Joseph Fred Mooney

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MOONEY, F/O Joseph Fred (J41167) - Distinguished Service Order - No.625 Squadron - Award effective 15 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1291/45 dated 10 August 1945. Born in Windsor, Ontario, 15 June 1921; home in Essex, Ontario (farmer); enlisted in Windsor, 8 October 1942 but granted Leave Without Pay until 25 October 1942 when taken on strength of No.1 Manning Depot. Posted to No.1 ITS, 15 January 1943; to No.9 Repair Depot, 26 February 1943. Trained at No.6 ITS (graduated 26 June 1943), No.7 EFTS (graduated 4 September 1943), and No.2 SFTS (graduated and commissioned 28 January 1944). Posted overseas 30 March 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 28 July 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 11 April 1945. Repatriated 15 June 1945; to No.8 OTU, 19 June 1945; to Greenwood, 31 July 1945; to Eastern Air Command Headquarters, 3 October 1945; released 22 February 1946. Re-engaged in Supplementary Reserve, 1 September 1950 to 1 June 1957 (pilot). Cited with F/O Harold H. Harding (RCAF, awarded DFC). Medal presented 14 June 1949. Died in Belle River, Essex County, Ontario, 1 March 1994. // Flying Officers Mooney and Harding were pilot and navigator respectively in an aircraft detailed to attack Plauen one night in April 1945. Early on the outward flight the front windscreen became badly smeared with oil owing to an external leak. Although this obscured his vision, Flying Officer Mooney flew on. A little later the starboard inner engine became defective. The propeller had to be feathered. Shortly afterwards the port outer engine had to be put out of action. Despite this, Flying Officer Mooney was determined, if possible, to reach his objective. Coming down to a much lower level and increasing his speed he flew on. Although deprived of the full use of the navigational aids, Flying Officer Harding navigated the aircraft to the target with great skill. While over the area much anti-aircraft fire was directed at the bomber. Several hits were sustained. Nevertheless, Flying Officer Mooney pressed home a most determined attack. The aircraft was losing height as he turned for home. When nearing Liege the starboard outer engine caught fire and had to be put out of action. Height could no longer be maintained. Flying Officer Mooney gave the order to abandon aircraft and ensured that all members of his crew had got clear before he himself jumped at 500 feet. After reaching the ground, Flying Officer Mooney collected his comrades together and within a very short time they returned safely to their unit. On this notable sortie, this officer displayed the highest standard of skill and courage, coupled with superb captaincy. Flying Officer Harding also proved himself to be a most valuable crew member showing skill, coolness and devotion to duty in the face of great difficulties. // NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9086 has recommendation dated 20 April 1945 when he had flown 22 sorties (144 operational hours): // Flying Officer Mooney is the Canadian captain and pilot of a Lancaster aircraft detailed to attack Plauen on the night of 10/11 April 1945. Flying Officer Mooney had with him two members of his own crew and five members of a new, inexperienced crew whom he was taking on their first operational trip. // Soon after take of, and whilst still over this country, an external oil leak developed which covered the front windscreen with oil and which all efforts failed to clear. Flying Officer Mooney decided to fly on blind. Just over an hour before reaching the target that starboard inner engine began to give trouble and it had to be feathered half an hour later. Flying Officer Mooney, however, decided to press on on three engines and achieved his operational height for bombing. Almost simultaneously the port outer engine began to give serious trouble and had to be feathered 45 miles from the target. This caused the aircraft to lose height and also put both turrets and the automatic bombsight unserviceable. Undeterred by these setbacks he again decided to press home his attack. // He now realized that the only way of arriving on the target with the Main Bomber Force was deliberately to lose height and increase speed. This he did and eventually bombed from 10,000 feet on the Master Bomber’s instructions. During the bombing run, as was inevitable at this height, the aircraft was subjected to intense light flak fire and sustained numerous hits. // After leaving the target area and with only two engines, the captain decided to shorten his homeward route as much as possible and cross the Channel at the nearest point. The aircraft was still losing height and by the time he had reached 6,000 feet, the captain, though still determined to reach England, realised there was a distinct chance that this might not be possible. // When about 40 miles south of Liege the starboard outer engine caught fire and had to be feathered immediately. The aircraft now began to lose height rapidly and the captain managing to keep it on a straight course, gave the order to his crew to abandon the aircraft at 4,000 feet after having been warned by the navigator that there was high ground below. Flying Officer Mooney saw all members of the crew out by the front hatch before finally abandoning the aircraft himself when he was only 500 feet above ground level. He then managed to collect the rest of his crew members together and was returned to his unit after two or three days. // Throughout this trip Flying Officer Mooney showed an indomitable spirit and matchless courage to press home his attack when the odds were heavily against him. He overcame difficulties which might well have daunted more experienced captains. His determination to save his aircraft at all costs deserves the highest praise and his quiet, calm leadership and total disregard for his own safety was a deciding actor in the saving of the lives of a crew which included five members with no operational experience. // This officer has proved himself a splendid leader and an outstanding captain and I most strongly recommend him for an immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order. // On 21 April 1945, the Officer Commanding, Station Scampton, added his remarks: // The indomitable courage and unconquerable determination to attack the target despite almost insuperable odds, shown by this young Canada captain of aircraft, is true to the fighting tradition of his country and the RCAF and will for a long time be remembered as a magnificent example of morale and gallantry of the highest order and be an inspiration to all new crews. I most strongly recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order. // On 23 April 1945, the Air Commodore who commanded No.15 Base wrote: // This Canadian officer showed a magnificent determination in deciding to press home his attack despite the act that only two of his four engines remained serviceable, and that he was therefore only able to bomb at a height so far below that of the Main Force as to invite, and receive, the most intense enemy fire rom light flak. Subsequently it was due to his superb handling of his aircraft, and to his coolness and leadership when it became necessary to order his crew to abandon it, that he was able to save the lives of his crew and to get them back to this country. // I consider that this fine example of determination, cool courage and good captaincy well merits recognition by the award of the Distinguished Service Order. // This was further endorsed by the Air Officer Commanding, No.1 Group, on 25 April 1945. 

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