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QUEEN'S COMMENDATION for BRAVE CONDUCT

McDERMOTT, John William, Lt, 0-48521 , RCN

Issued: 17-Sep-1966, Canada Gazette

"While at sea on the night of 18 October 1965, advice was received by HMCS Bonaventure that HMCS Nipigon was on fire and urgently required medical assistance, fire-fighting equipment, and wished to evacuate eight seriously burned member of her crew. Lt Blanchard was pilot of helicopter 'Pedro'; Lt McDermott was co-pilot and; LS Bowen was employed as aircrewman on the helicopter. They made three flights between the two ships delivering fire-fighting equipment and medical supplies, returning with the eight injured crew members. These flights were made despite the hazardous conditions that existed at the time, a dark night with visibility reduced in rain, and flying a helicopter that was not designed for low flying over water at night under instrument conditions. The skill of Lt Blanchard and Lt McDermott, coupled with their devotion to duty and complete disregard for their own personal safety, allowed eight men to receive urgently required medical treatment only available on HMCS Bonaventure."