"Her Majesty The Queen, in 1953, was graciously please to institute a Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces and to grant to Canada one medal for annual competition by members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Consequently from 1953 to 1967, the members of Royal Canadian Air Force (Regular), The Royal Canadian Air Force (Auxiliary) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (Primary Reserves) competed annually for this medal.
"The Queen's Medal for the Champion Shot of the Royal Canadian Air Force was no longer issued after unification in 1968 and was replaced by the Queen's Medal for the Champion Shot of the Canadian Forces ( Two medals - one for (the) regular force and one for (the) reserve force).
"The RCAF medal was competed for under small arms championship conditions during the Annual Prize Meeting of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association and awarded to the winner of a competition conducted at that meeting under conditions prescribed by the Chief of the Air Staff." Commander John Blatherwick CM CD MD, MCCC, FRCP(C) Journal Spring 1998, Page 24.
|
Year |
Rank |
Given Names |
Surname |
Unit/Formation |
Score |
RCAF Routine Order |
|
1954 |
Flight Sergeant |
J. V. P. |
Martin CD |
RCAF |
- |
502 |
|
1955 |
Flight Lieutenant |
Thomas William |
RCAF |
- |
415 |
|
|
1956 |
Corporal |
S. |
Goddard |
RCAF |
- |
14 Sep 56 |
|
1957 |
Leading Aircraftman |
David Anthony |
Green |
RCAF |
- |
57 |
|
1958 |
Leading Aircraftman |
George Ezra |
Sannachan |
RCAF |
- |
108 |
|
1959 |
Flight Sergeant |
Robert Herbert |
Cunnington (CD) |
RCAF |
- |
161 |
|
1960 |
Flight Sergeant |
James William |
RCAF |
- |
213 |
|
|
1961 |
Corporal |
A. F. |
O'Brien |
RCAF |
- |
265 |
|
1962 |
Corporal |
A. F. |
O'Brien (2) |
RCAF |
- |
318 |
|
1963 |
Flying Officer |
O. J. |
Ruckpaul |
RCAF |
- |
36/63 |
|
1964 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Charles Ronald Edgaley |
Wesley |
RCAF |
- |
36/64 |
|
1965 |
Corporal |
Harrison Ross |
Peters CD |
RCAF |
- |
41/65 |
|
1966 |
Flight Lieutenant |
O. J. |
Ruckpaul (2)(CD) |
RCAF |
- |
|
|
1967 |
Flight Lieutenant |
M. D. |
Phoenix (CD) |
RCAF |
- |
In 1967, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Airforce were unified into the Canadian Forces.
As a result, regular Canadian Air Force members competed with the Army and Navy for the Regular Force Medal. The reserve members competed against the Army, Navy and Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the Reserve medal.
*the 1955 RCAF Winner, F/L T.W. Gregory was a 1935 Army King's Medal winner and 1938 competition winner (although ineligible for the Army award as he was a member of the RCAF).
Brackets indicate CD not awarded at the time the Queen's medal was won. Italics indicate award not confirmed by me.
Information courtesy of Surgeon Commander John Blatherwick, CM, CD, MD, FRCP(C)