WING COMMANDER GEORGE CLINTON KEEFER, D.S.O. and Bar, D.F.C. and Bar, Croix de Guerre with Gold Star (Fr.), Netherlands Flying Cross, was born in New York City and educated in Prince Edward Island. He became a Canadian citizen in 1945.
W/C Keefer, while serving with Nos. 274, 416 and 412 Squadrons, escorted large formations of bombers over enemy territory and achieved much success in this duty. In April 1945, he completed a daring attack on eleven Me.109's which were assembled on an airfield at Parchim. In spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire the attack was pressed home and all of the enemy aircraft were destroyed. In addition, he attacked a great variety of enemy ground targets and destroyed at least 60 enemy transport vehicles.
W/C Keefer completed three tours of operations, accounting for 17 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 probables, and damaged 9 others.
FLYING OFFICER GEORGE NOEL KEITH, D.F.C., of Cardston, Alberta, served with both Nos. 402 and 72 Squadrons. He accounted for 7 enemy aircraft destroyed and damaged 2 others before being shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 4 August 1943. F/0 Keith bailed out of his severely damaged plane over the sea and was picked up by an air/sea rescue launch. Unfortunately, in abandoning the machine, he was clipped by the tail section and succumbed to the injuries sustained.
SQUADRON LEADER IRVING FARMER KENNEDY, D.F.C. and Bar, of Cumberland, Ontario, flew with various squadrons - Nos. 263, 421, 111, 93 and 401 Squadrons. He was shot down by flak behind enemy lines on 26 July 1944 but evaded capture and returned to the Allied lines about a month later
S/L Kennedy did much operational flying, involving bomber escort flights, sweeps and bombing sorties. During an operation in 1943, Kennedy shot down a Junkers 52. A little later, he saw many of these aircraft flying almost at sea level. He immediately attacked one of them, causing it it dive into the water with one of its engines on fire.
S/L Kennedy was a most resolute and skilful fighter destroying 12 enemy aircraft and probably accounted for one other.
GROUP CAPTAIN JOHN ALEXANDER KENT, D.F.C. and Bar, A.F.C., Polish Virtuti militari 5th Class, of Winnipeg, enlisted as a pupil pilot in the RAF prior to thewar. In 1937 hewasfiying with the Experimental Flying Section of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, and flew the prototype Hurricane, Spitfire and Bristol 146 fighters, and also tested the Fairey P4/34, flying into barrage balloon cables. G/C Kent was 'one of the few' who flew the Battle of Britain. He was a flight commander with No. 303 Polish Squadron and also flew with 92, Kenley Wing. As well as having a varied and interesting flying career, he accounted for 13 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 probables, and damaged 2 others.
G/C Kent remained in the RAF after the war until retiring. It is considered that he has flown more different types of aircraft than any other RAF pilot, flying over 200 different types.
SQUADRON LEADER JAMES BERNARD KERR, of Carnpbellford, Ontario, served with No. 419 Squadron. He always showed keenness to operate against the enemy and pressed home his attacks with great determination and skill. S/L Kerr destroyed 5 3/4 enemy aircraft and damaged 3 others before being killed in action on 18 July 1944.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT DONALD HAROLD KIMBALL, D.F.C., of Oromocto, N.B., destroyed 6 enemy aircraft and damaged one other while flying with No. 441 Squadron. He also flew with No. 125 (RCAF) squadron in Canada.
During his tour of operations, F/L Kimball displayed exceptional keenness and determination. As a section leader, he took part in numerous patrols, armed reconnaissances and fighter sorties.
SQUADRON LEADER ROBERT ALLAN KIPP, D.S.O., D.F.C., of Kamloops, B.C., served with No. 418 Squadron. He led his squadron on many sorties over enemy territory and his careful planning, tactical ability and iron determination brought F/O B.P. Haletsky, his observer, and himself much success.
S/L Kipp's final tally of enemy aircraft was 9 1/2 destroyed, 1/2 probable, and damaged 3 others. He was killed while flying a Vampire at St. Hubert, Quebec, on 25 July 1949.
FLYING OFFICER WALTER GORDON KIRKWOOD, D.F.C., of Vegreville, Alberta, flew with both Nos. 409 and 406 Squadrons. F/O Kirkwood, with his observer, W02 C.N. Matheson, completed many night fighter and intruder missions. This team displayed praiseworthy keenness and skill throughout by shooting down 5 enemy aircraft.
SQUADRON LEADER WILLIAM THOMAS KLERSY, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, of Brantford, Ontario, des- troyed 16 1/2 enemy aircraft and damaged 3 1/2 other while flying with No. 401 Squadron. Unfortunately, S/L Kiersy did not live to see the war end as he was killed in a flying accident on 22 May 1945.
S/L Kliersy served through two tours of operational duty. In addition to shooting down aircraft, he destroyed or damaged at least 90 enemy vehicles, 8 locomotives, and 8 trucks carrying supplies. S/L Klersy moulded his squadron into a powerful operational unit that, by maintaining a consistently high standard in every phase of ground or air activity, set a magnificent example to the rest of the Wing.
SQUADRON LEADER E. GORDON LAPP, D.F.C., of Redcliffe, Alberta, destroyed 5 enemy aircraft and damaged one other while flying with No. 185 Squadron on Malta and No. 411 Squadron in Europe. in addition, during the invasion of the continent, he destroyed a large number of trucks, tanks, and other transport vehicles.
PILOT OFFICER JOSEPH EMILE PAUL LARICHELIERE, D.F.C., of Montreal, Quebec, enlisted as a pupil pilot in the RAF prior to the war. He received training at the Civil Flying School in Cambridge, England. P/O Laricheliere served with No. 504 Squadron on receipt of his pilot's wings in October, 1939. Before being shot down and killed during a 'dog-fight' over the Isle of Wight on 16 August 1940, while serving with No. 213 Squadron, he accounted for 6 enemy aircraft.
FLYING OFFICER JOHNBLANDFORDLATTA, D.F.C., of Vancouver, B.C., enlisted as a pupil pilot in the RAF prior to the war. While serving with No. 242 Squadron, he destroyed 8 enemy aircraft and damaged one other. F/O Latta displayed the utmost coolness in the midst of fierce aerial combat. On 29 May 1940, he landed his aircraft at Manston with the undercarriage retracted owing to damage by enemy fire after his first victory. He also took part in the first 'Circus' when Blenheims attacked Guines aerodrome near Calais, 12 January 1941. Two days later he was killed flying a Hurricane on a low-level "Rhubarb", probably by anti-aircraft fire near Dunkirk.
GROUP CAPTAIN DONALD CURRI E LAUBMAN, D.F.C. and Bar, C.D., of Edmonton, Alberta, while flying with Nos. 412 and 402 Squadrons destroyed 15 enemy aircraft and damaged 3 others.
G/C Laubman displayed outstanding courage and determination and led his flight with such ability that it accounted for sixteen out of twenty-six enemy aircraft destroyed by his squadron during a short period of time.
Laubman showed tenacity of spirit and outstanding courage in the face of overwhelming odds, when, he led his squadron successfully in repulsing repeated enemy attempts to destroy vital bridges in the Arnheim and Nijmegan area.
SQUADRON LEADER J.A.O. "OMER" LEVESQUE, of Mont Joli, Quebec, served with No. 401 Squadron and destroyed 4 enemy aircraft before being shot down and taken prisoner on 12 February 1942. After being a guest of the Nazis at Stalag Luft III, he was repatriated to the United Kingdom at the war's end.
S/L Levesque remained in the RCAF and in November 1950 he was sent to Korea on an exchange posting with the USAF. He was the first Canadian pilot to shoot down a Chinese Commmunist MiG 15 fighter thus bringing his total victories in aerial combat to 5, becoming an 'ace'. Squadron Leader J.A.O. "Omer" Levesque was awarded the USAF DFC and USAF Air Medal.
WING COMMANDER JAMES DOUGLAS LINDSAY, D.F.C., C.D., of Arnprior, Ontario, served with Nos. 403 and 416 Squadrons, destroying 7 enemy aircraft and damaged 5 others. W/C Lindsay also was a fighter pilot in the Korean conflict, destroying two communist MiG 15 jet-fighters and damaged three others.
He flew with the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, USAF, and distinguished himself in aerial combat over North Korea on 11 October 1952. The citation for his Arnerican D.F.C. reads, in part: "LINDSAY was leading a flight of four F-86 type aircraft on a fighter sweep along the Yalu River, when he sighted approximately twelve enemy MiG 15's crossing the Yalu River at a very high altitude. Lindsay immediately started to climb to intercept the enemy aircraft. The enemy flight started a turn which enabled Lindsay's flight to cut them off and close with them. Picking out the last flight of MiGs Lindsay began his attack on the number four man of the enemy flight and scored decisive hits on the enemy aircraft. This enemy aircraft then began a steep spiralling dive and was observed to have crashed and exploded. Lindsay then completed his mission and led his flight back to their home base."
Throughout his service with the Far East Command, Lindsay displayed outstanding courage, aggressiveness and devotion to duty thus reflecting great credit not only to himself but to the USAF and RCAF as well.
LIEUTENANT JOHN F. LUMA, D.F.C., was an American who enlisted in the RCAF in 1941. He was trained as a night-fighter pilot, and with the american entry into the war, he transferred to the USAAF. He remained with the RCAF to gain night-fighting experience, flying with No. 418 Squadron, and teamed-up with F/O C.G. Finlayson, his observer, shot down 5 enemy aircraft.