Air Force 2: McNab, the Elite of the First Squadron
Ernest Archibald McNab was born in Saskatchewan in March 1906. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1926 and went to Britain with the 1st Squadron in June 1940 to help resist the German invasion. McNab shot down his first enemy plane on August 15, 1940, which was also the first victory of the 1st Squadron sent by Canada. Ernest Archibald McNab's performance greatly boosted the morale of No. 1 Squadron and made great contributions to the Royal Canadian Air Force's achievements in the field of air combat in World War II. He was promoted to the commander of the 1st Squadron in October of the same year and continued to lead No. 1 Squadron in battle. He was promoted continuously between 1939 and 1942, and finally served as Group Captain. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Officer of the Order of the British Empire and the Czechoslovak War Cross and returned safely to Canada on May 17, 1945. The attached picture is a photo of Ernest Archibald McNab.
Bibliography:
Richard Mayne, CD “A Very Swift Death to the Enemy”: The RCAF’s Number 1 Fighter Squadron and the Battle of Britain (RCAF Journal - SPRING 2015 - Volume 4, Issue2
Flying for your life: Ernest Archibald "PeeWee" McNab https://flyingforyourlife.com/pilots/ww2/mc/mcnab/