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Throwback: Remembering Flying Officer Fenton

The award was made as a result of the good work done by Fenton on a tour of operations he recently completed.
delta-ww2-pilots
Flying Officer Fenton (right) pictured with Flying Officer Neil Dennis on the day of their graduation from No. 3 S.F.T.S., Calgary.

Among the men and women from Delta who were recognized for military service for their country during the Second World War was the son of the city’s chief of police.

A front page story in a December 1944 edition of the Optimist covered the story of Flying Officer William I. Fenton, RCAF, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He was the son of Chief Constable Scott Fenton of Ladner.

The announcement was made by Royal Canadian Air Forces Headquarters in Ottawa.

The award was made as a result of the good work done by Fenton on a tour of operations he recently completed. His was the only crew out of a class of more than 20, which graduated together from an operational training unit to complete the tour of operations.

All the other crews had been reported missing or killed in action.

His wife, the former Grace Simpson, and infant son lived in Ladner.

Fenton enlisted in the air force in January 1942 and he went overseas in May 1943.

He completed his first tour in August of that year.

He would go on to instruct at an operational training unit in England.