F/Lt. J. W. Neil of Nanaimo, B.C., served with 124, 54, 274 and 421 Squadrons.

John completed many and varied sorties during which he displayed commendable skill, courage and determination. For example, on a bombing sortie on 5th November, 1942, he was forced to bail out north of Gazel Station when glycol fumes filled the cockpit of his aircraft, choking and blinding him. The machine plunged from 18,000 to 2,000 feet before he recovered senses, and abandoned the plane at 300 feet.

On 23rd August, 1944, John's aircraft was hit by flak and he was wounded. He parachuted to safety over enemy territory and was taken prisoner.

His final tally was five enemy aircraft destroyed and one probable.