DAWBER, F/O Norman Ewart (J26435) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.438 Squadron - Award effective 6 February 1945 as per London Gazette dated 13 February 1945 and AFRO 508/45 dated 23 March 1945. Born 23 July 1920 in Toronto; home there. Enlisted 17 September as Aero Engine Mechanic. To Technical Training School, St. Thomas, 2 January 1940. Promoted AC1, 29 February 1940. To Trenton, 17 July 1940. Promoted LAC, 1 July 1941. Promoted Corporal, 1 May 1942. Remustered to aircrew and posted to No.5 ITS, 12 September 1942; may have graduated 7 November 1942 but not posted to No.13 EFTS until 21 November 1942; graduated 21 January 1943 and posted to No.2 SFTS on 23 January 1943; graduated and commissioned, 14 May 1943. To Western Air Command, 24 May 1943. To No.118 (Fighter) Squadron, 1 June 1943. To “Y” Depot, 21 October 1943. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 31 October 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 14 November 1943. Repatriated 23 August 1945. Retired 12 September 1945. Re-engaged as Personnel/Information Officer, Primary Reserve, in Toronto, 7 November 1955 to 31 August 1959 (service number 301327; Flight Lieutenant as of 1 May 1957). Died in Toronto, 27 April 2011. Photo PL-36294 is a portrait. Photo PL-40910 (ex UK-8289 dated 23 February 1944) shows him; caption says he was a typist with Toronto Transit Commission; played lacross four years with Woodgreen United Church (championship); also basketball, baseball and hockey. Had taken flying lessons before the war, hobby was airplanes and may have served in No.110 (Auxiliary) Squadron. // This officer has successfully completed a large number of operational sorties. On numerous occasions he has led his squadron on attacks against heavily defended targets and has always displayed a fine fighting spirit. On one occasion in November, 1944, while attacking a strongly defended bridge, his aircraft was hit by fire from the enemy's defences and severely damaged. Undeterred, Flying Officer Dawber pressed home his attack and afterwards skilfully flew his battered aircraft back to our lines where he was forced to abandon it by parachute. Throughout his tour this officer has set an excellent example of courage and coolness in emergencies. // NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9048 has recommendation dated 18 December 1944 when he had flown 95 sorties (103 hours 45 minutes) with a more detailed description of his tour: // This officer has completed 95 operational sorties against the enemy consisting of dive bombing attacks on marshalling yards, rail lines, radar installations, enemy strong points, Noball targets and bridges as well as carrying out fighter sweeps and armed reconnaissances. // He has successfully led the squadron on numerous times against heavily defended targets and has shown great keenness to engage the enemy. On two occasions in June during the early days of the invasion, this officer participated in attacks on vitally important bridges at Thury-Harcourt and Cabourg which were wiped out despite intense, accurate flak. During the Falaise Gap period, Flying Officer Dawber logged many Mechanical Enemy Transport flamers and damaged numerous barges and locomotives. // Recently this pilot participated in low level attacks on canal locks on the Dortmund Canal and on locks near Sneek and Gaarkuiken, Holland. // On November 18, 1944, Flying Officer Dawber, while attacking a heavily defended bridge near Hilfarth, Germany, was hit in his dive but pressed home his attack and successfully coaxed his battered aircraft back to out forward troop lines where he baled out safely. // Throughout his tour, this officer has shown great determination and courage in pressing home attacks against heavily defended targets. His leadership and coolness in emergencies have set an example for the men flying with him. // Press Release No.7463 dated November 1944 from F/O Taylor, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates reads: // A FORWARD RCAF AIRFIELD IN HOLLAND: -- F/O Norman Dawber of Toronto, Ontario (42 Howie Avenue), pilot with the City of Montreal fighter-bomber squadron, parachuted out of his disabled Typhoon north of Aachen right into the middle of a battle in No-Man’s Land. “Everything seemed quiet as I landed,” said F/O Dawber. But in a moment, bullets were zipping all around him and he was dashing breathlessly from one place to another for cover. // He made his first dash for a nearby haystack. “I could hear some heavy guns and I thought they might be ours, so I started to creep across the field toward them,” he said. “Pretty soon, I saw two Tommies pop their heads out from behind a log. I was near a ruined building at the time. They waved like mad for me to come over and then ducked out of sight. I stood up straight on my way over and then I heard bullets start to whizz by my ears, so I ducked and ran flat out.” He raced 200 yards for the protection of the log and one of the Tommies held his head down out of sight. With a series of short dashes from one place of cover to another, the Tommies took him out of the battle zone. He returned to his squadron by easy stages. // F/O Dawber was flying with his squadron, which was dive-bombing a bridge near Hilfarth when his aircraft was hit by flak.