Released from the RCAF, 25 September 1945 Re-enrolled 17 January 1946, serving initially with No.6 Communications Flight, North West Air Command Reverting back to F/L in October 1946 Promoted back to S/L in January 1951 and becoming Commander of No.416 Squadron (January 1951 to March 1952) Promoted to Wing Commander in September 1957 Promoted to Group Captain in July 1963 and becoming Commander of No.3 Wing at Zweibrucken, Germany (July 1963 to August 1966) Promoted to Air Commodor in April 1967 Promoted to Major General in June 1969 and becoming Commander of No.1 Air Division (July 1969 to April 1970) Commander of Canadian Forces in Europe (April 1970 to Aug. 1971) Promoted to Lieutenant General in May 1972 and becoming Chief of Personnel, Canadian Forces Headquarters (May 1972 to retirement) Released 16 October 1976 Got into the retail business (Canadian Tire stores) with Doug Lindsay |
||||||||
_________________________________________________
Five German Targets Heavily Hit by Allies; 20 Hun Planes Downed
London, March 23, 1944 - (AP) - Strong forces of Allied bombers, following up a record 3,360-ton bombardment of Frankfurt by the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. last night, carried out a sweeping series of daylight attacks against five other German targets today and a powerful escort of fighters shot down at least 20 enemy planes as the Nazi air force came up in strength.
Twenty-seven American bombers and six fighters were lost as the United States 8th Air Force used probably more than 1,500 planes in bombing rail yards, war factories and air bases in Northwest Germany.
It was the 13th attack against German targets in March and the sixth strong blow in nine days.
Meanwhile a force of nearly 200 R.A.F. Bostons and American medium bombers attacked without loss the French railway center of Creil for the third time in a week and also Nazi airfields at Beauvais-Tille and Beaumont-le-Roger.
Struck in Five Waves
The raiders swept over targets in five waves in weather so clear that the airmen could see nearly 50 miles, but in all that territory only a single enemy aircraft, a Junkers 88, was spotted. Two Canadian Spitfire pilots, F/O D. C. Laubman of Edmonton and F/L W. B. Needham of Wynyard, Sask., sent it down in flames
Later R.A.F. Typhoon fighter-bombers and R.A.F. and Allied Mitchells and Bostons attacked military objectives in Northern France.
The Germans had no time to recover from the daylight operations before air-raid warnings were sounded in the Reich against R.A.F. night attackers. At 9 p.m. (4 p.m. E.D.T.), the Berlin radio warning system broadcast: "A number of nuisance raiders are over Northwestern Germany."
United States Strategic Air Force headquarters announced strong formations of heavy bombers hit:
The railway yards at Hamm; an air station at Achmer; a bomber base at Handorf; a war factory at Munster and the Messerschmitt production center at Brunswick.
No fewer than 5,000 Allied planes had gone deep into the Reich in the 24 hours ending at 1 p.m., raining down at least 6,000 tons of bombs —a rate of approximately 250 tons every hour and more than four tons every minute.
In this 24-hour period the attack cost a total of 73 bombers and 13 fighters.
The bomb tonnage hurled on Frankfurt, one of the big centers of the I. G. Farbenindustrie Chemical Works and home of important aircraft plants, was described by the Air Ministry as a record for one raid.
Lose 33 at Frankfurt
Thirty-three planes, including seven Canadians, were lost in the attack on Frankfurt. This was 11 more than the last 1,000-plane raid Saturday when Frankfurt also was the main target, but seven less than on the first of the 1,000-plane attacks which was against Stuttgart March 15.
Frankfurt was hit shortly before 11 p.m. with a half-hour blow. An hour later a follow-up force of R.A.F. Mosquitos went over and the airmen in these fleet craft reported huge columns of smoke and fire visible as far as 200 miles away.
For the Canadian Bomber Group it was the second heavy attack in five nights and at least six squadrons were in the raiding force. Wing Cmdr. Bill Swetman, D.F.C., of Kapuskasing, led the Thunderbird Squadron on his 53rd sortie.
"Fires were visible for 150 miles from Frankfurt," said Flt. Sgt. Harry Grayson of London, Ont.
_________________________________________________
City Pilots Wreck Hun Planes in Sunday's Smashing Raids
An R.C.A.F. Airfield in France, July 3, 1944 - (CP) - R.CA.F. Spitfire pilots gave more details today of Sunday's successes in which 19 German planes were destroyed.
Most of the combats took place immediately ahead of the British Army fighting zone, where earlier in the day ground-strafing aircraft destroyed a large number of Nazi military vehicles.
Among Canadian fighters turning in claims Sunday were S/L Jack Sheppard of Dollarton, B.C., who destroyed one, and P/O D. R. Jamieson of 1407 Symington Ave. Toronto, who got a destroyed and a damaged. P/O Goldie Goldberg of 1133A Avenue Rd., Toronto, damaged one.
Fifth Victory
Sheppard, by the destruction of a FW-190, chalked up his fifth victory. He gave the Hun plane a short burst of cannon and machine-gun fire and it burst into flames and blew up. “I had to pull to starboard to avoid the aircraft and its pieces,” he said.
F/O R. J. Lake of Langstaff, and F/L L. Moore, Philadelphia, each bagged two Germans and shared another, and F/L D. C. Laubman, Edmonton, destroyed two.
Quick Succession
Laubman's two victories came in quick succession when his squadron, on a dive-bombing sortie, met two dozen German planes. He followed one Focke Wulf into a cloud and gave it a two-second burst as it emerged on the other side.
“There was an explosion and the Focke WuIf was enveloped in flames,” Laubman said. “The pilot bailed out.”
Later, with two squadron mates, he sighted 15 enemy aircraft. He chased one and saw strikes on its engine and wing. “White smoke poured from him and his engines stopped,” said Laubman. “I made a new attack and blew his port tail plane and rudder off with machine-gun fire. The aircraft blew up.”
_________________________________________________
Downs 8 Nazis In Three DaysWith the Tactical Air Force in Belgium, Sept. 27, 1944 (Reuters) — F/L Don Laubman of Edmonton, 23, today destroyed four German planes and damaged two more to set a record for eight kills in three days. F/L Don Laubman |
 |
_________________________________________________
FLYING OFFICER BERRYMAN
IN AIR BATTLES OVER HOLLAND
Takes Toll of Enemy During Terrific Action in Nijmegen Bridge Area
September 29, 1944 - While F/L George Johnson continues to lead Hamilton airmen in the destruction of enemy aircraft over France, the Low Countries and Germany, dispatches from the front line indicate the competition is keen and other Hamiltonians with new successes are crowding the leading scorer.
Downs Three
Over the Nijmegen Bridge yesterday, according to a Canadian Press story today, F/O Lloyd F. Berryman, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Berryman, 657 King street east, destroyed three enemy aircraft between dusk and dawn.
"Most potent destroyer was F/L Don Laubman, of Edmonton, who shot down four and damaged two others. F/O Lloyd Berryman, of Hamilton, Ont. was the next highest scorer with three destroyed and one damaged," according to the story.
Laubman, whose total 'bag' now is 13 —all since D-day— downed his first two of the Wednesday total when his squadron, led by F/L Rod Smith, D.F.C., of Regina, eliminated eight German planes in an early morning patrol over the bridge area. Smith also shot down two to raise his total to 11.
F/L C. W. Fox, Guelph, Ont., and Berryman each destroyed two others, and Fox damaged another two.
Laubman completed his score in two separate afternoon patrols, while Berryman destroyed his third enemy plane and crippled another. Also during the afternoon F/O D. R. Jamieson, D.F.C., of Toronto, shot down a pair of Focke-Wulf 190's and F/L Baz Dean, of Cowansville, Que., drew his first blood by destroying a Focke-Wulf.
_________________________________________________
LAUBMAN, F/O
Donald Currie (J14013) - Distinguished Flying Cross -
No.412 Squadron
Award effective 24 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944.
This officer has consistently displayed outstanding courage and determination to engage the enemy and has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft. He has invariably pressed home his attacks against road transport with great success.
_________________________________________________
RECORD SCORE MADE BY TWO RCAF GROUPS
An Advanced RCAF Airfield in Holland, Nov. 22, 1944 - (CP) - Here's the record of a hot day's operations by two RCAF Spitfire squadrons operating as fighter-bombers,
Four enemy fighters destroyed, a fifth probably destroyed; enemy rail lines cut at 20 points; a direct hit with a bomb on a road bridge; one locomotive destroyed, 22 damaged and put out of action; six freight cars destroyed; 28 damaged; two anti-aircraft railway cars destroyed, and two damaged; four barges damaged; seven transport vehicles destroyed, two probably knocked out and seven damaged.
The squadrons are commanded by S/L Dean Dover, DFC, Mount Dennis, and S/L William Olmsted, DFC, Hamilton, in a wing directed operationally by W/C Dal Russel, DFC and Bar, of Montreal.
F/L Don Laubman, DFC and Bar, of Edmonton, brought his bag to 15 German aircraft destroyed as a result of the day's encounters.
F/O's Don Goodwin, Maynooth, Ont., and Neil Burns, 196 Eglinton Ave., Toronto, took off on a weather reconnaissance flight, but returned an hour later after disabling six locomotives, destroying six freight cars and cutting two rail lines. They encountered a perfect setup for dive-bombing—two trains passing one another—10 miles east of Deventer. They scored direct hits on both, severing the parallel lines and destroying six cars. Then they returned and strafed both locomotives.
En route home they damaged four more engines by cannon and machine-gun fire. Olmsted's men had the most success against trains, disabling 18 of 23 Locomotives and all but three of 34 freight cars.
_________________________________________________
LAUBMAN, F/L Donald Currie, DFC (J14013) - Bar to DFC - No.412 Squadron
Award effective 24 November 1944 as per London Gazette of that date
AFRO 1/45 dated 5 January 1945
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant Laubman has completed many sorties against the enemy. He continues to show tenacity of spirit and outstanding courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Flight Lieutenant Laubman has led his flight with such ability that they have accounted for sixteen out of twenty-six enemy aircraft destroyed by his squadron and he was responsible for the destruction of eight and the damaging of two in three days, bringing his total to thirteen enemy aircraft destroyed and two damaged. This officer's squadron was outnumbered by the enemy on all three occasions but with undaunted courage and determination they successfully broke up repeated enemy attacks to destroy bridges vital to our ground forces in the Arnhem and Nijmegen area.
_________________________________________________
ACE FIGHTER PILOT HOME
Ottawa, Dec. 12, 1944 — (CP) — Canada's highest scoring fighter pilot since D-day, June 6, F/L Don Laubman, 23, D.F.C. and Bar, with a score of 15 enemy aircraft to his credit was on his way to his home in Edmonton yesterday.
He arrived here during the weekend with a large group of airmen repatriates and after going through documentation formalities at nearby Rockcliffe Air Station he boarded a train for home.
The former Edmonton grocery clerk was enthusiastic about being home. But, he hoped to be back in England again shortly after the next year. "That's where I belong," he said.
The dawning of D-day" started his high-scoring effort. Up to that time his score against the Germans was a share in a downed aircraft. On June 16, the Canadian Spitfire wing, of which Laubman was a member, landed in France. On July 2 he destroyed two Focke-Wulf 190's — his first two kills.
September 27 was the red-letter, day in the life of the young Edmontonian. Just shortly after the airborne landing in the vicinity of Arnheim, the Canadian Spitfire wing was working from early morning until late at night and Laubman finished the day's work, three sorties, with a total of four enemy aircraft destroyed and two damaged.
_________________________________________________
Canadian Fighter Unit Downs 201 Nazi Planes
An Advanced R.C.A.F. Airfield in Holland, Dec. 18, 1944 - (CP) - Fliers of a Canadian Spitfire wing under G/C G. R. McGregor and W/C Dal Russel, both of Montreal, became the second to pass the 200 mark in German aircraft destroyed since the wing’s formation, when they shot down a pair of FW190's over Geldern in Germany.
First to establish the mark was the wing commanded jointly by G/C W. R. MacBrien of Ottawa, and W/C Johnny Johnson, whose fliers shot down five aircraft Oct. 8, raising their total to 202, and subsequently to 207. The McGregor-Russel wing's total stands at 201.
The two Canadian units have destroyed 314 Huns between them since D-Day, scored more than 15 probables and damaged upwards of 200. In addition to crippling German road and rail transport with dive-bombing, as well as machine-gun and cannon offensives.
The first Jerry destroyed by McGregor-Russel pilots, July 19, 1943, was a FW190, joint victim of S/L Ian Ormston of Montreal, and S/L Bob Hayward of St. John's, Nfld. Since then many aces have been born within the wing. The most recent being F/L Don Laubman, of Edmonton, with 15 destroyed; S/L R. I. Smith, Regina, 11 destroyed; F/L W. J. Banks and F/O D. R. Jamieson, both of Toronto, each with eight destroyed.
_________________________________________________
Beurling Ranks Fourth Among European Aces
By FRED BACKHOUSE, London, July 15, 1945 - (CP) - Group Captain J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, English-born, former leader of a crack Canadian Spitfire wing, has been officially recognized as "ace of aces" among Allied fighter pilots who fought over Europe.
Final scoring records, compiled by The Canadian Press from figures supplied by the RAF, RCAF, and United States 8th and 9th Air Forces, put this peace-time accountant from the Leicestershire town of Loughborough at the top of the list with 38 German planes destroyed.
G/C Johnson, who so closely identified himself with his otherwise all-Canadian squadron that he wore "Canada" on his shoulder, has often given much of the credit for his success to the Canadians who flew with him. "It's all a combination play," he said. Many of his men themselves became "aces."
Of the first 16 places supplied by the air forces, fourth is held by a Canadian — F/L George (Buzz) Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM and Bar, of Verdun, Que. — and 11 by RAF pilots. For the record, only those with more than 24 "kills" were offered by the three services as their top men. Official final scores are:
G/C J. E. Johnson (RAF), 38
G/C A. G. Malan (RAF), 29.5
F/L G. Beurling (RCAF), 30
S/L B. Finucane (RAF), 29
W/C J. R. D. "Bob" Braham (RAF), 29
W/C C. Caldwell (RAF), 28½
W/C Stanford Tuck (RAF), 28
An anonymous Polish sergeant [Czech pilot Josef Frantisek -jf] (RAF), 28
Lt/Col F. S. Gabreski (U.S. 8th), 28
S/L J. H. Lacey (RAF), 28
Capt. Robert Johnson (U.S. 8th), 27
Maj. G. E. Preddy (U.S. 8th), 27
W/C F. R. Carey (RAF), 26
F/L E. S. Lock (RAF), 26
Lt/Col J. C. Meyer (U.S. 8th), 24½
F/L Mungo-Park (RAF), 12
[I have modified the arrangement & scores to be more accurate –jf]
RCAF fighter pilots in the European war with scores of 15 or more German planes destroyed number six according to overseas headquarters in London. In addition, there were two equally high-scoring Canadians in the RAF, both of whom were killed in that service before they could transfer to the RCAF. After Beurling they are:
SL H. W. McLeod, DSO, DFC and Bar, of Regina, 21
S/L V. C. Woodward, DFC and bar, 19
F/O W. L. McKnight, DFC and Bar, of Calgary, 16½
W/C Mark H. Brown, DFC and Bar, of Glenboro, Man., 16.45
W/C J. F. Edwards, DFC and bar, DFM, MiD, 16.1
W/C R. W. McNair, DSO, DFC and two bars, of North Battleford, 16
W/C E. F. J. Charles, DSO, DFC and Bar, Silver Star (U.S.), 15½
F/L Don C. Laubman, DFC and Bar, of Edmonton, 15
The late Wing-Cmdr. Brown is officially credited by the RAF with "at least 16" aircraft destroyed. His score may well have been higher, but uncertainty exists because the records of No. 1 Squadron, RAF, of which he was then commanding officer, were destroyed during the retreat at the time of the collapse of France.
_________________________________________________
Victories Include :
| 30 Dec 1943 23 Mar 1944 2 July 1944 5 July 1944 10 Aug 1944 25 Sept 1944 26 Sept 1944 27 Sept 1944 28 Oct 1944 |
one Me109 1/2 Ju88 two FW190s one FW190 1.5 Me109s one Me109 two FW190s one Me109 three Me109s one FW190 one FW190 one Me109 two FW190s |
damaged destroyed [a] destroyed destroyed destroyed [b] destroyed & destroyed & destroyed & damaged destroyed |
15 / 0 / 3
[a] Shared with Barry Needham - "On March 23rd, a sunny clear day for a change, two wings spent the noon hour escorting Marauders on another visit to the yards at Creil. When over the town, at 14,000 feet, F/O D. C. Laubman of the Falcons picked out a Ju. 88 flying on the deck far below, and with his team-mate, F/L W. B. Needham, plunged to attack. Needham passed Laubman in the dive and got in the first bursts; then Don closed in and elicited some return fire from the Hun. The port engine of the Junkers burst into flames and, as the pilot made a wheels-up landing in a large field, four of the crew scrambled out. [b] One shared with Terry Saunderson |
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
 September 1950 - Legendary Canadian journalist Gordon Sinclair caught up with some of the Blue Devils for an interview. (L-R) Fred Evans, Bill Bliss, Bill Paisley, Gordon Sinclair & Don Laubman. A few of the Pilots with the Canadian Forces Aerobatics Team the Blue Devils. |
_________________________________________________
Don signing artwork in 2005[6?] (Pat Murphy photo).
_________________________________________________
Related Sites : |
_________________________________________________
Thanks go out to
Pat Murphy for the photo & infos !
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.
|
Some content on this site is probably the property of acesofww2.com unless otherwise noted.
