This past weekend I learned a true lesson from my Grandpa Hank. A fellow history buff was over for dinner and we spent much of the evening diving through boxes of treasures that I am fortunate enough to possess. Being a history major and teacher of social studies, I have been entrusted with the task of keeping my family’s historical documents safe. I recently received a box in the mail from my uncle that contained among other treasures; my grandfather’s flight log from the Second World War and the letter he received when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The cross is awarded to officers and Warrant Officers for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy.
I remember how impressed I was to to learn that my grandfather received the DFC and that he flew more missions than the famous Memphis Belle (His crew had 35 successful sorties while the Belle had 25). A list of his missions and letter of commendation is below:
NELSON, F/L Henry (J87209) – Distinguished Flying Cross – No.10 Squadron – Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 March 1945 and AFRO 721/45 dated 27 April 1945. Born 1922 in Coronach, Saskatchewan; home there (student, former Royal Canadian Artillery); enlisted Regina 17 February 1942. Trained at No.7 ITS (graduated 17 July 1942), No.19 EFTS (graduated 23 October 1942) and No.11 SFTS (graduated 5 March 1943). Commissioned May 1944. No citation other than “completed…many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty.” Medal presented 18 June 1949. Public Records Office Air 2/9051 has recommendation dated 19 December 1944 when he had flown 35 sorties (166 hours four minutes), 24 May to 2 December 1944.
Acting Flight Lieutenant Nelson was posted to No.10 Squadron as a Flight Sergeant in May 1944; has now completed 35 sorties comprising 166 operational hours. He has attacked heavily defended German targets including Duisburg (three times), Stuttgart, Cologne (twice), Kiel, Essen (twice) and Munster.
Throughout his operational career this Canadian officer has pressed home his attacks with great determination. His cheerful confidence in the face of heavy opposition and fine offensive spirit in action have maintained morale at a high level. He is undeterred by intense flak and his leadership has played a good part in the success of his operational flights.
He was the captain of a Halifax aircraft detailed to attack Duisburg on the 14th October, 1944. The starboard inner engine failed 70 miles from the target and, unable to maintain the briefed height of 19,000 feet, he continued and successfully bombed the target from 16,000. His skillful handling of his aircraft under these difficult conditions is worthy of high praise.
I consider acting Flight Lieutenant Nelson a pilot of great courage, and strongly recommend that his fine operational record, skill and strong devotion to duty be recognized by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Knowing that my grandfather was a very successful man; in the military, in farming, in business, in relationships, I always assumed that he must just have been fortunate enough to be born with talent. Then I recently started reading the book, “Mindset” by Carol Dweck. I had heard many of my educator colleagues talking about this book, people I respect and who I have learned a great deal from in the last year, people like Jesse McLean. In the book, Dweck explains that “it’s not our abilities and talents that bring us success, but whether we approach our goals with a fixed or growth mindset.” Reading Dweck helped me realize that although I very much believe in a growth mindset for my students, I have been living a fixed mindset for myself.
“What any person in the world can learn, almost all persons can learn, if provided with the appropriate prior and current conditions of learning.” Bloom
Having taught students with significant disabilities both learning and behavioral most of my life, working as an advocate of inclusive education, I could not agree with Bloom more. Given the right supports and an environment that fosters a love of learning, every student can learn nearly anything. The problem was, for many years, I did not apply this same belief to myself. Although to others, I may appear to jump at the chance to take on new challenges, I know that I struggle with a fixed mindset. Often I protect my ego by not trying too hard at things that I fear I do not have a predisposed “talent.” Like Calvin I associated having to work hard at something as undesirable. I always did well in school, so I figured I must have just been born (at least a little) smart; that my success came from my ability, not my effort. I never really learned that a growth mindset allows a person to be afraid, to risk , to fail and to truly learn. It was fine for my students, I was a caring teacher and I expected them to trust me enough to take risks in my class but I rarely took the same risks myself. Case in point: I want to learn to play the guitar, but I don’t think I have any talent so I haven’t tried. I love and appreciate art, but I know don’t have any artistic talent, so I don’t paint. I love reading edu-blogs of people that I admire but I barely write myself. I could go on but I think you get the point.
So what does this have to do with my grandfather and the DFC? Talented pilots win awards, right? Pilots born with a gift, born with a predisposition to flying, pilots who are praised for their talent and due to the praise continue to fly more and better. This is what I believed until I read my grandfather’s flight log. It was pretty remarkable. Not because he was remarkably talented or showed a natural ability or gift for flying from the start. But because according to the flight book, he showed no talent at all! His first reports from flight training stated he was of “average” ability with “no distinguishing faults.” Not very flattering when compared with how we praise our children and students today for every small accomplishment. So what motivated him to continue to try? Clearly not talent, not ability, not praise. What took my grandfather from an “average” pilot to an officer who acts with valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy? A growth mindset, that’s what. If the log book showed anything it was that my grandfather flew and flew and flew and flew some more. He tried, he risked, he struggled and he learned. And that is the best lesson a dusty old box of treasures could ever teach a granddaughter about life. I hope to remember that to move beyond fear of failure, to struggle, to be uncomfortable and to work through the messy, tough spots is how we learn and grow. Writing this blog is something I am not good at and I find very uncomfortable. I don’t have a natural born talent for blogging. It will take practice and developing a regular habit of writing to get better. I will be afraid, it will be messy, it won’t be great right away and I am finally starting to realize that “average” is a great place to start.
Flight Lieutenant Henry Nelson, my Grandpa Hank.
MISSIONS:
24 May 44 Aachen (4.14) 10 Aug 44 Dijon (6.45)
2 June 44 Trappes (4.50) 25 Aug 44 Brest (5.30)
5 June 44 Mont Fleury (3.45) 11 Sep 44 GARDENING (5.15)
7 June 44 Juvisy (4.35) 12 Sep 44 Munster (4.25)
9 June 44 Laval (5.15) 27 Sep 44 Calais (3.20)
12 Jun 44 Amiens (4.35) 4 Oct 44 GARDENING (5.50)
14 Jun 44 Douai (4.00) 6 Oct 44 GARDENING (4.00)
15 Jun 44 Fouilliard (5.30) 9 Oct 44 Bochum (5.10)
19 Jun 44 Domleger (1.30), 14 Oct 44 Duisburg (4.55)
Group recall 14 Oct 44 Duisburg (5.15)
27 Jun 44 Mont Candon (3.40) 23 Oct 44 Essen (4.55)
4 July 44 St.Martin l’Hortier (3.30) 28 Oct 44 Cologne (5.05)
5 July 44 St.Martin l’Hortier (3.30) 30 Oct 44 Cologne (5.30)
6 July 44 Croixdale (4.15) 6 Nov 44 Gelsenkirchen (4.50)
23 Jul 44 Kiel (5.15) 18 Nov 44 Munster (5.40)
24 Jul 44 Stuttgart (8.00) 28 Nov 44 Essen (5.25)
28 Jul 44 Foret de Nieppe (3.15) 30 Nov 44 Duisburg (5.10)
8 Aug 44 St.Philibert Ferme (3.20) 2 Dec 44 Hagen (6.05)
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