ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE DRESS UNIFORM

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE DRESS UNIFORM
Uniform of the Royal Canadian Air Force including one dress coat and one pair of dress pants. The dress coat is named on the inside pocket for 'W.J.Marsh', or William James Marsh, a Flight Lieutenant and Wing Commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The dress coat has an RCAF wings patch sewn onto the lapel and two small 'Canada' patches on the left and right sleeves. Marsh was awarded Queen's Commendations for Brave Conduct following an incident in August 1957 where Marsh saved a fellow military servicemember. Marsh was driving on a Royal Canadian Air Force base to pick up another pilot who had recently landed when he witnessed an accident. Marsh observed an aircraft disappear in a large mushroom of smoke, far off the end of the runway. He drove his car to the accident site and found the burning aircraft on its side. He heard the pilot, Squad Leader Frizzle call for help. With complete disregard for his own safety, Marsh struggled through the bush to the cockpit area. Unaided in trying to extricate the pilot, Marsh called over to four other men for help rescuing the man. With great difficulty and considerable risk, Marsh and the other men removed the pilot from the aircraft and moved him to safety so his injuries were not aggravated. For this action and the courage he displayed on that day, Marsh was awarded the George Medal, a very rare award for a member of the RCAF. Only 28 George Medals have been awarded to RCAF members, 20 of which were during the war.