MARLATT, F/L Stafford Dean (J16113) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.439 Squadron - Award effective 10 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 24 July 1945 and AFRO 1619/45 dated 19 October 1945. Born 17 July 1915, Oakville, Ontario; home there. Former clerk and member of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Enlisted in Toronto, 16 October 1940. To No.1 ANS (guard), 7 November 1940. To No.2 ITS, 30 November 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 2 January 1941 when posted to No.12 EFTS; may have graduated 21 February 1941; to No.1A Manning Depot, 24 February 1941; to “R”, 4 March 1941; this may have been No.1 SFTS, as he graduates and is promoted Sergeant, 16 May 1941. To RAF overseas, 17 June 1941. Commissioned 17 October 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 17 April 1943. Repatriated 14 November 1943. To Western Air Command, 3 January 1944. To No.133 Squadron, 10 January 1944; to No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 7 April 1944; to “Y” Depot, Halifax, 30 September 1944; taken on strength, No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, 27 September 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 17 October 1944. Repatriated 4 September 1945. Released 18 October 1945. Died in Oakville, Ontario, 17 December 2003. Medal presented 9 April 1948. DHist file 181.009 D.1636 (RG.24 Vol.20604) has application for Operational Wings dated 9 February 1944 from him claiming approximately 100 operational hours, night fighting and day offensive sweeps, with No.247 Squadron (Typhoons), 15 September 1941 to 30 October 1943. Died in Toronto, 17 December 2003. The following photographs are at Library and Archives Canada - PL-45772 (ex UK 24107), four Typhoon pilots watch a small boy playing with sail boat at Repatriation Depot, Torquay - F/O Mickey Harrison (Qu’appelle, Saskatchewan), F/L A/W. Breck (Ottawa), F/L Stafford Marlett, DFC (Oakville) and P/O R.J. Roach (Toronto); PL-45868 (ex UK-22934 dated 1 August 1945, shopping in Bournemouth while awaiting repatriation; PL-45869 (ex UK-22935 dated 16 August 1945), F/O K.D. Ross (right, Sherbrooke) and F/L S.D. Marlatt (left, Oakville) manhandle Marlatt’s luggage at Bournemouth; PL-45870 (ex UK-22936 dated 16 August 1945) at Bournemouth, F//L S.D. Marlatt talks to personnel counsellor D/L V.A. Shewfelt (Brandon, Manitoba); PL-45871 (ex UK-22937 dated 16 August 1945) shows F/L S.D. Marlatt and F/L A.W. Breck (Ottawa) returning excess kit to stores handled by Corporal G.M. Chittin (Chatham, Ontario); PL-45872 (ex UK-23065 dated 22 August 1945) shows F/L S.D. Marlatt waiting for an aircraft to take him to England; PL-45873 (ex UK-23066 dated 22 August 1945) standing beside his Typhoon; PL-45874 (ex UK-23067 dated 22 August 1945) showing members of a group called the RCAF Westernaires serenading F/L S.D. Marlatt as he is repatriated - left to right are LAC Lance Harrison (Vancouver), Sergeant Cy Roach (Vancouver), LAC Jim Stube (Vancouver) and LAC Bob Bond (Toronto); with them are the following pilots - F/L Bill Breck (Ottawa), F/L Ed Flannigan, F/L S.D. Marlatt, F/O Jim Doran (James Island, British Columbia), F/L Max Atkins (Cremona, Alberta), F/L Gordon Appleby (Duncan, British Columbia) and F/L Dave McBride (Montreal); PL-25875 (ex UK-23068 dated 22 August 1945) shows Marlatt packing his gear and trying to get his helmet into the sack; PL-45976 (ex UK-23069 dated 22 August 1945) with F/L S.D. Marlatt throwing his gear into a Halifax bomber before returning to Britain; four Typhoon pilots just before departure from Germany, viz F/L Bill Breck (Ottawa), F/L S.D. Marlatt (Oakville), F/L R.P. Pearson (Prescott, Ontario) and F/L Ken Ross (Sherbrooke, Quebec); PL-45978 (ex UK-23071 dated 22 August 1945), F/L S.D. Marlatt waves goodbye to Germany // During his first tour of operations this officer completed numerous bomber escort and night fighter sorties. Since joining his present squadron he has been occupied mainly with attacks on the railway and transport system of Germany and in armed reconnaissance work. Flight Lieutenant Marlatt has also taken part in close support missions during which he has achieved outstanding results. In support of the Rhine crossing he was engaged in harassing German communications, artillery concentrations, and troops, and in the latter stages of the war he participated in anti-shipping operations. As a flight commander he showed great ability and leadership and was materially responsible for the consistently good results achieved by his squadron.