Flying Officer Donald McNair Caldwell D.F.C.

Donald McNair Caldwell was born in Huntingdon, Quebec, on 16 January 1923. After completing Grade 11 at Huntingdon High School, he worked as a teller for the Royal Bank of Canada in Montreal. He enlisted in the RCAF in November 1942 and trained as a navigator, receiving his navigator badge and commission in November 1943. Promoted Flying Officer in May 1944, he served overseas with No. 420 Squadron and completed 31 operational sorties over Europe. Part of No. 6 Group Bomber Command, the squadron was based out of RAF Tholthorpe in North Yorkshire, England, flying heavy Handley Page Halifax bombers. During his tour, No. 420 Squadron was heavily engaged in strategic bombing runs against German industrial centers, communication hubs, and flying-bomb (V-1) launch sites in Northern France to support the Allied push following D-Day. for his service with Bomber Command, Caldwell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Caldwell returned to Canada in June 1945, was released from active service in September, and transferred to the RCAF Reserve. He died June 22, 1980, aged 57.

1942-11-12 — Enlisted for voluntary RCAF service and was taken on strength at No. 5 Manning Depot — Montreal / Lachine, Quebec.
1942-12-28 — Posted into initial aircrew training — Toronto, Ontario.
1943-04-04 — Posted to No. 5 Initial Training School — Belleville, Ontario.
1943-05-10 — Posted to No. 5 Air Observer School for navigator training — Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1943-11-26 — Awarded Navigator Badge and commissioned Pilot Officer — Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1943-11-26 — Completed navigator training, received his Navigator Badge, and was commissioned Pilot Officer — No. 5 Air Observer School, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1944-01-15 — Posted to No. 2 Air Gunner Training School — Quebec.
1944-02-19 — Posted to No. 1 Y Depot in preparation for overseas movement — Lachine, Quebec.
1944-03-05 — Embarked from Canada for overseas service.
1944-03-14 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom.
1944-03-15 — Taken on strength at No. 3 RCAF Personnel Reception Centre — United Kingdom.
1944-05-09 — Posted to No. 24 Operational Training Unit — United Kingdom.
1944-05-26 — Promoted Flying Officer — United Kingdom.
1944-09-07 — Began Halifax conversion training with No. 1666 Conversion Unit as navigator in F/L Brown crew — United Kingdom.
1944-10-20 — Completed conversion training — United Kingdom.
1944-10-21 — Posted to No. 420 Squadron for operational service as navigator — Tholthorpe, Yorkshire, England.
1944-11 to 1945-05 — Completed an operational tour as navigator with No. 420 Squadron, flying Halifax operations over continental Europe — Europe / No. 420 Squadron.
1944-11-04 — Flew first recorded operational sortie with No. 420 Squadron, to Bochum — Bochum, Germany / No. 420 Squadron.
1945-05-08 — Operational service period with No. 420 Squadron ended — United Kingdom / No. 420 Squadron.
1945-05-08 — Completed his operational tour after 31 sorties as a navigator — No. 420 Squadron, Europe.
1945-06-12 — Returned to Canada on repatriation.
1945-06-17 to 1945-07-16 — Granted 30 days disembarkation/repatriation leave — Canada.
1945-09-15 — Released from active service and transferred to the RCAF Reserve — Canada.
1945-09-16 — Transferred to the RCAF Reserve following release from active service — Montreal, Quebec / RCAF Reserve.
1945-10-16 — RCAF forwarded released-service originals including his will, high-school leaving certificate, and birth/baptism extract — Ottawa, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec.