# Lloyd Chadburn

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**Lloyd Vernon "Chad" Chadburn** [DSO &](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) [Bar](/source/Medal_bar), [DFC](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)) (21 August 1919 – 13 June 1944) was a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) [World War II](/source/World_War_II) [fighter pilot](/source/Fighter_pilot).

## Biography

### Early life

Lloyd Chadburn was born in [Montreal](/source/Montreal), [Quebec](/source/Quebec), on 21 August 1919, later moving with his parents to [Oshawa, Ontario](/source/Oshawa,_Ontario), as an infant. He grew up there and in [Aurora](/source/Aurora,_Ontario). He attended Aurora Public School and Aurora High School and completed his secondary education at [Northern secondary school](/source/Northern_Secondary_School). He worked as a bank clerk at the [Bank of Toronto](/source/Bank_of_Toronto) and as a salesman for the Red Rose Tea Company.[1]

### Career

Chadburn applied to enlist in both the Army and Navy in 1939, but was turned down both times.[1] After a spell working for General Motors and with the Bank of Toronto, he was accepted by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an [Air Gunner](/source/Air_Gunner) in April 1940, but re-mastered as a [Pilot](/source/Aviator). He graduated from the Number 2 Flight Training School in [Ottawa](/source/Ottawa) on 9 October 1940 as a [Pilot Officer](/source/Pilot_Officer).[1]

In December 1940 Chadburn was posted to *Number 112 (Army Cooperation) Squadron* flying [Hawker Hurricanes](/source/Hawker_Hurricane) and made his first operational flight in March 1941. He was posted to the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) in 1941, and joined *412 Squadron (RCAF)* in June 1941, moving to *19 Squadron (RAF)* in September.[1]

In February 1942 Chadburn was posted to *Number 416 (RCAF) Squadron* in [Peterhead](/source/Peterhead), [Scotland](/source/Scotland) as a [Flight Lieutenant](/source/Flight_Lieutenant). Days later he took over command of the squadron, becoming the first graduate of the [British Commonwealth Air Training Plan](/source/British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan) to lead a Fighter Command squadron. He was also the youngest [Squadron Leader](/source/Squadron_Leader) in the RCAF at the age of 21.[1]

“When we were flying with the City of Oshawa Squadron, there wasn’t a guy who ever asked Chad where we were going. When he told us we were off for a scramble we jumped to get going. We didn’t care where. If he was leading us we just naturally tag along" - [Flight Lieutenant John Arthur “Jackie” Rae](/source/Jackie_Rae), CM, DFC.

Promoted to squadron leader, Chadburn and *416 Squadron* flew defensive missions over [Dieppe](/source/Dieppe,_New_Brunswick) on 19 August 1942, covering the Canadian and Allied raid and claiming his first air victories. He was then awarded the [Distinguished Flying Cross](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)).[2] After a period of leave in Canada, he was posted to *No. 402 Squadron* and then *No. 403 Squadron*, prior to his promotion to [wing commander](/source/Wing_Commander_(rank)) for the RAF Digby Wing in June 1943. He led the Wing in flying escort to American bombers and the RAF medium bombers of [No. 2 Group](/source/No._2_Group). He was supposedly dubbed *The Angel* for his escort would assure the bomber crews a safe passage to and from the target. On 3 November 1943 the Wing claimed seven Bf 109's of II./[JG 3](/source/JG_3) (five were actually lost), with Chadburn claiming two personally.[1]

By the time Chadburn left the *Digby Wing* in December he had received the [Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) twice, the first RCAF officer to be so decorated and was one of only four in history. In early 1944, he was appointed wing commander, Fighter Operations at RCAF Group Headquarters Overseas. He was sent back to Canada for a war bond drive in the spring and upon his return was made wing commander of *Number 127* Wing RCAF, comprising 403, 421 and 416 Squadrons.[1]

### Death

On 13 June 1944, Chadburn was killed in a mid-air collision with another Spitfire pilot while taking off from a landing strip in [Normandy](/source/Normandy). He was 24 years of age.[1]

### Honours

Chadburn's record includes five enemy airplanes destroyed (three shared), five aircraft probably destroyed (one shared), seven aircraft damaged (two shared), two [E-boats](/source/E-boats) destroyed, and another two damaged, as well as a destroyer damaged.[3]

Chadburn was made a Chevalier ([knight](/source/Knight)) in the [French](/source/France) [Légion d'honneur](/source/L%C3%A9gion_d'honneur) and awarded the [Croix de Guerre avec Palme](/source/Croix_de_Guerre). Only three RCAF officers received the Légion d'honneur, and Chadburn was the only one to receive the Croix de Guerre.[1]

His name is listed on memorials in both Aurora High School and [Northern Secondary school](/source/Northern_Secondary_School) in Toronto Ontario which he attended.

Chadburn is featured in [True Aviation Comics No. 10](https://www.comics.org/issue/237573/).

## Sources

Gone is the Angel - Biography of Lloyd Chadburn

## References

1. ["Lloyd Chadburn"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130726033044/http://www.constable.ca/caah/chadburn.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.constable.ca/caah/chadburn.htm) on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2013-05-03.

1. ["The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19430828&id=EH8tAAAAIBAJ&pg=2437,4307248)

1. 'Aces High'- Shores & Williams, page 169

## External links

- [Canadian Aces - Lloyd Chadburn](https://web.archive.org/web/20070203101834/http://www.constable.ca/chadburn.htm)
- [Acesofww2 - "Chad"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060214235351/http://acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/chadburn.htm)
- [\[1\]](http://www.chadburn.org/squadron-history/chadburn-squadron/resting-place) Resting place

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lloyd Chadburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Chadburn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Chadburn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.