DUNN, F/L Edmund Speck (C1712) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.430 Squadron - Award effective 23 May 1945 as per London Gazette dated 1 June 1945 and AFRO 1147/45 dated 13 July 1945. Born 11 February 1911 in Medicine Hat; home in Calgary (bus driver). Militia service with South Alberta Regiment, 1926 to 1939 (Private to Captain). Flying instructor at Medicine Hat, 1930 to 1935. He had also taken a flying instructor course at Camp Borden (24 September to 2 November 1934). Stated he had 300 hours flying before joining RCAF. Held Commercial Pilot License A,920. Enlisted in Calgary, 22 February 1940. Commissioned that date. To Station Trenton, 28 February 1940. To No.6 SFTS, 22 November 1940. Still there as of 8 April 1941 when he was assessed as an instructor (“above average”). Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 15 June 1941 when posted to No.16 EFTS. To No.4 Training Command, 17 July 1942. To No.2 Flying Instructor School, 10 August 1942. To “Y” Depot, 15 May 1943. Disembarked in Britain, 24 May 1943. To No.17 Pilots) AFU, 22 June 1943. To No.41 OTU, 20 July 1943. To No.430 Squadron, 13 October 1943. Embarked for Northwest Europe, (tour expired), 22 March 1945, arriving in Britain the same day. To No.53 OTU, 11 April 1945. To Station Kirton-on-Lindsay, 16 May 1945. Repatriated via Debert, 23 July 1945. Retired 15 September 1945. Died in Calgary, 15 January 1995. RCAF photo PL-2395 shows him as a Flying Officer. RCAF photo PL-36837 dated July 1945 shows eight decorated RCAF officers from Alberta aboard SS Stratheden as it docked in Quebec: Front Row, left to right, F/L D.W. Schmidt, DFC and Bar, Wetaskiwin; F/O H.E. Patch, DFM, Vegreville; F/L G.A. Berry, DFC, Lloydminster; F/O J. Perry, Lethbridge; Back Row, left to right, F/L J.M. Calder, DFC, Edmonton; F/L G.L. Scott, DFC, Innisfail; F/O G.P. Bodard, DFC, Edmonton; F/L E.S. Dunn, DFC, Calgary and formerly of Medicine Hat. Died in Calgary, January 1995. For more on his career see Vintage Wings website, http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/89/language/en-CA/A-Bitter-struggle--The-Pappy-Dunn-Story.aspx. // Flight Lieutenant Dunn has been engaged on operational flying since January 1944 and has participated in numerous low level photographic reconnaissances of heavily defended enemy gun positions, bridges, viaducts and river crossings. Since June 1944 this officer has led his section on many reconnaissance operations and has obtained much valuable information. Both in the air and on the ground Flight Lieutenant Dunn has displayed exceptional keenness for his work and he has never let either enemy opposition or adverse weather deter him from completing his allotted task. // Public Record Office Air 2/9088 has recommendation drafted (apparently by a Flight Commander, although he was also a Flight Commander; perhaps by the Adjutant) about 28 March 1945 when he had flown 177 sorties (200 hours 15 minutes). // This officer began operational flying in January 1944 and, operating from the United Kingdom, flew several sorties, most of which were low level photography. The targets covered included Noballs, radar station, gun positions, bridges and river crossings. Results produced were very good. // Since D Day he has led his section of two aircraft on a great many reconnaissance operations. Exceptional flying ability, good judgement and coolness in danger are qualities which enabled him to complete his work with efficiency and ease. His training as an Army officer (Captain rank) enabled him to appreciate any requirements and provided an added incentive to bring back the required information. His work has been equally good on Tactical Reconnaissance, Artillery Reconnaissance, Photo Reconnaissance and Contact Reconnaissance. // As a leader in the air and on the ground he gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. // On 28 March 1945, S/L C.D. Bricker, Commanding Officer, No.430 Squadron, wrote: // This pilot has at all times shown the greatest keenness for his work. His determination to carry out his operations regardless of weather or enemy opposition have been in inspiration to other members of the squadron. As flight commander, his organising ability and operational experience has to a large extent been responsible for the success of the squadron. I recommend that he be awarded a non-immediate Distinguished Flying Cross. // On 29 March 1945, G/C G.H. Sellers wrote: // While Flight Lieutenant Dunn was older than the majority of those in his squadron, his exceptional qualities of leadership, his outstanding determination and unswerving loyalty, combined with his high degree of ability, made him a pillar of strength both in his squadron and in the Wing. He carried out his work with dauntless determination and with the highest degree of success, despite the heaviest opposition. Flight Lieutenant Dunn is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. // This was endorsed by the Air Officer Commanding, No.83 Group on 31 March 1945 and approved by Air Marshal A. Coningham on 13 April 1945. // Notes: Assessed as an instructor at No.2 FIS, 29 January 1943. He had passed Instructor Course at Trenton, November 1940. When assessed he had flown 1,035 hours instructing on single-engine aircraft and 135 hours on twins. Rated as “a smooth and experienced instructor.” // On repatriation he stated he had flown 166 sorties (200 hours), the last on 17 March 1945. He had also flown 165 non-operational hours overseas. Types overseas has been Master (15 hours), Mustang (250) and Spitfire (100). First sortie had been 2 January 1944. // Selected assessments: “Has been carrying out the duties of Officer Commanding ‘B’ Flight for the past five months in a thoroughly efficient manner. At all times he has set an excellent example to the other officers on the station.” (S/L R.L. Burnett, No.6 SFTS, 5 June 1941). // “Mature officer with likeable personality and even temperament, capable and efficient but occasionally allows juniors to make his decisions without sufficient investigation of their reasons or data.” (S/L E.A. Boadway,27 January 1942). // “An excellent Flight Commander and organizer.” (W/C J.B. Harvey, No.2 FIS, 26 January 1943). // “A very keen, conscientious officer who has at all times shown fine leadership. His eagerness for his work has been a fine example to the other members of the squadron.” (S/L C.D. Bricker, No.430 Squadron, 26 March 1945, when he had flown 1,808 hours five minutes, 125.55 in past six months).