Lane was C/O of no.405 squadron during WW2. 405 was Canadas first bomber squadron formed overseas and after a short stay with RCAF 6 Group the squadron was moved over to the elite no. 8 Group that were assigned Pathfinder duties. Lane was one of those who led the way as a Master bomber and his Lancaster was the first Canadian-built one to see action overseas called "The Ruhr Valley Express".
Below is a record of Lanes Service:
LANE, F/L Reginald John (J5795) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.35 Squadron - Award effective 16 June 1942 as per London Gazette dated 22 September 1942 and AFRO 1653/42 dated 16 October 1942. Born in Victoria, January 1920. Educated there. Enlisted in Vancouver, 26 October 1940. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 4 February 1941), No.8 EFTS (graduated 24 March 1941), and No.10 SFTS (graduated 21 June 1941). Commissioned 1941. Flew three tours overseas (two in No.8 Group, one as Commanding Officer of No.405 Squadron); pilot of first Canadian-built Lancaster flown overseas. Completed RCAF Staff College, 1947 and then to AFHQ; CO of Station Edmonton, July 1950 to July 1952; AFHQ (Assistant for Logistics Plans), July 1952 to December 1955. Attended Imperial Defence College; made Chief of Plans and Intelligence (195
; AOC Air Transport Command (June 1961); Chief of Staff, No.1 Air Division (January 1966); Deputy Commander, Mobile Command (August 1969); attained rank of Lieutenant-General, 1 August 1972 when he became Deputy Commander of NORAD. Retired, December 1974. Appointed Honourary Colonel, No.442 Squadron, June 1992. Awarded Queen's Coronation Medal, 13 October 1953 while at AFHQ. See Tom Coughlin, The Dangerous Skies.
Throughout his tour of operations this officer has displayed unshakable determination to reach his target. His skill together with his coolness under fire, whatever the weather, has inspired his crew with extreme confidence. Some of the targets he has attacked included Berlin, Brest, Cologne, and Bremen. His splendid captaincy and outstanding courage have set a splendid example.
NOTE: The above may be compared to the original recommendation (Public Records Office Air 2/959 drafted 10 July 1942 when he had flown 23 sorties (137 operational hours). Although the text describes attacks on Tirpitz being on "consecutive nights", they were (as the sortie list says) four weeks apart.
* 2nd pilot
# daylight operation
1 Nov 41 Berlin (8.20)* 8 May 42 Warnemunde (7.10)
9 Nov 41 Hamburg (5.53)* 19 May 42 Mannheim (7.45)
11 Dec 41 Cologne (6.05)* 30 May 42 Cologne (5.41)
18 Dec 41 Brest (4.40)# 1 June 42 Essen (4.59)
30 Dec 41 Brest (6.00)# 2 June 42 Essen (4.4
3 Mar 42 Paris/Reno Works 16 June 42 Bonn (6.1
(6.14) 19 June 42 Osnabruck (4.59)
8 Mar 42 Essen (5.36) 20 June 42 Emden (4.16)
13 Mar 42 Cologne (6.21) 22 June 42 Emden (4.17)
30 Mar 42 Special Operation, 26 June 42 Bremen (5.3
Norway (8.30) 29 June 42 Bremen (5.26)
27 Apr 42 Tirpitz (8.56) 2 July 42 Bremen (5.15)
4 May 42 Stuttgart (3.25)
This officer has carried out a total of 23 operational sorties involving a total of 137 flying hours.
Targets attacked include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne (3), Mannheim, Bremen (3), two daylight raids on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest, and two low level attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz in Aason Fjord at Trondheim. These attacks were carried out from a height of 150 feet (on consecutive nights) in the face of intense opposition from the battleship and gun batteries on both sides of the fjord.
Flight Lieutenant Lane's tour of operations has proved to be one of steadfast determination to reach his target. The operational work of his crew has been outstanding for the accuracy and consistency with which it has been carried out. His skill as a pilot and his coolness under enemy fire and also in bad weather conditions has inspired his crew with extreme confidence and made him a captain who is of outstanding value to his squadron.
For this record of fine service, courageous devotion to duty, and his unquestionable fine qualities of captaincy, Flight Lieutenant Lance is strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Below is a record of Lanes Service:
LANE, F/L Reginald John (J5795) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.35 Squadron - Award effective 16 June 1942 as per London Gazette dated 22 September 1942 and AFRO 1653/42 dated 16 October 1942. Born in Victoria, January 1920. Educated there. Enlisted in Vancouver, 26 October 1940. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 4 February 1941), No.8 EFTS (graduated 24 March 1941), and No.10 SFTS (graduated 21 June 1941). Commissioned 1941. Flew three tours overseas (two in No.8 Group, one as Commanding Officer of No.405 Squadron); pilot of first Canadian-built Lancaster flown overseas. Completed RCAF Staff College, 1947 and then to AFHQ; CO of Station Edmonton, July 1950 to July 1952; AFHQ (Assistant for Logistics Plans), July 1952 to December 1955. Attended Imperial Defence College; made Chief of Plans and Intelligence (195
; AOC Air Transport Command (June 1961); Chief of Staff, No.1 Air Division (January 1966); Deputy Commander, Mobile Command (August 1969); attained rank of Lieutenant-General, 1 August 1972 when he became Deputy Commander of NORAD. Retired, December 1974. Appointed Honourary Colonel, No.442 Squadron, June 1992. Awarded Queen's Coronation Medal, 13 October 1953 while at AFHQ. See Tom Coughlin, The Dangerous Skies.Throughout his tour of operations this officer has displayed unshakable determination to reach his target. His skill together with his coolness under fire, whatever the weather, has inspired his crew with extreme confidence. Some of the targets he has attacked included Berlin, Brest, Cologne, and Bremen. His splendid captaincy and outstanding courage have set a splendid example.
NOTE: The above may be compared to the original recommendation (Public Records Office Air 2/959
drafted 10 July 1942 when he had flown 23 sorties (137 operational hours). Although the text describes attacks on Tirpitz being on "consecutive nights", they were (as the sortie list says) four weeks apart.* 2nd pilot
# daylight operation
1 Nov 41 Berlin (8.20)* 8 May 42 Warnemunde (7.10)
9 Nov 41 Hamburg (5.53)* 19 May 42 Mannheim (7.45)
11 Dec 41 Cologne (6.05)* 30 May 42 Cologne (5.41)
18 Dec 41 Brest (4.40)# 1 June 42 Essen (4.59)
30 Dec 41 Brest (6.00)# 2 June 42 Essen (4.4
3 Mar 42 Paris/Reno Works 16 June 42 Bonn (6.1
(6.14) 19 June 42 Osnabruck (4.59)
8 Mar 42 Essen (5.36) 20 June 42 Emden (4.16)
13 Mar 42 Cologne (6.21) 22 June 42 Emden (4.17)
30 Mar 42 Special Operation, 26 June 42 Bremen (5.3
Norway (8.30) 29 June 42 Bremen (5.26)
27 Apr 42 Tirpitz (8.56) 2 July 42 Bremen (5.15)
4 May 42 Stuttgart (3.25)
This officer has carried out a total of 23 operational sorties involving a total of 137 flying hours.
Targets attacked include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne (3), Mannheim, Bremen (3), two daylight raids on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest, and two low level attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz in Aason Fjord at Trondheim. These attacks were carried out from a height of 150 feet (on consecutive nights) in the face of intense opposition from the battleship and gun batteries on both sides of the fjord.
Flight Lieutenant Lane's tour of operations has proved to be one of steadfast determination to reach his target. The operational work of his crew has been outstanding for the accuracy and consistency with which it has been carried out. His skill as a pilot and his coolness under enemy fire and also in bad weather conditions has inspired his crew with extreme confidence and made him a captain who is of outstanding value to his squadron.
For this record of fine service, courageous devotion to duty, and his unquestionable fine qualities of captaincy, Flight Lieutenant Lance is strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
