‘Valour, courage, and devotion’: Windsorite honoured with Spitfire dedication

Windsorite, Tommy Decourcy, has been honoured by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) in Hamilton has named an aircraft after Windsorite, Tommy DeCourcy.

DeCourcy, according to the CWHM, enlisted at 19 in the summer of 1940 to be a fighter pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“He was posted overseas and served two tours of duty, and by early 1945, Tommy DeCourcy was promoted to Squadron Leader of 443 Squadron RCAF,” the CWHM news release read.

“During his time there flying a Spitfire, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was awarded for an act of valour, courage, and devotion to duty performed while flying in active operations against the enemy.”

Tragically, DeCourcy died in a car accident after the war ended, before he could return home to his family.

Two weeks ago on June 7, the 80th anniversary of his death, the CWHM held a ceremony in Hamilton, to dedicate a Spitfire aircraft.

It has been refurbished and painted in DeCourcy’s memory.

DeCourcy’s descendants attended the ceremony.

According to their website, the CWHM intends to fully restore the aircraft so it can resume flying.