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BERGERON, Joseph Camille Yvan Flight Sergeant, No.405 Squadron, R211205/J92622 Distinguished Flying Medal RCAF Personnel Awards 1939-1949
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BERGERON, FS (now P/O) Joseph Camille Yvan (R211205/J92622) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.405 Squadron - Award effective 6 January 1945 as per London Gazette dated 16 January 1945 and AFRO 625/45 dated 13 April 1945. Born November 1924. Home in Montreal; enlisted there 19 December 1942. Posted to No.1 Manning Depot, 8 January 1943. To No.1 Air Gunner Ground Training School, 11 June 1943. To No.9 BGS on 29 July 1943; graduated 3 September 1943 and promoted Sergeant. To \"Y\" Depot, Halifax, 17 September 1943. Taken on strength of No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, 8 October 1943. Commissioned 22 September 1944. Repatriated to Canada, 6 February 1945. Released 17 April 1945. Medal presented 5 October 1947. No citation other than \"completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.\" Public Records Office Air 2/9039 has recommendation dated 21 October 1944 when he had flown 53 sorties (206 hours 44 minutes). * counted as 1/3 Operation 15 Febuary 1944 - Berlin (6.53) 19 Febuary 1944 - Leipzig (6.53) 20 Febuary 1944 - Stuttgart (6.18) 24 Febuary 1944 - Schweinfurt (6.53) 25 Febuary 1944 - Augsburg (7.05) 1 March 1944 - Stuttgart (7.01) 15 March 1944 - Stuttgart (6.55) 18 March 1944 - Frankfurt (5.02) 22 March 1944 - Frankfurt-on-Main (5.19) 24 March 1944 - Berlin (6.44) 30 March 1944 - Nuremburg (6.39) 18 April 1944 - Paris (3.37)* 8 May 1944 - Haine St.Pierre (2.44) 10 May 1944 - Ghent (2.19) 11 May 1944 - Boulogne (2.33) 19 May 1944 - Le Mans (3.58) 22 May 1944 - Le Mans (4.15) 28 May 1944 - Mardyck (1.54) 12 June 1944 - Amiens (2.40) 4 July 1944 - Bienmais (2.22) 5 July 1944 - Watten (1.38) 6 July 1944 - Croixdale (2.28) 7 July 1944 - Caen (2.28) 9 July 1944 - Mont Condon (2.04) 12 July 1944 - Acquet (1.31) 14 July 1944 - Anderbelck (1.40) 17 July 1944 - Caen (2.25) 18 July 1944 - Acquet (1.31) 23 July 1944 - Kiel (5.17) 24 July 1944 - Stuttgart (7.01) 25 July 1944 - Stuttgart (7.18) 28 July 1944 - Stuttgart (6.16) 30 July 1944 - Battle area (2.15) 1 August 1944 - Belle Croix (1.55) 4 August 1944 - L\'isle Adam (2.59) 5 August 1944 - Bordeaux (7.20) 7 August 1944 - TOTALIZE 5 (2.21) 8 August 1944 - Lucheux (3.10) 9 August 1944 - Coulonvilliers (2.23) 10 August 1944 - La Pallice (5.18) 12 August 1944 - La Pallice (5.22) 28 August 1944 - Cezembie (3.16) 5 September 1944 - Le Havre (2.15) 6 September 1944 - Le Havre 6 (2.02) 8 September 1944 - Le Havre (2.14) 10 September 1944 - Le Havre 3 (2.16) 12 September 1944 - Wanne Eickel (3.35) 17 September 1944 - Boulogne (1.35) 20 September 1944 - Calais (2.24) 24 September 1944 - Calais (2.16) 25 September 1944 - Calais (2.42) 26 September 1944 - Cap Gris Nez (2.27) 28 September 1944 - Cap Gris Nez (1.56) 15 October 1944 - Wilhelmshaven (3.53) \"Flight Sergeant Bergeron is a highly efficient and keen Non-Commissioned Officer now on his second tour of operations. He has participated in attacks on such heavily defended enemy areas as Berlin, Leipzig and Stuttgart. He is very enthusiastic in the performance of all tasks allotted to him, whether of an operational or non-operational nature. Although of a quiet, reserved nature, he possesses a fine fighting spirit which can only be satisfied when he is engaged in offensive action. The indomitable spirit shown by this Non-Commissioned Officer, coupled with his dogged determination and superior knowledge of his work makes him a very valuable member of a crew. Strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.\" Public Record Office Air 50/248 has a Combat Report for the night of 1st/2nd March 1944, Lancaster O/405, ND507 or JB507. Crew consisted of J16708 F/L A.J. Van Rassel, 141555 F/O G.F.W. Gillspie, 710165 Sergeant W. Howard, R109440 Warrant Officer F. Billingsley, R211205 Sergeant C.C.Y. Bergeron (mid-upper gunner, trained at No.9 BGS), J14183 F/O E.G. Gray (rear gunner, trained at No.9 BGS and No.22 OTU) and 1043385 Sergeant C.O. Beadman. \"While on operations to Stuttgart on the night of March 1st, 1944 and in a position 48 50\" North 09 30\" East, Lancaster \"O\" Serial No.JB507 of 405 Squadron was attacked by a twin-engined fighter identified by the rear gunner as being a Me.210. The encounter took place at 19,000 feet altitude while flying at 145 I.A.S. on a heading of 070 True. Visibility was good with 5/10 cloud tops at 12,000 feet and no moon. \"The enemy aircraft was first sighted by the rear gunner [Gray] silhoetted against the cloud at a range of 1,000 yards in the Starboard Quarter down. The enemy followed the bomber while closing in slowly on the Port Quarter down until it reached a position at 800 yards range at which time it banked towards the bomber and commenced to attack. The rear gunner held his fire until the range closed to 500 yards when he directed the pilot [Van Rassel] to corkscrew port, and opened fire with a short burst of 100 rounds total. The fighter then broke the attack by climbing on the port quarter and was not sighted again. There was no indication of imminent attack and the enemy aircraft did not open fire, no damage was caused to the fighter. Monica and Fishpond was reported unserviceable.\"