Flight Lieutenant Leslie Neil McCaig
Killed in Action in WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Flight Lieutenant Leslie Neil McCaig, DFC, was born in Ormstown Station, Québec, on July 4, 1915, to parents Neil and Ethel (née Sangster) McCaig. After receiving his B.A. and Teacher’s Certification at Bishops University, he worked as a school teacher at Stanstead Wesleyan College, Stanstead, and Westmont High School, Montreal, prior to beginning his military service.
He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Montreal on August 16, 1941, earning his Pilot Flying Badge in October of 1942. Once overseas he served with the R.C.A.F. No. 426 (Thunderbird) Squadron. McCaig was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on October 29, 1943, for his actions that September during a night bombing raid over Mannheim, Germany, described in part in The London Gazette as: “Displaying exceptional skill, Flight Lieutenant McCaig flew the badly damaged bomber to this country and effected a successful crashlanding at an airfield. This officer displayed courage, coolness and determination worthy of high praise.”
McCaig was later killed piloting a night mission over Berlin, Germany, on January 20, 1944, in which the entire crew of Lancaster #LL 628 was lost. He was buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany, and was honoured after the war in the naming of McCaig Bay, Northwest Territories (present day Nunavut).
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
J/14907
Cause of Death (in war):
Killed in Action
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Canadian Forces
Battalion:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Company:
426 Sqdn.
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Ormstown, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
27 years 3 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
28 years 6 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
28 years 6 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
School Teacher
Next of Kin:
Son of Neil McCaig and of Ethel McCaig (nee Sangster), Ormstown, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
5 ft 6.0 in / 168 cm
Weight:
124 lbs / 56 kg
Chest:
30.0 in / 76 cm
Expansion:
4.0 in / 10 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
Not Specified
Saw Service in:
Unknown
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
452 days in service
Buried at:
Plot:
5. E. 23.
Links
Images
Flight Lieutenant Leslie Neil McCaig
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Flight Lieutenant |
Canadian Forces |
Air Force |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
426 Sqdn. |
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
Distinguished Flying Cross |
|
|
|
London Gazette |
| This officer captained an aircraft detailed to attack Mannheim one night in September, 1943. Whilst over the target area, the bomber was attacked by a fighter. It was driven off, however, but a few minutes later another enemy aircraft flew in to the attack. The bomber was repeatedly hit by machine-gun fire and sustained much damage. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant McCaig skilfully out-manoeuvred the attacker, and thus enabled his gunners to engage the enemy aircraft which was shot down by their accurate bursts of fire. Displaying exceptional skill. Flight Lieutenant McCaig flew the badly damaged bomber to this country and effected a successful crash-landing at an airfield. This officer displayed courage, coolness and determination worthy of high praise |
Notes
Distinguished Flying Cross
McCaig Bay in the NorthWest Territories was named after Flight Lieutenant McCaig. A well known figure in teaching circles, F/Lt. McCaig was a graduate of Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec.
Education: Ormstown Academy 1922-1932
Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec 1932-1936
Teacher
Stanstead Wesleyan College 1936-1937
Westmount Intermediate School, Montreal, Quebec 1937-1941
Canadian Pilot Flight Lt Leslie McCaig was born 4 July 1915 in Ormstown, Quebec; the son of Neil and Ethel. He was a keen and successful rugby player during his education years, and was a graduate of Bishops University, Lennoxville, receiving his BA in 1935. On completing his teacher training he taught at Stanstead College and Westmount High School before enlisting with RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) 16 August 1941 and received his Wings and commission 9 October 1943. For his ‘exceptional courage’ he was awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) 1943 when he brought home a badly crippled Lancaster after a raid on Mannheim. He and the crew of Lancaster LL628 were lost 21 January 1944. In honour, and for his service an inlet of Foxe Bay is named after him in Canada.
On the night of 20 January 1944, the German capital, Berlin was the target for 769 aircraft. The Germans were able to get their night fighters into the bomber stream throughout the raid. Despite the heavy cloud cover, it was shown that the east of the city was hit. It was believed that the aircraft was lost to a night fighter and was a ‘Failed to Return.’
Additional Service Notes
3 years Williamstown Cadet Corps
At 16:30 hours on the 20th January 1944 the Lancaster Mark II piloted by Flight Lieutenant L. Ncrew. McCaig took off from Linton-On-Ouse, Yorkshire to carry out the bombing of Berlin, Germany. Unfortunatly nothing further was heard from the plane or crew
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Father Neil McCaig born Allan's Coners, Quebec
Moyher Ethel Marion Sangster born Ormstown, Quebec
Address Ormswn, Quebec
Brother John Percy McCaig, CASF. Ormstown, Queebec
Research Notes
correspondance and photos in Canadian War Museum files
Canadian War Museum (hereafter CWM), 20060191-003, Leslie McCaig diaries,
25 August 1943
