F/L seems a high rank for an Air Gunner, unless he was a Squadron Gunnery Leader 425 Alouette Squadron I think I have a contact with the squadron Get back to you.

Marcou's DFC information suggests that crew arrived at 405 Squadron in September.

MARCOU, S/L Howard Fortescue, AFC, (C795) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.405 Squadron - Awarded 20 February 1945 [correct] as per London Gazette of 1 March 1946 and AFRO 418/46 dated 18 April 1946. Born in Westmount (Montreal), 21 February 1917; home there; secured junior matriculation at McGill College. RCAF Provisional Pilot Officer, 3 January 1938; trained at Trenton; wings on 18 October 1938 under a short-lived pre-war scheme to provide pilots to the RAF. Transferred to RAF, 5 November 1938; At RAF Station Uxbridge, 6-23 November 1938; at No.6 SFTS, Rissington, 24 November to 15 April 1939 (detached to Warmwell Practice Camp, 11 March to 6 April 1939); with No.52 (Bomber) Squadron, Upwood, 15 April to 27 July 1939; with Central Flying School, Upavon, 24 July to 12 September 1939; instructing with No.5 SFTS, Sealand, 13 September 1939 to 21 April 1941 (on detachment to Ternhill, 2 November 1940 to 21 April 1941); with Central Flying School, Upavon, 22 April 1941 to 1 January 1942; with No.2 Flying Instructor School, Montrose, 3 January 1942 to 26 April 1943 (Deputy Chief Flying Instructor); with Empire Central Flying School, Hullavington, 27 February to 26 May 1943; to No.2 FIS, Montrose, 27 May 1943 to 17 August 1944. During this time he transferred to RCAF, 7 November 1943 (C795). Had been awarded AFC as a member of the RAF. To Pathfinder Night Training Unit, Warboys, 18 August to 3 September 1944; with No.405 Squadron, 4 September 1944 to 20 February 1945. He flew 31 trips (141 hours 50 minutes). Adventures with that unit including having his aircraft, Lancaster PB516, being struck by incendiaries from another aircraft. On the night of 20/21 February 1945 he went missing on operations (Lancaster PB530 \"W\"); reported safe in Britain, 24 April 1945. In the postwar RCAF he reverted to Squadron Leader (1 October 1946), being promoted to Wing Commander, 1 September 1951. His major postings included Experimental and Proving Establishment, Rockcliffe, 21 September 1947 to 31 October 1949; Air Defence Group (later renamed Air Defence Command), 1 November 1949 to 3 April 1952; Canadian Joint Staff, London, 4 April to 9 September 1952; Air Defence Command, 10 September to 7 October 1952; Station St.Denis, 8-19 October 1952; Commanding Officer of No.12 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. Mont Apica (radar base), 17 August 1953 to 25 January 1956 (awarded Queen\'s Coronation Medal, 23 October 1953); Air Force Headquarters, 26 January 1956 to 3 January 1960; Northern NORAD Region Headquarters, North Bay, 2 August 1963 to 20 January 1964. He retired from the RCAF on 21 February 1966 and died in Drummond Township, Nepean, Ontario on 5 January 1999. This officer has completed, as pilot, numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty. NOTE: The types of aircraft he flew were sufficiently varied as to bear remark. Two forms, one filled in March 1948 and the other in June 1951, track his flying career. The numbers are not consistent from one date to the next, but the range of machines flown remains interesting: March 1948 June 1951 Single Engine Hart 85.55 64.55 Audax 60.40 48.20 Battle 51.20 44.35 Tutor 63.25 159.20 Harvard 11.10 47.50 Fury 8.05 1.45 Master 979.00 1,155.30 Hind - .20 Spitfire 2.40 5.00 Miles M.18 1.00 .30 Magister 62.20 70.05 Mustang 1.15 .45 Bermuda 1.40 .45 Bonanza - .30 Norseman - 4.00 Hotspur - .20 Finch - 65.00 Tiger Moth - 68.15 Twin-Engine Anson 82.35 153.00 Oxford 420.25 485.00 Dominie 12.15 5.20 Blenheim 10.15 8.55 Hudson 1.00 1.10 Whitley 1.00 1.00 Wellington 9.15 7.55 Expeditor 85.45 214.55 Dakota 10.20 57.25 Beaufighter - .45 Fairchild 71 3.05 - Canso 3.00 9.20 Ventura - 1.05 Multi-Engine Halifax 5.00 5.20 Lancaster 210.10 226.45 North Star - 17.25 Helicopters - 2.00 Directorate of History and Heritage file 181.001 D.24 has his ?Loss of Bomber Aircraft? questionnaire with his account of being shot down in Lancaster W/405, 20/21 February 1945, target Dortmund. He stated he had flown 30 sorties including this one. Narrative as follows: Aircraft W, Lancaster, took off from Gransden Lodge approximately 2200 hours. Set course, target Dortmund. Due on target at H plus 2 (approximately, i.e. about 0030 hours), 21 February 1945 as visual centrer (P.F.F.). Ran up on target through slight barrage flak. Dropped about one minute late (i.e. H plus 3) and waited for picture. Camera was turning over when hit by flak in port outer and No.2 starboard tank - both on fire. Ordered crew prepare bale out. About one minute later ordered crew bale out, having feathered and put out fire in port outer but tank fire was spreading rapidly. Saw all crew except Mid Upper Gunner and Rear Gunner bale out. Baled out myself. Landed in tree, gave self up to farmer as wounded in left knee and hand, making escape impossible. Wounds were received at same time as aircraft was hit. The website ?Lost Bombers? provides the following on his being shot down. Lancaster PB530, No.405 Squadron (LQ-W), target Dortmund, 20/21 February 1945. This aircraft was a Mk.III and was delivered to No.582 Squadron from No.32 Maintenance Unit in September 1944, joining No.405 Squadron on 12 October 1944. PB530 took part in the following operations: none with No.582 Squadron. With No.405 Squadron, Stuttgart, 19/20 October 1944; Essen, 23/24 October 1944; Dortmund, 20/21 February 1945 when lost. No accounting for the period 24 October 1944 - 20 February 1945. Airborne at 2220 hours, 20 February 1945 from Gransden Lodge. Cause of loss and crash-site not established by webmaster. Crew consisted of Flight Sergeant G.E. Bolland (killed, DFM gazetted 1 March 1946; left the aircraft by parachute but did not survive the descent); S/L H.F.Marcou, DFC, AFC, RCAF (injured); F/O T.W.Downey (injured); F/O R.O.Norse, RNZAF (injured); F/O B.G.Smoker (injured); F/O J.A. Lewis (injured); F/O J.T.Ross. RCAF (POW); Technical Sergeant J.W.Verner, USAAF (injured). Survivors were confined in hospital due to injuries until liberation. No POW numbers.