford
Building
L’Edifice
Du Commandant D’Escadre Ford

[plaque]
Wing Commander Leslie Sydney Ford
DFC & BAR

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1919. Leslie Ford
answered the call to his country and enlisted in the RCAF
in June of 1940. Following completion of training was
commissioned and sent overseas where he became a
Fighter pilot flying Spitfires. His first unit was
No. 403 Squadron RCAF, where he quickly proved to be
an excellent leader and pilot. For the next two years
Flight Lieutenant Ford flew with five different squadrons,
earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and being credited
with destroying two enemy aircraft.

On 9 July 1942 he was again posted to 403
Squadron where one month later he was promoted to
Squadron leader and appointed Commanding Officer of
the Wolf Pack. In September he added a bar to his DFC
for operations over Dieppe. He was promoted to
Wing Commander and posted out of 403 Squadron
in April of 1943, but not before destroying another
four aircraft and damaging two more.

On 4 June 1943 while leading ten Spitfires,
Wing Commander Ford was lost attacking
three German U boats off the coast of Holland.

Wing Commander Ford was the quintessential Officer,
an example of superb leadership and flying ability.

It is in his memory that this building is dedicated.