Caine, John Todd
- Date of birth:
- September 2nd, 1920 (Edmonton/Alberta, Canada)
- Date of death:
- 1995
- Nationality:
- Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)
Biography
Servicenumber J22379.
John Caine, the eldest son in a family of seven children reported for duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939 after the war in Europe had started. He was rejected however because of an insufficient education. The RCAF offered him a crash course, he graduated after 18 months and started his flight training on December 1st to become a pilot on the De Havilland Mosquito.
He specialized in destructing German railway yards and low level flying. As a result of these hazardous operations he was awarded the DFC 3 times. His DFC, along with the first Bar was presented to him by King George VI on July 13th, 1945(?).
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Flying Officer
- Unit:
- No. 418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (No. 418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force)
- Awarded on:
- December 4th, 1944
"This officer has completed many sorties during which he has shot down 4 enemy aircraft, 2 of them at night; he has also destroyed 2 more on the ground. He has displayed exceptional devotion to duty and his successes are an excellent tribute to his skill and determination."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Flying Officer
- Unit:
- No. 418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (No. 418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force)
- Awarded on:
- June 2nd, 1944
"This officer continues to display the finest qualities of skill and determination. In a sortie in March, 1944, he shot down 2 enemy aircraft, whilst in another operation in April, i944 he shot down 2 Junkers 52's and damaged a Heinkel. in on the ground. Since then, Flying Officer Caine has destroyed another enemy aircraft. This officer is a fearless and relentless fighter and has teen responsible for the destruction of 9 enemy aircraft in the air and 4 damaged on the ground."
Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Flight Lieutenant
- Unit:
- No. 406 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (No. 406 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force)
- Awarded on:
- October 19th, 1945
"Flight Lieutenant Caine has completed many operational sorties since the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross. In May 1944, whilst on a patrol in the Barth area, he inflicted much damage on the enemy's lines of communication and destroyed several enemy seaplanes at anchor. In April 1945, while over southeast Germany he destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged a further two. Despite the fact that on this sortie Flight Lieutenant Caine's aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire which damaged the flying control, a successful return to base was made. His indomitable fearlessness and skill have merited the highest praise. Since his previous award he has destroyed a further eleven enemy aircraft, bringing his total victories to at least twenty enemy aircraft destroyed."
Sources
- - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36453 published on the 31 March 1944
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36542 published on the 30 May 1944
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37313 published on the 16 October 1945
- webdocs.edmonton.ca
- Aces of WW2
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