Career of Chevalier Jerry Billing
Born 04/20/1921 Essex Ontario Canada
As a young boy he dreamed of flying, reading books about WWI pilots. When WWII started Jerry knew it was his chance to enter.
Joined the RCAF in 1940 as a straight gunner ( bomber), was upped to wireless air gunner because of his eagerness to learn and being so proficient in Morse Code
With Jerry's persistent demand on the training personnel to be qualified for pilot the Commanding Officer gave him the required test in Mathematics, which he passed.
In London Ontario Jerry learned to fly the Fleet Finch and was one of the first to solo.
Moved to Dunnville Ontario in mid 1941 were he flew Yale aircraft (Jerry soloed the Yale with only two dual trips, and with all the ground school behind he was told he would be a Instructor and based in Canada
This was out of the question for Jerry, so with his great cunning and persistence he acquired his fighter pilot status.
1941 to the UK ( Tern Hill ) for advanced flying, Miles Master After completing training on the Miles Master he was off to the Hawker Hurricane which with a above average assessment he was posted to a Spitfire training unit.
Soloing in a Spitfire MKI Serial K 9929, Jerry requested to join a Spitfire Squadron, which in the early 40's were held for above average pilots
Joined #19 Squadron in 1942 which were equipped with the Spitfire MKV flew many types of sorties ( intercept, CAP, etc.)
October 1942 Jerry volunteered to move to help Defend Malta, which was surrounded by the enemy and on the verge of defeat
Taking off from HMS Furious in Spitfire MKVb they did a 1200 mile open water flight to Malta to join #185 squadron
Flying daily in many different sorties from bombing( never were trained on bombing with a spit ) to intercept Jerry saw lots of action and never hesitated to tear into the enemy
In the RAF during WWII conformation of a kill, probable or damage must be made by another pilot or gun film (which wasn't available on Malta)
Unlike the Germans, Russians and Yanks a aircraft destroyed on the ground was not considered a KILL
Dec 8 1942 on a patrol Jerry was jumped by 3 BF109's and forced to bail out, later to be picked up by air/sea rescue
March 1943 on a scramble to intercept 10 plus enemy aircraft, as Jerry attacked 2 BF109's, another BF 109 got a jump on him and disabled his Spit, forcing him to bail
After recovering form his injuries Jerry flew more sorties only to leave Malta on 19th of May 1943( surpassing the 2-3 month life span of a fighter pilot in Malta)
During Jerry's time on Malta he was in many air battles against many different enemy planes, do to the lack of conformation from other pilots he didn't claim any kills, but shot up many different enemy planes, and strafed everything from u boats to pill boxes
After a month leave to Canada Jerry returned to the UK to instruct new spitfire pilots in the art of dog fighting
1944 Jerry was sent to 401 squadron at Biggin hill were he was assigned a Spitfire MKIX
Flew many sorties over France leading up to D-Day
June 6th 1944 D-Day found Jerry patrolling over Gold beach
D-Day +1 Jerry downed a JU88 and gave 2 FW190's a good squirt of gun fire
(Jerry just after returning from downing a JU 88)
June 18th Jerry was relocated to B4 ( makeshift airbase near the front lines) in France
Many intercepts and bombing sorties in the next days
July 1 on a intercept Jerry was hit by Flak and forced to crash land
After days of evading the Germans Jerry found refuge in the town Brehal , were the LeBourgois family cared for his injuries for and hid Jerry from the enemy
Picked up by advancing American's he was brought back to B4, sent back to the UK for debriefing were he was told because of his evading behind enemy lines he could not fly in combat anymore
Over 250 Sorties flown By Jerry in WWII
During Jerry's 2 tours he flew with other great pilots such as George Beurling, Hap Kennedy, Buck McNair, Stocky Edwards to name a few
Coming back to Canada Jerry tried everything to get back into the fight but with no prevail ( even tried joining the USAF )
1947 Jerry was the chief flying instructor at the Windsor Flying club, flew Tiger Moth
1948 Jerry reenlisted in the RCAF and was based in Trenton to instruct pilots to become instructors were he flew B-25, Lancaster, P-51, Vampire Jet
1951 sent to New Brunswick for instructing pilots to fly jets, were he flew the T33, and in 1952 the received their first F86 Sabre
1954 Jerry was assigned back to the UK as a exchange officer in their fighter development squadron and flew the Hawker Hunter, Supermarine Swift, Meteor, Canberra, Venom
Returning to Canada in 1956 Jerry was behind a desk pushing paperwork for the Defence Command ( not to Jerry's liking ) but did fly as much as he could and got checked out on the CF100
In 1958 Jerry was posted to a Tactical squadron were he did air show displays in the F86 Sabre and trained pilots from different countries and ferrying planes around Canada and Europe
Jerry left the RCAF in 1964 to become a test pilot for De Havilland working on the Buffalo aircraft
During the Viet Nam war Jerry helped deliver Caribou aircraft their for the CIA
After leaving De Havilland Jerry trained a fellow by the name of Don Plumb a local Windsor business man who had bought a dual seat Spitfire ( TE 308 )
In the early 70's Jerry was contacted by Bill Ross to see if Jerry would be interested in flying a Spitfire MkIX ( MK 923 ) from California to Chicago to be restored
Jerry and Cliff Robertson came to the agreement that Jerry would display the spit at air shows to the public as living history, and Mr. Robertson would keep it flying financially
From the mid 70's to the mid 90's ( 22.5 years ) Jerry displayed MK 923 at many air shows around North America thrilling thousands of spectators with his skill and grace behind the controls of the Spit
In those 22.5 years Jerry was probably the only Spitfire pilot in North America ( if not the world ) doing low level aerobatics at air shows, pushing the plane to the maximum
1984 Jerry flew for Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip as a curtain raiser on their visit to Windsor Ontario in 1984 ( receiving a thank you letter from the Queen )
1992 Jerry passed the mark of 50 consecutive years flying Spitfires (also receiving congratulations from Her Majesty the Queen via letter)
1994 Jerry retired from flying MK923 and the plane was sold to Craig McGraw and displayed at the Museum Of Flight, Seattle
In Jerry's career he displayed Spitfires NH188, TE308, SL721 and MK923 for many different owners across North America
Jerry also checked many pilots out in North America on flying a Spitfire
To this day Jerry lives outside Essex Ontario, were he still fly's a 1947 Aeronca Champ at age 84 from his own grass strip.
2 Tours in WWII ( flew in Malta and D-Day invasion )
Member of the Caterpillar Club for successfully bailing out of a disabled plane ( twice )
Member of the RAF Escape society for his evading the enemy when he crash landed in France
Honorary citizen of France for his help in liberating France
France. Order Nat Merite Chevalier " Knighthood " for his contributions to that country during the Second World War
1939 / 1945 Star..
Air Crew Europe Star..
France and Germany Bar..
Africa Star..
North Africa 1942 / 1943 Bar..
Defence Medal 1939 / 1945..
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal..
CV / SM mini Bar Maple Leaf..
Victory Medal 1914 / 1918, Oak Leaf
