G'day fans of R.C.A.F. history
Weekly Column by Chris Charland
This story has beer, flying, fighting, beer, hockey, more beer and a pinch of politics in it. Life does not get any better than that. Did I mention beer?
C1226 Flying Officer Hartland de Montarville Molson (yes of the the Molson Brewery family) from Montreal, Quebec, stands beside his damaged Hawker Hurricane Mk. I s/n P3757 coded YO*G. He was slightly injured when landing his aircraft at R.A.F. Station Hornchurch, Essex after flying a sortie from there on the 18th of August, 1940. At that time, the squadron commanded by Squadron Ernie 'PeeWee' McNab from Rosthern, Saskatchewan. was based at R.A.F. Station Croydon, Surrey as part of R.A.F. Fighter Command's No. 11 Group.
Molson flew 62 combat sorties while with the No. 1 (RCAF) Fighter Squadron. He damaged one Dornier 215 (26th of August, 1940), damaged two Bf 110's (4th of September, 1940) and destroyed one Heinkel He 111 (26th of September, 1940). On the 5th of October, 1940, Molson was flying Hurricane s/n P3873 and coded YO*R on a patrol. He encountered Luftwaffe fighter opposition and in the ensuing melee was shot down. Although getting shot three times in the leg, he safely baled out over Canterbury. He was admitted to a hospital in Chatham, Kent Molson was repatriated to Canada in early 1941 to recuperate from his wounds.
Now a squadron leader, Molson assumed command of No. 118 (F) Squadron on the 23rd of July, 1941 from his former commanding officer overseas,Wing Commander Ernie McNab. Based at R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the squadron assigned east coast air defence duties, initially flew the portly Grumman Goblin bi-plane until it was replaced by the Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. I beginning in November, 1941.
Molson relinquished command of No. 118 (F) Squadron to C1328 Squadron Leader Arthur M. Yuile from Montreal, Quebec on the 14th of June. Molson and Yule had been squadron mates with No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron in England
On the 9th of June 1942 Molson assumed command of No. 126 'Flying Lancers' (F) Squadron from Squadron Leader Arthur M. Yule. The squadron also tasked with defending Canada's east coast from R.C.A.F. Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, was equipped with the Canadian-built Hawker Hurricane Mk. XIIA. Molson's command of the Flying Lancers lasted until the 6th of September 1942.
Molson would be flying a desk with his new posting at Eastern Air Command H.Q. in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He would go on to command R,C,A.F, Station Dartmouth, No. 8 Service Flying Training School in Moncton, New Brunswick and after its move to Weyburn, Saskatchewan, as well as R.C.A.F. Station St, Hubert, Quebec. His final posting effective the 16th of July 1944 was to the Directorate of Personnel at Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.
Molson, who retired in September 1945 with the rank of Group Captain, received the Order of the British Empire Medal effective the 1st of January 1946. The citation that accompanied the ward reads as follows:
"This officer was appointed during the first months of the war and upon completion of advanced training proceeded overseas with No.1 Fighter Squadron, with which he served during the Battle of Britain. He was wounded and repatriated to Canada. Since his return, he has served as staff officer in charge of Fighter Defenses in Eastern Air Command and was subsequently appointed to the command of several stations. In all of these appointments he has displayed outstanding initiative, thoroughness, enthusiasm and devotion to duty. As the result of his excellent record he was appointed to the position of Director of Personnel. For a year he has carried the heavy responsibilities of this position, and continued to display the same outstanding qualities of leadership and loyalty."
Molson would later be called to Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent in 1955. His long association with the Montreal Canadiens (my late granny Edith hated them with a passion) as President and Chairman of the team earned him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.
Sadly, Molson passed away on the 22nd of September 2002.
BIO
Chris Charland is a former member of the Canadian military. On June of 1991, he began writing as a military affairs journalist with CFB North Bay's newspaper "The Shield". Since then, Chris has done a wide variety of writing and became a published author in 1997. He has written and contributed to over 20 books related to air force history and civilian aviation. Chris is an Associate RCAF Historian. He is also a licensed pilot and amateur radio operator. Some of his time is also taken up with North Bay Air Search and Rescue.
