The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. E A McNab

Ernest Archibald McNab was born on 7th March 1906 in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada. He attended the University of Saskatchewan before joining the RCAF in 1926.

Before the war he had flown more than 2000 hours and apart from normal service duties had carried mails to Ottawa and made a photographic survey of the Hudson Bay area.

In September 1937 McNab was appointed a Flight Commander in 46 Squadron at Kenley. He was on an exchange attachment from the RCAF and was still in England when the war started.

McNab returned to Canada and took command of No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron at St. Hubert in November 1939. He was leading the squadron when it arrived in the UK on 20th June 1940.

To gain operational experience he flew occasional sorties with 111 Squadron, when both the squadrons were based at Croydon.

On 15th August he claimed a Do17 destroyed when flying with 111 Squadron. On the 26th McNab claimed a Do17 destroyed, on 7th and 9th September he claimed probable Me109's, on the 11th a He111 damaged, on the 15th a He111 destroyed and another damaged and on the 27th a Me110 destroyed and a Ju88 shared.

McNab was awarded the DFC (gazetted 22nd October 1940).

In November 1940 he returned to Canada and in June 1941 he was given command of 118 Squadron and took it to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for east coast defence.

McNab was made an OBE (gazetted 13th June 1946) and also held the Czech Military Cross. He retired from the RCAF in October 1957 as a Group Captain and settled in Vancouver.

He died on 10th January 1977.