Gordon Wilson

Mr. Wilson rues the fact that many of Canada’s brightest young men were lost lost while serving with Allied Air Command, and speculates about what their contributions to Canada could have been.

Mr. Wilson discusses how the continuous stress of combat flying impacted even the most decorated pilots.

Mr. Wilson discusses advancing one’s position in a flight’s hierarchy, and the discipline required to maintain a flight’s safety while on patrol.

Mr. Wilson describes flying his Spitfire 9 out of the farmer’s field in Sicily after removing all unnecessary weight. He tells us that the experience of flying an unencumbered Spitfire 9 was a pilot’s dream.

Mr. Wilson describes being forced to land in a field after running low on fuel, and how his Command was relieved by the positive treatment he'd received at the hands of local Sicilians.

Mr. Wilson describes being attacked by American fighters, evading their fire without engaging, and being advised by his commander to fire back if it happened again.

Mr. Wilson describes being mystified by pilots, in sound aircraft, who plummeted from formations and crashed. He finds out that the cause is 'oxygen starvation', and on one sortie experiences its nearly deadly consequences himself.

Mr. Wilson dispels some myths about what a dogfight was, considering how fast World War Two fighter aircraft had become. He adds a personal footnote about privilege.

Mr. Wilson describes attacking and destroying five German cargo aircraft on the air strip at Cape Bon, Tunisia.

Mr. Wilson itemizes the Royal Air Force's role at El Alamein, namely neutralizing German Stuka dive bombers, supporting the infantry, and strafing German troops and road traffic.