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BURGESS, Charles Lebert Flying Officer, No.439 Squadron (now No.56 OTU), J21143 Distinguished Flying Cross RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
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BURGESS, F/O Charles Lebert (J21143) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.439 Squadron (now No.56 OTU) - Award effective 13 January 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 January 1945 and AFRO 471/45 dated 16 March 1945. Born 19 April 1920 in Fredericton, N.B; home there. Enlisted in Saint John, New Brunswick, 28 July 1939 as clerk and posted to Trenton. Promoted AC1, 28 January 1940. Promoted LAC, 1 June 1940. Promoted Corporal, 30 November 1940. Promoted Sergeant, 1 February 1941. Reclassified as Clerk/Stenographer, 1 March 1941. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 1 October 1941. Remustered to aircrew and posted to No.3 ITS, 28 February 1942.; reverted that date to AC2. Rank of Sergeant restored, 1 April 1942. To No.17 EFTS, 5 June 1942. To No.2 SFTS, 1 August 1942; graduated and commissioned, 19 November 1942. To No.123 Squadron, 4 December 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 20 May 1943. To “Y” Depot, 29 August 1943. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 13 October 1943. Repatriated 23 July 1945. Remained in postwar RCAF as Pilot from 1 October 1946 onwards (11570) and attained rank of Squadron Leader, 1 July 1953. Postwar service included No.413 Squadron at Rockcliffe and No.1 (Fighter) OTU (the latter posting as of 23 May 1953) and Training Command Headquarters (as of 25 August 1956). Retired 18 September 1958. RCAF photos PL-28785 (ex UK-9844) and PL-28786 (ex UK-9845) show him. Recommended when he had flown 91 sorties (93 operational hours). This officer had taken part in a large number of operational missions and has led the squadron on a number of occasions with excellent results. While leading a section in close support of the Army in July 1944, this officer achieved a large measure of success; approximately thirty tanks were destroyed. On operations against enemy communications Flight Lieutenant Burgess, in spite of heavy opposition, has destroyed much other enemy transport. He has always pressed home his attacks with the utmost determination. Public Record Office Air 2/9043 has recommendation drafted by S/L K.J. Fiset about 27 October 1944 when Burgess had flown 91 sorties (93 hours 40 minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows. 25 April 1944 - fighter escort, Agon (1.25) 26 April 1944 - Ramrod, Noball, Abbeville (1.45) 4 May 1944 - Ramrod, Noball (1.15) 8 May 1944 - Ramrod, Douai (1.20) 10 May 1944 - Ramrod, marshalling yards, Amiens (1.20, led section) 22 May 1944 - Anti-flak escort, Etretat (1.10) 24 May 1944 - Ramrod, marshalling yards, Douai (1.10) 29 May 1944 - Ramrod, Noball, Vacquerzette (1.00) 3 June 1944 - Ramrod, radar installation, Guernsey (1.00, successful) 6 June 1944 - Ramrod, army support, Gray-sur-Mer (1.15) 7 June 1944 - Ramrod, MET, southwest Caen (1.20, several flamers) 10 June 1944 - Ramrod, fighter escort, southwest Caen (1.15) 11 June 1944 - Ramrod, army support, west of Caen (1.00) 12 June 1944 - Ramrod, vilage, northeast of Caen (1.10, successful) 14 June 1944 - Ramrod, army support, east of Caen (1.15) 15 June 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, south of Caen (1.25) 16 June 1944 - Ramrod, troop and tank concentrations, Tilly (25 minutes) 17 June 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, Cabourg (1.15) 18 June 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, northeast of Caen (1.15) 20 June 1944 - Ramrod, Trouarn (1.20) 22 June 1944 - armed reconnaissance, railway juntion (1.40) 23 June 1944 - armed reconnaissance, marshalling yards, Mezidon (1.40) 29 June 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, Goupillieres (40 minutes) 29 June 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, Bretterville (25 minutes) 5 July 1944 - Ramrod, pontoon bridge, south of Caen (30 minutes) 7 July 1944 - Ramrod, German headquarters, Domfront (45 minutes) 8 July 1944 - Ramrod, German headquarters, Falaise (35 minutes) 8 July 1944 - Ramrod, German headquarters, Falaise (40 minutes) 12 July 1944 - Armed reconnaissance, bridge and MET north of Perrieres (1.00) 18 July 1944 - Ramrod, army concentration, Demouville (25 minutes) 25 July 1944 - Ramrod, petrol dump, south of Trun (1.10) 26 July 1944 - Ramrod, German headquarters, St. Martin de Fontenay (40 minutes) 30 July 1944 - Ramrod, MET, northeast of Laiglel (1.00) 31 July 1944 - Ramrod, MET, St. Pierre du Fresnel (30 minutes, very successful) 31 July 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Caumont (40 minutes, very successful) 2 August 1944 - Ramrod, village, Tilly la Campagne (50 minutes) 2 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Aunay-sur-Oren (30 minutes, good bombing) 4 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Falaise (55 minutes) 7 August 1944 - Ramrod, enemy strongpoints, Chenedelle (50 minutes) 8 August 1944 - Ramrod, chateau headquarters, Martinville (35 minutes) 8 August 1944 - Ramrod, woods, L?Abbaye (45 minutes) 12 August 1944 - Ramrod, German headquarters, east of Vassy (50 minutes) 12 August 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, St. Marc d?ouilly (45 minutes) 12 August 1944 - Ramrod, bridge, St. Marc d?ouilly (45 minutes) 13 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, west of Falaise (1.00 three trucks, two gun positions) 15 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, south of Vimoutiers (1.05, flamers and damaged) 17 August 1944 - Ramrod, barges and dredges, River Seine (1.10) 18 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Lisieux-Bernay (1.05) 18 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Lisieux-Bernay (1.10, six flamers, five smokers, three damaged) 18 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, north of Lisieux (40 minutes, one flamer, led section) 19 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Orbec-Bernay (1.05, five flamers, two smokers, three damaged) 19 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Vimontiers and Orbec (1.00) 20 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, Bernay (1.00, led flight) 25 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, west of Gournay (1.05) 27 August 1944 - Ramrod, barges, River Seine (55 minutes) 28 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, west of Gourney (1.10) 31 August 1944 - Ramrod, MET, west of Amiens (1.20) 15 September 1944 - weather reconnaissance, Antwerp-Rotterdam (45 minutes) 16 September 1944 - armed reconnaissance, Doddrecht-Tilburg-Breda (1.25, led flight) 17 September 1944 - Ramrod, MET, south of Eindhoven (1.00) 17 September 1944 - Ramrod, patrolling, Roosendaal-Breda (1.00) 22 September 1944 - Ramrod, strong point, Cleve (1.00) 25 September 1944 - fighter patrol, Eindhoven (1.20) 26 September 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Utrecht (1.05) 26 September 1944 - fighter patrol, Nijmegen-Arnhem (1.00) 27 September 1944 - Ramrod, MET, north of Geldern (1.15, one boat, six MET) 28 September 1944 - fighter patrol, Arnhem-Cleve (1.30) 29 September 1944 - Ramrod, railroad, MET, east of Deventer (1.25, one train, two staff cars) 30 September 1944 - Ramrod, marshalling yards, Goch (45 minutes) 1 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Geldern and Xanten (1.05, good show) 2 October 1944 - Ramrod, marshalling yards, Goch (45 minutes) 4 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, west of Ruurlo (1.00) 4 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, southeast of Xanten (1.15) 5 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, east of Praest (1.05) 5 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Dieren (55 minutes, led squadron, cut lines) 6 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Eltem (50 minutes, led ?B: Flight) 7 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, east of Wesel (50 minutes) 7 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, north of Geldern (1.00, led squadron, cut lines, also one train) 12 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Horst (50 minutes, led ?B? Flight) 13 October 1944 - fighter escort, medium bombers, Venlo (1.25, led squadron, cut lines) 14 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Elten (55 minutes, led squadron, cut lines) 15 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Bochelt-Borken (55 minutes, led squadron, cut lines) 15 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, south of Xanten (45 minutes, led squadron) 17 October 1944 - Weather reconnaissance, Arnhem-Utrecht (35 minutes) 18 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, west of Aaltem (1.00, led squadron, cut lines) 19 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, Rijssen (55 minutes, led squadron, cut lines) 20 October 1944 - Weather reconnaissance, Zwolle-Deventer (55 minutes) 21 October 1944 - Ramrod, railway, west of Deventer (1.05, led squadron) This officer has taken part in over 90 operational missions and, undeterred by flak, has been instrumental in leading the squadron on a number of successful sorties against all types of dive-bombing targets. Was leading a section on a close support (Army) on 31st July and the squadron dive-bombed and strafed with unexpectedly good results. The Army gave credit to the squadron for destroying approximately 30 tanks and a company of enemy infantry. Has led the squadron on rail interdictions and notwithstanding heavy anti-aircraft fire, has always been successful in his missions. This officer has also accounted for, personally, a number of trains and rolling stock, plus quite a number of MET flamers, smokers and damaged, especially during the ?Falaise Gap? campaign. This officer, under a calm and quiet manner, has a fine offensive spirit in action and presses home his attacks with the utmost determination. I strongly recommend that his conduct fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Endorsed on 28 October 1944 by W/C F.G. Grant (Wing Commander, Flying): A quiet, resourceful officer with great ability as a leader. Besides a successful Flight Commander, he has led his squadron against many heavily defended targets with success. Recommend strongly DFC. Endorsed on 4 November 1944 by G/C P.Y. Davoud, Officer Commanding, No.143 Wing: A very skilful fighter-bomber pilot whose tactics and ability as a leader in the air are outstanding. He has set a very high standard throughout his entire tour, and it is recommended that he be considered for an award of the DFC. Endorsed by A/V/M Harry Broadhurst on 16 November 1944 and by A/M Alan Coningham on 14 December 1944.