Donald Harold "Don" Kimball

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R.C.A.F. Spitfire Fliers Catch 12 FW's, Down 10

With the R.C.A.F. in France, July 14, 1944 - (CP) - In their second spectacular victory in little more than a week, an R.C.A.F. Spitfire squadron commanded by Sqdn. Ldr. Tommy Brannagan, Windsor, Ont., Thursday night shot down in flames without loss to themselves 10 of a formation of 12 Focke-Wulf 190's spotted flying at tree-top level near Argentan, about 10 miles south of Caen.
Recently when the squadron ran into some Germans it destroyed five and its score stands now at 15 confirmed victories in two sorties, a record unequalled by any other fighter squadron in Normandy.
The squadron is part of the celebrated Canadian wing led by Wing-Cmdr. J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, much-decorated English airman from Nottingham, who, with 35 planes downed in air combat, is the leading Allied ace in this theatre.
Three of the German aircraft destroyed late Thursday fell before the guns of F/O Bill Myers of Windsor, Ont., a veteran of between 80 and 90 operational flights, whose only previous score was a half-share in the destruction of an enemy dive-bomber.
Brannagan himself got two. Flt. Lts. G. E. Mott of Sarnia, Ont., and J. C. Copeland of Toronto, FO.'s Lloyd (Lou) Plummer of Toronto, B. M. Mackenzie of Stettler, Alta., and D. H. Kimball of Onatucket, N.B., each got one.
Three of Thursday evening's victors also shared in the previous five-plane triumph when Brannagan shot down two and Kimball and Mott each got one.
Brannagan has been in command of the squadron for only a fortnight. The youthful airman, who started his second tour without any rest period, said the Germans "didn't have a chance because apparently they didn't see us until we were right down on them." He said the FW's were carrying bombs.
Typhoon fighter-bombers destroyed a bridge and smashed a section of rail track near Fleury-sur-Orne last night, in a dive-bombing assault against enemy lines of communication behind the battlefront.
The City of Ottawa squadron took off from this advanced base in two flights. One, led by Flt. Lt. Harold Gooding of Ottawa, smashed the bridge, and another flight led by the squadron commanding officer, Sqdn. Ldr. Bill Pentland of Calgary, struck the rail tracks approaching a second bridge near Etavaux, further north.
WO. Pat McConvey, 116 Barton Avenue, Toronto, said two planes ahead of him bombed the bridge with one direct hit right in the center. "The bridge was sagging in the center like a V when I last saw it," he added.
FO. John Dewar of London, Ont. reported, “I think the bridge had a little bent in it before we got there—anyway it's sure got one now.”

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Fliers Win DFC's

Ottawa, Jan. 1, 1945 - (CP) - Air Force Headquarters tonight announced the award of three bars to the Distinguished Flying Cross and of 30 DFC's to RCAF personnel serving overseas.
Two of the DFC's went to Flt. Lt. Douglas Warren and Flt. Lt. Bruce Warren, twin brothers from Ponoka, Alta., who are serving with the same squadron overseas. The recipients:

BAR TO DFC
Sqdn. Ldr. W. A. Olmsted, Hamilton
FO. D. W. Goodwin, Maynooth.
FO. D. R. C. Jamieson, 148 Gilbert Ave., Toronto

DFC
Sqdn. Ldr. W. M. Foster, Guelph
Sqdn. Ldr. E. H. Lapp, Redcliffe, Alta. [sp]
Sqdn. Ldr. A. E. Monson, North Hollywood, California
Sqdn. Ldr. A. H. Sager, Vancouver
Sqdn. Ldr. E. P. Wood, Renfrew
Flt. Lt. W. D. Burton, Brantford
Flt. Lt. J. M. Ballachey, High River, Alta.
Flt. Lt. W. C. Fox, Dunnville
Flt. Lt. R. E. Evans, Cleveland, Ohio
Flt. Lt. P. L. Gibbs, Harlan, Sask.
Flt. Lt. D. W. A. Harling, Westmount, Que.
Flt. Lt. J. E. McLurg, Westmount, Que.
Flt. Lt. H. J. Nixon, Hamilton
Flt. Lt. J. D. Orr of Victoria
Flt. Lt. W. B. Peglar, 144 Glengarry Ave., Toronto
Flt. Lt. D. B. Rodd, Concord, Mass.
Flt. Lt. N. G. Russell, New Westminster
Flt. Lt. B. Warren, Ponoka, Alta.
Flt. Lt. D. Warren, Ponoka, Alta.
Flt. Lt. G. M. Smith, Nelson, B.C.
FO. W. K. Carr, Grand Bank, Nfld.
FO. W. F. Cook, Clinton
FO. D. H. Kimball, Oromocto, N.B.
FO. J. P. Lumsden, Hamilton
FO. H. F. Morse, Haney, B.C.
FO. G. F. Ockenden, Edmonton
FO. P. Slayden, Houston, Texas
FO. A. M. Sauve, Hull, Que.
FO. W. R. Weeks, Loggieville, N.B.
PO. J. A. Kerr, Alexander, Man.

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KIMBALL, F/O Donald Harold (J35983) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.441 Squadron
Award effective 18 December 1944 as per London Gazette dated 29 December 1944 and
AFRO 379/45 dated 2 March 1945.

During his tour of operations this officer has displayed exceptional keenness and determination. As a section leader he has taken part in numerous patrols, armed reconnaissances and fighter sorties. He has destroyed four enemy aircraft in the air and one on the ground in addition to much enemy road and rail transport. Flying Officer Kimball has shown himself to be an outstanding fighter whose achievements against the enemy have been brilliant.

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