Martinet MS556 at Dalton airfield.
At 11.45hrs on 28th September 1943 this 1691 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight aircraft was being taxied around Dalton airfield when a very strong gust of wind caught the aircraft and it swung off the perimeter track. The undercarriage leg then ran through a hole and collapsed. The aircraft was later repaired.
Pilot - F/O Edmund Raoul Herve Yvon LeFebvre RCAF (J/16317).
"Flying Officer Lefebvre has proved himself to be a pilot and captain of exceptional ability. He has completed a large number of operational sorties over the most heavily defended targets in Germany, raids on precision targets in enemy-occupied territory and several important mining orties in enemy waters. He has consistently displayed a high standard of courage and determination and his airmanship has been an example to all other pilots on the squadron. His fine crew spirit has made itself felt in all sections of the unit and his keenness and skill as a pilot is an inspiration to all aircrews. Flying Officer Lefebvre has at all times been willing to do more than his share of routine work in the Flight and his
help to new pilots has been invaluable." I thank his daughter for contacting me in August 2009 and for the information she was able to add to this account, after the War he would later return to Canada and passed away on 20th December 2000.
Edmund LeFebvre was born in 1920 in Legal, Alberta and lived there and in Morinville, Alberta, Canada prior to enlisting for RCAF service. He was educated in Alberta and in Los Angeles, USA but enlisted in Edmonton on 18th July 1941. Having initially trained in Canada at 4 ITS (graduated 3rd October 1941), 18 EFTS (graduated 4th December 1941) and 15 SFTS (graduated 27th March 1942) he was posted to the UK. It is assumed that he took the usual course of postings in the UK as other RCAF pilots but the exact units are not known. He was the pilot of Halifax W1146 that crashed near Keld, Swaledale while training with 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit on 28th January 1943, unfortunately a number of his crew were killed in this incident. He recovered from his injuries and returned to active service. He appears to have been taken off bomber flying and put down the role of being a staff pilot at various Bomber Command support training units. On 28th September 1943 he was serving with 1691 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight when he was involved in a minor flying accident at Dalton in Martinet MS556. On 24th April 1944 he was the pilot of Martinet MS550 of 1695 (Bomber) Defence Training Flight based at Dalton when it was damaged. His exact postings after this are not known but he was later posted to 424 Squadron, the unit where his DFC was awarded, effective from 15th March 1945 as per London Gazette of 23rd March 1945. There was no citation other than "completed.. many successful operations against the enemy in which (he has) displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." The recommendation for the Award is dated 20th November 1944 when he had flown 30 sorties (155 hours 5 minutes flying) between 18th July to 4th November 1944. It adds extra information, and reads..