Ernest McNab

Ernest McNab, OBE, DFC, CD (7 March 1906 – 10 January 1977) was a Canadian fighter pilot of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War. During the Battle of Britain, he commanded No. 1 Squadron, the only fighter squadron of the RCAF involved in the aerial campaign over southern England.

From Rosthern in Saskatchewan, McNab joined the RCAF in 1926 and served in a number of flying posts, including as a member of the RCAF aerobatics team and on an attachment to the Royal Air Force. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he was given command of RCAF's No. 1 Squadron and began preparing it for service overseas. He took it and its Hawker Hurricane fighters to the United Kingdom in late May 1940 and after a period of intensive training, led it during its operational involvement in the Battle of Britain. During this time he destroyed several German aircraft and was subsequently recognised for his leadership of the squadron with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Posted away from the squadron after the battle, he was later commander of the RCAF's station at Digby in the United Kingdom. After the war he remained in military service. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1946, he served in staff posts and was commander of No. 12 Air Defence Group before his retirement as a group captain in 1957. He retired to Vancouver where he died in 1977, aged 70.