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Courtesy of rcafassociation.ca ...
BOYD, S/L Maurice David (J7906) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.412 Squadron - Award effective 7 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 20 July 1945 and AFRO 1453/45 dated 14 September 1945. Born 3 February 1919 in Toronto. Home in Clarkson, Ontario; enlisted in Toronto 7 January 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 28 May 1941), No.9 EFTS (graduated 27 July 1941) and No.6 SFTS (graduated 7 October 1941).
Commissioned 7 October 1941; F/O 1 January 1943; F/L 8 July 1943; S/L 29 January 1945. Arrived in UK, 22 October 1941; at No.52 OTU, 18 November 1941 to 10 February 1942; No.412 Squadron, 10 February to 14 December 1942; No.401 Squadron, 14-26 December 1942; No.412 Squadron, 26 December 19442 to 28 October 1943 (Flight Commander from 8 July to 28 October 1943); to No.2 Tactical Evaluation Unit (29 October 1943 to 12 June 1944); in Canada, 6 July to 5 September 1944. No.412 Squadron, 30 September 1944 to 30 May 1945.
Repatriated 31 July 1945; released 17 September 1945. Award presented 18 October 1947. Incidents in his career include two crashes - 18 May 1942 (landed wheels up) and 11 June 1942 (landed at night on grass, hit a parked Spitfire).
Victories as follows: 3 October 1943, one FW.190 damaged southeast of Ault; 24 December 1944, one FW.190 destroyed southeast of Venlo; 17 March 1945, one FW.190D destroyed (shared with another pilot) southwest of Coesfeld; 25 March 1945, one Bf.109 destroyed south of Winterswijie; 30 April 1945, two Bf.109s destoyed, Hagenow/Wismar plus one Bf.109 damaged. Triple Victory. Ace.
Throughout his tour of operations this officer has consistently displayed the highest qualities of leadership both in the air and on the ground. Since he assumed command the squadron has destroyed twenty-three enemy aircraft and damaged four. He himself destroyed four of these, shared in the destruction of a fifth and damaged two others.
Squadron Leader Boyd has at all times shown great tactical ability and he has been largely responsible for the efficiency and excellent fighting spirit of his squadron.
