Lieutenant-GeneralDonald Currie Laubman, DFCAOECD (16 October 1921 – 20 June 2018) was a Second World War Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace. He remained in the Canadian armed services after the war rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Laubman was born in Provost, Alberta, on 16 October 1921. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in September 1940, and completed his pilot training in Calgary at No 3 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Rated above average as a pilot, he then served as an instructor at No 31 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at De Winton. In September 1942 he was commissioned and served with No. 133 Squadron, RCAF on the Canadian west coast until May 1943.
Service careeredit
In September 1942 he was commissioned and served with No. 133 Squadron, at Boundary Bay, British Columbia, Canada until May 1943. In August 1943 he went overseas to RAF Redhill in the United Kingdom and then posted to No. 412 Squadron RAF, 126 Wing (83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force).
In the late spring and early summer of 1944 Flight Lieutenant Laubman and 412 Squadron were based in Tangmere, West Sussex, and flew fighter operations over occupied Europe. After witnessing an impassioned speech given by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 412 crossed the English Channel on 6 June 1944 (D-Day), covering the landings on Juno Beach.
From D-Day to VE Day, 13 RCAF fighter pilots in service on the continent accounted for more than 120 German aircraft claimed destroyed. The top scorer was Squadron Leader Don Laubman, with 15 victories.
On 26 and 27 September Laubman flew four missions and downed seven enemy aircraft; four German Focke-Wulf Fw 190s and three German Messerschmitt Bf 109s (plus another Bf 109 damaged). This happened in the Nijmegen area (the location of Operation Market-Garden, the airborne operation to capture the Dutch Rhine bridges.) After his tour ended he arrived back in Canada in November 1944. Laubman applied to return to active duty and was assigned command of No. 402 Squadron RAF as a Squadron Leader. When Laubman's Spitfire was downed by the explosion of his strafed target, he became a prisoner of war on 14 April 1945.[1]
Tallyedit
Laubman's final count was 15 destroyed, and 3 damaged. 14 of those 15 were between June and October 1944. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar as well as the Canadian Forces' Decoration with two Bars. He is the fourth ranking RCAF ace.
Postwar careeredit
He was released from the RCAF in September 1945, but rejoined the RCAF in January 1946. Laubman first served with No. 6 Communications Flight, NWAC. He was a founding member of the Blue Devils aerobatic team and flew with the team from 1949 to 1951. He then commanded No. 416 Squadron from January 1951 to March 1952. He went on to command No. 3 Wing at Zweibrücken from July 1963 to August 1966. In April 1967 he was promoted to Air Commodore and he took up command of No. 1 Air Division in July 1969, remaining in the post until April 1970. He was then made Commander of Canadian Forces Europe in April 1970 to August 1971 before becoming Chief of Personnel, CFHQ in May 1972 until his retirement. Upon his retirement he held the rank of Lieutenant General.
In 1979, he opened a Canadian Tire store in Red Deer, Alberta, and was very active in community affairs.[2] In 2007, he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence for distinguished service as a fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force and as a central Alberta business and community leader.[3]
He died in June 2018 at the age of 96.[4] Two CF-18 Hornet fighters[5] from the RCAF base at Cold Lake, Alberta,[6] performed a flyby at the celebration of life for him and his wife in Red Deer.[7]
Referencesedit
Air Force Association of Canada entry 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 April 2014
The Alberta Order of Excellence Retrieved 2 April 2014
Milberry, Larry, ed. Sixty Years—The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984. Toronto: Canav Books, 1984. ISBN0-9690703-4-9.
^Bakes, Roger (May 31, 2012). "Profile of Don Laubman - WW II Ace Fighter Pilot [Interview, at 24:06 of 39:04 video]".
^Obituary, "Donald Curry Laubman," Red Deer Advocate, June 20, 2018.
^Sheldon Spackman, "CF-18 Hornet flyby honours decorated Red Deer war vet, community builder Don Laubman, wife Margie," RDNewsNow, July 1, 2018
External linksedit
Don Laubman at acesofww2.com
April 12, 2024
laubman, lieutenant, general, donald, currie, laubman, october, 1921, june, 2018, second, world, canadian, fighter, pilot, flying, remained, canadian, armed, services, after, rising, rank, lieutenant, general, donald, currie, laubmandfc, cdborn, 1921, october,. Lieutenant General Donald Currie Laubman DFC AOE CD 16 October 1921 20 June 2018 was a Second World War Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace He remained in the Canadian armed services after the war rising to the rank of Lieutenant General Donald Currie LaubmanDFC AOE CDBorn 1921 10 16 16 October 1921Provost AlbertaDied20 June 2018 2018 06 20 aged 96 AllegianceCanadaService wbr branchRoyal Canadian Air ForceYears of service1940 1972RankLieutenant GeneralBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsDistinguished Flying Cross Alberta Order of Excellence Canadian Forces Decoration Contents 1 Biography 2 Service career 3 Tally 4 Postwar career 5 References 6 External linksBiography editLaubman was born in Provost Alberta on 16 October 1921 He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF in September 1940 and completed his pilot training in Calgary at No 3 Service Flying Training School SFTS Rated above average as a pilot he then served as an instructor at No 31 Elementary Flying Training School EFTS at De Winton In September 1942 he was commissioned and served with No 133 Squadron RCAF on the Canadian west coast until May 1943 Service career editIn September 1942 he was commissioned and served with No 133 Squadron at Boundary Bay British Columbia Canada until May 1943 In August 1943 he went overseas to RAF Redhill in the United Kingdom and then posted to No 412 Squadron RAF 126 Wing 83 Group 2nd Tactical Air Force In the late spring and early summer of 1944 Flight Lieutenant Laubman and 412 Squadron were based in Tangmere West Sussex and flew fighter operations over occupied Europe After witnessing an impassioned speech given by General Dwight D Eisenhower 412 crossed the English Channel on 6 June 1944 D Day covering the landings on Juno Beach From D Day to VE Day 13 RCAF fighter pilots in service on the continent accounted for more than 120 German aircraft claimed destroyed The top scorer was Squadron Leader Don Laubman with 15 victories On 26 and 27 September Laubman flew four missions and downed seven enemy aircraft four German Focke Wulf Fw 190s and three German Messerschmitt Bf 109s plus another Bf 109 damaged This happened in the Nijmegen area the location of Operation Market Garden the airborne operation to capture the Dutch Rhine bridges After his tour ended he arrived back in Canada in November 1944 Laubman applied to return to active duty and was assigned command of No 402 Squadron RAF as a Squadron Leader When Laubman s Spitfire was downed by the explosion of his strafed target he became a prisoner of war on 14 April 1945 1 Tally editLaubman s final count was 15 destroyed and 3 damaged 14 of those 15 were between June and October 1944 His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar as well as the Canadian Forces Decoration with two Bars He is the fourth ranking RCAF ace Postwar career editHe was released from the RCAF in September 1945 but rejoined the RCAF in January 1946 Laubman first served with No 6 Communications Flight NWAC He was a founding member of the Blue Devils aerobatic team and flew with the team from 1949 to 1951 He then commanded No 416 Squadron from January 1951 to March 1952 He went on to command No 3 Wing at Zweibrucken from July 1963 to August 1966 In April 1967 he was promoted to Air Commodore and he took up command of No 1 Air Division in July 1969 remaining in the post until April 1970 He was then made Commander of Canadian Forces Europe in April 1970 to August 1971 before becoming Chief of Personnel CFHQ in May 1972 until his retirement Upon his retirement he held the rank of Lieutenant General In 1979 he opened a Canadian Tire store in Red Deer Alberta and was very active in community affairs 2 In 2007 he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence for distinguished service as a fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force and as a central Alberta business and community leader 3 He died in June 2018 at the age of 96 4 Two CF 18 Hornet fighters 5 from the RCAF base at Cold Lake Alberta 6 performed a flyby at the celebration of life for him and his wife in Red Deer 7 References editAir Force Association of Canada entry Archived 2011 10 06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 April 2014 The Alberta Order of Excellence Retrieved 2 April 2014 Milberry Larry ed Sixty Years The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924 1984 Toronto Canav Books 1984 ISBN 0 9690703 4 9 Bakes Roger May 31 2012 Profile of Don Laubman WW II Ace Fighter Pilot Interview at 24 06 of 39 04 video Obituary Donald Curry Laubman Red Deer Advocate June 20 2018 Alberta Order of Excellence Lt General Donald C Laubman DFC CD https www alberta ca aoe donald laubman aspx Remembering the accomplishments of Don Laubman McDonnell Douglas CF 18 Hornet CFB Cold Lake Sheldon Spackman CF 18 Hornet flyby honours decorated Red Deer war vet community builder Don Laubman wife Margie RDNewsNow July 1 2018External links editDon Laubman at acesofww2 com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don C Laubman amp oldid 1204860971, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
