Charles 'Charley' Fox, DFC, CD
A crash Saturday has claimed the life of a highly decorated and respected Second World War Spitfire pilot known as "The Flying Fox."
Hon. Col. Charles (Charley) W. Fox, 88, the subject of a recently released book, was killed Saturday afternoon when his Saab was struck by a Trans Am travelling west on Ostrander Road.
Fox was travelling south on Cranberry Line, which is controlled by stop signs.
According to police, Fox pulled into the intersection and the two vehicles collided.
Emergency crews and air ambulance responded, but the London resident died at scene.
The 29-year-old driver of the Trans Am was treated and released from Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital.
Fox is credited with helping end the career of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox) when he fired on his speeding black staff car in France shortly after the invasion of Normandy.
Flight Lt. Fox was piloting one of two Canadian Spitfires from the 412 Squadron when the pair unknowingly encountered Rommel and his driver on July 17, 1944.
Rommel suffered serious head injuries after being thrown against the windshield post.
Soon after, a seriously wounded Rommel was accused of being involved in a bomb plot against Hitler, would commit suicide.
It is believed that Rommel was secretly trying to negotiate an earlier end to the war.
German officials would report his death as the result of injuries from the crash.
In 2004, a war expert confirmed after consulting first-hand accounts and logs, that it was most likely Fox who fired on Rommel, considered the Nazi's greatest field commander.
Fox is also credited with flying three patrols from the coast of France on D-Day and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for the 153 enemy attacks.
He was also awarded the Canadian Forces decoration for 12 years of service to the Queen, in the spring.
Fox, past president and an active member of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, was a speaker at a member's meeting held at Tillsonburg Airport shortly before Saturday's crash.
Fox was on his way to Tillsonburg for lunch with fellow members when the collision occurred.
Ray Whittemore, president of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, said he was probably the last person to speak to Fox before his death.
"He was a true hero, one of the most generous people I could think of," he said. "He was so well-liked and unselfish, he was an really upbeat person."
Fellow Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association member Philippe Morin describe Fox as "an amazing man."
"He was more active in his life than those half his age," he said. "I was stunned (when I learned of his death).
He was a man of drive and passion, and he had a lot of life left in him."
In 2004, Fox was made an honorary colonel with the 412 Squadron, which currently operates as a VIP transport service.
He also started a project known as Torchbearers, designed to recognize veterans who had fallen through the cracks, including Canadian prisoners of war, six Canadian airmen who were executed along with 44 others after the "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III on March 24, 1944, and Polish combatants who served with Canadian air and ground forces throughout the Second World War.
"I have a passion for seeing these three groups of veterans recognized," Fox said in an interview last year with The Maple Leaf, the national newspaper of The Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces. "I am 87 years old, I hurt from the various injuries I sustained in the war. I live on a fixed income, yet I am absolutely passionate we must do something to give these fallen heroes the recognition they deserve."
Fox was currently fundraising for a special project designed to transport 5,000 Canadian children to the Netherlands in 2010 to mark the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland by the Canadian Army, according to Steve Pitt, author of the 2008 book "The Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox."
"On top of that, he was working to get better benefits for Canadian ex-prisoners-of-war and for Canadian flying instructors who were denied the opportunity to serve overseas during World War II," Pitt said. "Charley had so much enthusiasm and energy, it was easy to forget that he was in his late eighties."
Fox is predeceased by his wife Helen, and is survived by his son Jim Fox, and daughters Sue Beckett and Adrienne Black.
OBITUARY
Suddenly as the result of an accident on Saturday, October 18, 2008.
Charles “Charley” Fox DFC, CD of London, Ontario. Honorary Colonel of 412 Squadron of the Canadian Air Force, in his 89th year. Beloved husband of the late Helen (Doughty) (1995) and dear father of Jim
(Cheryl) of Kitchener, Sue (Doug) of Thamesford and Adrienne (Bruce) of Budd Lake, NJ. Dear grandfather of Kristi, Todd, Steven, Ryan, Amy, Katie, Travis, Jeff and Jen their spouses and step-grandfather of Dominique, Frank and Veronica. Also loved by 6 great grandchildren.
Sadly missed by 3 sisters-in-law Mary, Barb and Christine, many nieces, nephews, and some very special ladies who were additional daughters to Dad. Predeceased by 2 brothers Ted and George.
Charley served his country as a decorated Spitfire Pilot during WWII. He ended his tour of duty in January 1945 but became active in the London-based 420 Reserve Squadron after the war. On April 30th, 2004 he was named Honorary Colonel of 412 Squadron passionately devoting his time and energy to honour the veterans, past and present. Throughout his working career, Charley contributed 30 years to the success of Tender Tootsies and Lyons of London. He will be missed by family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched.
Visitation will be at the Harland B. Betzner Funeral Home, 177 Dundas Street, Thamesford, ON (519-285-2427) on Wednesday from 7 – 9 pm and on Thursday from 2 – 4 pm and 7 – 9 pm. Funeral service will be held at East London Anglican Ministries, 2060 Dundas Street, London on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:00 am. Rev June Hough officiating. Internment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be given to the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, Stevenson Children’s Camp, or the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Western Ontario.
A few years ago Charley shared the following poem with me, and I share it now with you:
— Captain Michael J. Larkin, TWA (Ret.), 'Air Line Pilot' magazine, February 1995
FLYING WEST
I hope there's a place, way up in the sky Where pilots can go when they have to die.
A place where a guy could buy a cold beer For a friend and a comrade whose memory is dear.
A place where no doctor or lawyer could tread, Nor a management-type would e'ler be caught dead!
Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke, Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke.
The kind of a place that a lady could go And feel safe and secure by the men she would know.
There must be a place where old pilots go, When their wings become heavy, when their airspeed gets low, Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young, And songs about flying and dying are sung.
Where you'd see all the fellows who'd 'flown west' before, And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door, Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad, And relate to the others, "He was quite a good lad!"
And there, through the mist, you'd spot an old guy You had not seen in years, though he'd taught you to fly. He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear And say, "Welcome, my Son, I'm proud that you're here! For this is the place where true flyers come When the battles are over, and the wars have been won. They've come here at last, to be safe and alone,
From the government clerk, and the management clone;
Politicians and lawyers, the Feds, and the noise, Where all hours are happy, and these good ol' boys Can relax with a cool one, and a well deserved rest!
This is Heaven, my Son. You've passed your last test!"
Clear skies, safe flights and smooth landings,
Sandra
Photo courtesy of National Defence and the Canadian Forces HCol Charley Fox, DFC, at the Battle of Britain parade in Ottawa in 2006.
