Born 1919 in Montreal; home there; enlisted there 22 June 1940. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 27 July 1940), No.2 AOS (graduated 23 November 1940), No.2 BGS (graduated 4 January 1941) and No.1 ANS (graduated 3 February 1941). Commissioned 1942. Killed in action 14/15 April 1943 (Wellington X3763).
425 Alouette Squadron (Je Te Plurnerai). Wellington aircraft (X3763) lost.
Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.425 Squadron (deceased) - Award effective 14 April 1943 as per London Gazette dated 1 June 1945 and AFRO 1219/45 dated 27 July 1945. The citation reads - "This officer is an excellent navigator who possesses exceptional courage and coolness, which he has demonstrated in many emergencies. During a daylight attack on Wilhelmshaven the aircraft in which he was flying was attacked and damaged by enemy fighters. While on the way to the rear turret to assist the wounded gunner, Flying Officer Desroches fell through the escape hatch but caught himself on his elbows. After he was assisted back into the aircraft he rendered first aid to the wounded, operated the wireless and navigated the aircraft to the target and back to base. He has performed his duties at all times in a thoroughly efficient manner and recently applied to be allowed to continue on operations until his present captain and crew completed their tour of duty. Flying Officer Desroches has set a splendid example to the squadron." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans; Ontario.
Desroches, Joseph Omer Leopold (Flying Officer)
Killed in Action 1943-April-15
Birth Date: 1919
Born:
Parents: Avila & Emilia Desroches
Spouse:
Home: Montreal, Quebec
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
425 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Je te plumerai I shall pluck you
Base
RAF Dishforth
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/15820
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Wellington X3763
Unit Desciption
425 (B) Sqn Je te plumerai ("Alouette")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Wellington III, X, Halifax III, Lancaster X)
425 Squadron was formed at Dishforth, Yorkshire, UK 
on June 25, 1942 as the RCAF's twenty-second squadron, and fifth bomber squadron, to be formed overseas in WWII. At the time it was part of No 4 Group, RAF Bomber Command. It was unique in being designated "French-Canadian" and every effort was made to find French Canadian airmen elsewhere in Bomber Command who could be transferred to the squadron. It became operational in October, 1942, flying Wellington Mk III aircraft with the squadron code letters KW. It transferred to No 6 (RCAF) Group, Bomber Command when that was formed on January 1, 1943, although remaining at Dishforth. In March, the squadron re-equipped with Wellington X's and from June to October operated from bases in Tunisia (Kairouan/Zina and Hani East airfields) in support of the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy. In November 1943 the squadron returned briefly to Dishforth and re-equipped with Halifax III aircraft before moving to Tholthorpe, Yorkshire in December, as part of No 62 (RCAF) Base of 6 Group. It remained at Tholthorpe until the end of the war in Europe. In May and June of 1945 it re-equipped with Lancaster X aircraft, in preparation for joining the Tiger Force for attacks on Japan. The surrender of Japan caused the disbandment of the Squadron at Debert, Nova Scotia , on September 5, 1945.
Overall, the squadron flew 328 missions, involving 3694 sorties, in the course of which 9152 tons of bombs were dropped and 55 aircraft were lost. Squadron personnel gained 2 MBE's, 63 DFC's and 4 Bars to DFC, 2 GM's, 18 DFM's, 1 DFC(USA), and 4 MiD's. Battle Honours were:English Channel and North Sea 1943-45, Baltic 1944-45, Fortress Europe 1943-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1943-44, Ruhr 1943-45, Berlin 1944, German Ports 1943-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1943-44, Sicily 1943, Italy 1943, Salerno. Wikipedia, Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin
Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)
Maps for Movements of 425 Squadron 1942-45
MAP 1: 425 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
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MAP 2: 425 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (detail of Map 1)
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MAP 3: 425 Squadron Movements in North Africa 1943
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MAP 4: 6 Group Bomber Bases in Yorkshire and Durham, 1943-45
425 Squadron History Summary 1942-45
425 Squadron History Summary 1942-45 Page 2
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Canuck, Voodoo, Hornet)
The squadron was re-formed as an All-Weather (Fighter) unit at St Hubert (Montreal), Quebec on 1 October 1954. It flew CF-100 Canuck aircraft on North American air defence. Selected as one of five units to be re-equipped with CF-101 (Voodoo) aircraft, it was deactivated on 1 May 1961 pending delivery of the aircraft. Reactivated at Namao (Edmonton), Alberta on 15 October 1961, the squadron initially received the trainer version of the CF-101 and served as a training unit to convert the remaining four squadrons to this aircraft. It afterwards moved to Bagotville, Quebec, in July 1962, and was declared operational on 1 October when No. 3 All-Weather (Fighter) Operational Training Unit assumed responsibility for all future CF-101 training. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. From 1982, the Canadian Forces started to acquire CF-18 Hornets; 425 Sqn received them in 1985. In 2005, 433 Squadron was merged into 425 Squadron. 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron is an integral part of NORAD and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In peacetime, the squadron's fighters provide continuous surveillance of the East Coast of Canada. In addition, it must be ready for rapid deployment anywhere in the world in support of NATO or contingency operations.Wikipedia, Kostenuk & Griffin, and www.canada.ca/en/air-force/corporate/squadrons/425-squadron.html