COULTER, F/L Lionel Elwood (J27630) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.434 Squadron - Award effective 24 April 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 918/45 dated1 June 1945. Born 17 March 1917 in Prairie Grove, Manitoba; educated in Abbey, Saskatchewan. Farm labourer in Headingly, Manitoba, 1935-1936; bee keeper in Oak Bank, Manitoba, 1939-1940; pipe fitter, 1940-41, cordite press operator, 1941-1942. Enlisted Winnipeg, 27 June 1942 and posted to No.3 Manning Depot. To No.11 SFTS (guard), 14 August 1942. To No.7 ITS, 10 October 1942; graduated and promoted LAC, 10 December 1942 but not posted to No.19 EFTS until 9 January 1943; graduated 5 March 1943 and posted next day to No.11 SFTS; graduated and commissiomned 25 June 1943. To No.1 GRS, 9 July 1943. To “Y” Depot, 2 October 1943. Embarked from Canada, 1 November 1943; disembarked in Britain, 9 November 1943 and posted to No.3 PRC. Promoted Flying Officer, 25 December 1943. To No.20(Pilots) AFU, 1 February 1944. Attached to No.1519 Beam Approach Training Flight, 21-28 March 1944. To No.22 OTU, 2 May 1944. To No.61 Base, 16 July 1944. Attached to No.1664 Conversion Unit, 16 July to 15 August 1944. To No.434 Squadron, 15 August 1944. Repatriated 28 February 1945. To Western Air Command, 13 March 1945. To No.5 OTU, 17 April 1945. To No.9 Release Centre, 20 September 1945. Retired 24 September 1945. Award presented 27 May 1950. Died 26 February 1991 in Vernon, British Columbia as per Royal Canadian Legion “Last Post” website and Legion Magazine of June 1991. // This officer has participated in very many sorties and has proved himself to be a cool, confident and skilful pilot and captain. He has invariably pressed home his attacks and his determination has won much praise. One night in February 1945 he piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Mannheim. On the outward flight an engine failed. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant Coulter continued to the target. Whilst over the sea, a fault in the electrical circuit caused a small fire in the bomb aimer's compartment. The fire was quickly extinguished, however, and the target was then successfully attacked. During the return flight, Flight Lieutenant Coulter skilfully evaded a fighter which attempted to close in. This officer displayed outstanding devotion to duty throughout a trying sortie. // DHist file 181.009 D.1634 (RG.24 Volume 20604) has further recommendation by W/C A.P Blackburn dated 28 February 1945 when he had flown 31 sorties (185 hours 20 minutes); disagreement as to his rank: // On the night of February 2nd, 1945 Pilot Officer Coulter captained an aircraft detailed for a sortie on Mannheim. One engine failed 175 miles short of the target. Despite these citcumstances he pressed home the attack bombing at relatively low altitude. On reaching the target a full load hang up necessitated an orbit in the target area. During this orbit a short in the electrical circuit caused a fire in the bomb aimer's compartment. This fire was extinguished and the mission successfully completed. On leaving the target area his aorcraft was engaged by an enemy fighter. Despite all these harassing circumstances, Flying Officer Coulter brought his aircraft safely back to base, displaying courage and coolness, devotion to duty, and an offensive spirit worthy of emulation by all. I recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. // The sortie list was as follows: // 18 August 1944 - Bremen (5.25, second pilot) // 28 August 1944 - Forfay (3.45) // 6 September 1944 - Emden (4.20) // 10 September 1944 - Le Havre (4.50) // 11 September 1944 - Castrop Rauxel (5.05) // 12 September 1944 - Dortmund (5.15) // 25 September 1944 - Calais (4.15) // 26 September 1944 - Calais (3.55) // 26 September 1944 - Sterkrade (5.15) // 28 September 1944 - Cap Gris Nez (4.25) // 4 October 1944 - Bergen (7.00) // 6 October 1944 - Dortmund (6.15) // 10 October 1944 - Bochum (6.55) // 14 October 1944 - Duisburg (5.45) // 14 October 1944 - Duisburg (6.05) // 15 October 1944 - Wilhelmshaven (5.050 // 28 October 1944 - Cologne (6.00) // 30 October 1944 - Cologne (6.05) // 1 November 1944 - Oberhausen (6.30) // 2 November 1944 - Dusseldorf (6.15, bags of fighters) // 4 November 1944 - Bochum (5.15, Lots of searclights and fighters) // 16 November 1944 - Julich (5.50) // 27 November 1944 - Neuss (5.55, three engines 100 miles from target on way in; bombed at 12,000 feet; landed Methwald) // 24 December 1944 - Dusseldorf airfield (6.00, lots of flak) // 28 December 1944 - Opladen (6.20) // 2 January 1945 - Nuremburg (9.40) // 5 January 1945 - Hanover (5.50) // 7 January 1945 - Munich (9.10) // 28 January 1945 - near Stuttgart (8.10, runaway prop 175 miles from target on way in)/ // 1 February 1945 - Mannheim (7.45, orbitted target due to full load hangup and on orbit fire in nose shorting out circuit and bombs dropped on doors. Fighter attack). // 2 February 1945 - Wiesbaden (7.00) // Notes: Repatriation form dated 17 February 1945 states he had flown 31 sorties (194 hours 25 minutes), the last on 2 February 1945. Had also flown 300 hours 30 minutes non-operational. Types flown overseas were Oxford (114.05), Wellington (90.15), Halifax II and V (52.10) and Lancaster I and X (175.20). // Incident, 18 March 1944, No.20 (Pilots) AFU, Oxford V3594. Practising precautionary landings, undershot the field and hit high tension wires which were 40 feet above the ground, 220 yards from Northeast boundary of Barton Abbey airfield. Impact on lower portion of nose and undercarriage. Logbook endorsed for “Carelessness”. // Incident, 28/29 January 1945, Lancaster KB824, operations. One engine began over-speeding and had to be shut down with difficulty - feathering took two minutes. // Incident, 11 May 1945, Liberator VM110, 1615 hours. After making a good landing, aircraft started to swing to starboard and ran off runway through an excavation along the side of the runway and nose wheel collapsed. Aircraft slid to a stop on nose. Six persons aboard, no injuries, // Application for Operational Wing dated 27 February 1945 states he had flown 31 sorties (194 hours 25 minutes), 16 August 1944 to 16 February 1945. // Training: Course at No.7 ITS was 12 October to 18 December 1942. Courses in Mathematics, Law and Discipline, Navigation, Airmanship, Anti-Gas, Armament (written), Aircraft Recognition, Drill, Signals (written), and Meteorology. Scored 899 points out of possible 1,000. Visual Link mark was 68 percent. Placed 21st in a class of 124. “This airman is of a very quiet nature, but is also confident. Married, has one daughter and is keen about aircrew. Good deportment and attitude generally.” // Course at No.19 EFTS was 11 January to 5 March 1943. Tiger Moth aircraft - 31.30 day dual (8.35 to first solo), 41.30 day solo, 2.35 night dual, 1.35 night solo. Of these times, 8.15 on instruments. Logged ten hours in Link. Ground courses in Navigation, Airmanship, Armament (written and practical), Aircraft Recognition and Meteorology Scored 606 out of possible 700 points. Placed ninth in a class of 32. “Eager to fly and a hard worker. Learns quickly. Smooth and a capable pilot. Instrument flying sound and consistent. Exceptionally capable in ground school. One of the most outstanding pupils of this course. Deportment very good.” // Course at No.11 SFTS was 8 March to 25 June 1943. Crane aircraft - 8.35 day dual to first solo, total 788.35 day dual, 60.05 day solo, 9.50 night dual, 10.10 night solo. Spent 17.50 in formation, 30.00 on instruments; logged 25 hours in Link. Ground courses in Navigation , Airmanship, Armament (written and practical), Aircraft Recognition, Signals (written and practical) and Meteorology. Scored 605 points of possible 700. Placed 18th in a class of 52. “Clear hood and instrument flying high average. Keen, energetic and pleasant manner. Recommended for a commission.” // Course at No.1 GRS was 19 July to 17 September 1943. Anson aircraft (48.35, all by day). Courses and tests in DR Navigation Intermediate (82/100), DR Navigation Final (216/300), DR Navigation Air Work (209/300), Reconnaissance (152/200), Reconnaissance Air Work (72/100), Astro Navigation (51/100), Compasses and Instruments (104/200), Meteorology (130/200), Signals (76/100), Coding (89/100), Ship Recognition (175/200), Photography (77/100) and Visual Signals (Pass). Placed last in a class of 23. “Good average type whose examination results do not show his knowledge of the subject. Should be quite capable.” // Course at No.20 (Pilots) AFU was 1 February to 2 May 1944. Oxford aircraft - 7.30 day dual to first day solo, 24.25 total day dual, 57.55 day solo, 3.05 night dual to first night solo, 8.00 total night dual, 10.05 night solo, 7.05 on instruments, plus 19.05 in Link. One accident (see above). // Flying tests in General Flying (250/400), Applied Flying (121/200), Instrument Flying (160/250), Night Flying (72/100), Link (3625/50). “Average. Has been keen, hard working and has made satisfactory progress. Had an accident during early stages of the course but his final standard does not reveal any particular flying weakness.” // Course at No.1519 Beam Approach Training Flight was 22-27 March 1944. Oxford aircraft (eleven hours, all instrument and beam flying, plus five hours in Link. Graded on Beam Approach Procedure and “Q” Codes, Link (130/200), Receiver Operation (65/100), Instrument Flying (150/250, Cloud and Night Flying (150/250) and General Application of Beam Approach Procedure, flying (120/200). “Settled down rather slowly to beam work. Must try and think more clearly. Procedure and instrument flying average. Could use SBA in emergency. Average.” // Course at No.22 OTU was 3 May to 8 July 1944. Wellington III and X aircraft - seven hours day dual to first day solo (total dual), 7.25 at controls with a captain, 37.35 at controls alone, 3.30 night dual to first night solo, 4.35 total night dual, 4.35 night at controls with a captain, 29.05 night at controls alone. Flying included 28 hours on instruments. Logged 13.20 in Link. Did six day and five night cross-country flights plus four fighter affiliation exercises, one night interception exercise and four Flashlight exercises. Flying tests in General Flying (240/400), Applied Flying (120/200), Instrument Flying (150/250), Night Flying (65/100), Link (25/50). Ground courses in Airmanship (2375/300), Armament (282/300), Meteorology (62/100), Navigation (160/200), and Signals (79/100). “An ex AFU pilot who converted to Wellingtons without trouble. He is keen, and a pilot of good average ability with plenty of confidence. Captaincy and control of crew good.” // Course at No.1664 Conversion Unit was 17 July to 14 August 1944. Crew consisted of J27630 F/O L.E. Coulter (captain, awarded DFC), J36380 P/O P.A, Davis (navigator), J35735 P/O P.H. Gifford (bomb aimer), R205243 Sergeant D.B. Allan (WOP), R82718 Sergeant W. Lynch (flight engineer), R251637 Sergeant A.W. MacGregor (mid-upper gunner) and R215814 Sergeant G.M. Symes (rear gunner). Generally described as “A good average crew.” He was assessed under the following headings - Flying (average), Captaincy (average) and Crew Cooperative (very good). “A reliable pilot and captain. No difficulty in converting.” (S/L R. Knight).

ARTHUR HOWARD P/O(P) J6485. From Vancouver, British Columbia. Killed Dec 21/41 age 28. #13 Service Flying Training School, St. Hubert, Quebec. P/O Coulter was killed when his Harvard aircraft #3145 struck a hilltop one mile west of St. Sauveur Des Monts, Quebec. Pilot Officer Pilot Coulter is buried in the Mountain View' Cemetery at Vancouver, British Columbia.

HUBERT VINCENT F/O(NB) J11504. From Steiller, Alberta. Killed in Action May 7/43 age 28. #608 Squadron (Omnibus Ungulis). Hudson aircraft #FK 691 failed to return from operations. WOs J.H. Johnston, E.C. Smith, Sgt R.A. Newton, and WO R.A. Newton (RAF) were also killed. Flying Officer Navigator Bomb Aimer Coulter has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Malta War Memorial, Malta.

RICHARD LESLIE F/O(N) J7022. From Chilliwack, British Columbia. Killed in Action Dec 17/42 age 24. #104 Squadron (Strike Hard). Wellington aircraft failed to return from operations. F/O G.C. Silver, Sgts L. Booth (RAF), and H.G. Lines (RAF) were also killed. Flying Officer Navigator Coulter has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Malta War Memorial, Malta.

ROBERT LESLIE SGT(AG) R157337. From Russell, Manitoba. Killed in Action Mar 24/44 age 34. #115 Squadron (Despite The Elements), Witchford, England. Target - Berlin, Germany. Please see Deemer E.F. for casualty list and flight detail. Sergeant Air Gunner Coulter is buried in the General Cemetery, Gorssel, Gelderland, Holland.