Don C. Laubman

Lieutenant General Donald Currie Laubman, AOE, DFC & Bar, CD (born 16 October 1921) began his military career in December 1939. In 1942 he was posted to 133 Squadron in Boundary Bay, British Columbia, Canada. In 1943 he was sent to Red Hill/Staplehurst in the United Kingdom and assigned a new posting to 412 Squadron, 126 Wing (83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force).

Laubman was born in Provost, Alberta, on 16 October 1921.He enlisted in the RCAF in September 1940, and completed his pilot training in Calgary at No 3 SFTS. Rated above average as a pilot, he then served as an instructor at No 31 EFTS at De Winton. In September 1942 he was commissioned and served with 133 Squadron, RCAF on the Canadian west coast until May 1943.

Posted to the Uk, he joined No 412 Squadron RCAF in August 1943.

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, 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 FW 190's and three BF 109's (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 as a Squadron Leader. Laubman was shot down by flak and made a prisoner of war on 14 April 1945).

Laubman's final count was 15 destroyed, and 3 damaged. 14 of those 15 were between June and October 1944. His decorations include the DFC and Bar as well as the Canadian Forces Decoration with 2 Bars. He is the fourth ranking RCAF ace, retiring in 1972 as a Lieutenant General.

He was released from the RCAF in September 1945, but rejoined the RCAF in January 1946.Initially serving with No.6 Communications Flight, NWAC, he then commanded No.416 Squadron from January 1951 to March 1952. He then commanded 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 post until April 1970. He was then made Commander of Canadian Forces in Europe in April 1970 to Aug. 1971 before becoming Chief of Personnel, CFHQ in May 1972 until his retirement.

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".