Bio / Text:
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D.J. Howe started ops on Spit II with 457 (not 257) Sqn. He joined 112 Sqn in Oct 1942, after having recovered from injuries sustained flying Hurricanes in Malta. Despite contracting malaria (often confused with sandfly fever), he participated in 112 Sqn Ops until early 1943, when he was medically assessed as unfit for ops. Shortly thereafter he became a maintenance test pilot at 107 MU in Egypt until late 1944. After returning to Canada he was posted as a test pilot to RCAF Station Rockcliffe, but pulled strings to be sent back to Britain where he flew Spit IX's as a Flying Officer until VE day.
Operationally, he flew Spit II, Hurricane IIB, Kittyhawk III, Spit IX.
As a test pilot, he flew many types, including P-47, Typhoon, Ventura, Marauder, Boston, etc..