KLM o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-03-31 published
Royal Canadian Air Force pilot won Distinguished Flying Cross
for bombing mission
By Tom HAWTHORN
Monday,
March 31, 2003 - Page R7
Surrey,
British
Columbia -- John
ROSE, who won the Distinguished
Flying Cross for completing a bombing mission over Germany in
a damaged aircraft, died March 9 at his home here. He was 79.
Mr. ROSE was a flight lieutenant when assigned to join an attack
on Munich in January, 1945. His bomber suffered serious damage
from enemy fire and became difficult to fly, although Mr.
ROSE
decided not to abort the mission. On his return, the port outer
engine failed, causing the bomber to lose altitude rapidly. Mr.
ROSE regained control at 1,000 feet and nursed his plane home.
Earlier in the war, he had survived a midair collision with another
bomber.
Richard John
ROSE, who was born in Toronto on June 9, 1923, had
been working as a clerk when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian
Air
Force in 1941. After the war, Mr.
ROSE spent 32 years as
a pilot and instructor with
KLM
Royal
Dutch
Airlines.
Late in
his career he flew for Suriname Airlines.
He died of liver failure on March 9. He leaves his wife Erica
and six children.
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