2Lt John Bernard Russell DFC RAF – 103 Squadron - 1918
Above right - A youthful John Russell pictured in his mid teens pre WW1. Left is John Stubbs one of the 103 Squadron pilots with whom he flew
John Russell was born on the 5th June 1894.
He was the oldest son of James Anthony Russell, a prominent Civil Servant in Ottawa and Jessie Stark Russell. . He enlisted in the Canadian Army - from 6th Field Company, Canadian Engineers and served in Europe but was seconded to RFC on the 22 August 1917.
He was appointed Observer on the 12th December 1917 and transferred to 103 Squadron with whom he served from the 12th April to 27th September 1918 when he was wounded in the hand by by anti-aircraft fire. He was mainly observer to Captain J.A. Sparks, although he sometimes flew as observer to Roy E. Dodds and Captain John S. Stubbs
One evening Capt Stubbs with Lieutenant Russell as observer, in company with another machine, encountered ten enemy aeroplanes. Regardless of their superiority in numbers, Stubbs at once attacked and shot down one. By skilful flying Stubbs then enabled his observer to bring down another. The remainder of the enemy were driven down to their lines and Stubbs and Russell then completed their reconnaissance and returned home.
Leaving the other machine behind they again crossed the enemy lines and bombed a train and attacked some road transport at 1,000 feet altitude. This particular exploit was high creditable to both these officers as the DH9 in which they flew was unsuitable for low bombing attacks. In addition they were subjected to very heavy anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire.
Honours and Awards, June to August 1918 has a recommendation drafted about 1 August 1918 in respect of awards for 2Lt Russell and Capt John Stevenson Stubbs:
At 8.00 p.m. on the evening of the 31st July, 1918, Captain J.S. Stubbs with Second Lieutenant J.B. Russell as observer, when on Dusk Reconnaissance with another D.H.9 encountered ten enemy aircraft between Estairee and Armentieres. In spite of the disproportion of numbers Captain Stubbs attacked at once, and after succeeding in shooting down one of the hostile machines out of control, cleverly maneuvered his machine so as to enable his observer to bring down another in the in the Esrraires-Armenrieres area. The remainder of the enemy aircraft were driven down east of Lille of which town a reconnaissance was required. After completing the reconnaissance and seeing the second D.H. 9 safely over the lines he returned again over the enemy country and descended to a height of 1,800 feet, bombed and secured a direct hit upon a train standing in Laventie. After searching the country for further targets he discovered and attacked some motor transport near Aubers with bombs and machine gun fire from 1,500 feet. The D.H.9 is a heavy bombing type machine, the pilots of which are not as a rule expected to carry out low attacks of this nature, and this particular exploit reflects great credit on Captain Stubbs’ initiative and enterprise. It should be noted that during this period anti-aircraft and machine gun fire from the ground was particularly heavy in consequence of great low flying activity on the part of our scouts. I may add that Captain Stubbs since May 19th led 51 raids or reconnaissances across the lines to their destination and back. He is a remarkably fine leader and his care and skillful tactics have often been responsible for extricating his formation from difficult situations when attacked by a large number of scouts when over the lines.
Both Officers were awarded the DFC.
Russell is credited with 5 German aircraft forced down or destroyed
After the war he returned to Canada and married Grace Fulton in 1929 in Montreal where he lived for the rest of his life. They had one son called James Bernard. John Bernard Russell died on 21 August, 1943 and rests at the Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. The son died in Vancouver in 1960.
Compiled by David Fell with thanks to the Aerodrome – Aces and Aircraft of WW1 website.
Thanks also to Janet Lovekin for background info and photos
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