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Chisholm, Keith Bruce

    Date of birth:
    December 22nd, 1918 (Petersham/New South Wales, Australia)
    Date of death:
    August 23rd, 1991 (New York/New York, United States)
    Service number:
    Aus. 402150
    Nationality:
    Australian

    Biography

    Whilst on a sweep Keith Chisholm was shot down and landed by parachute into the sea off Berck-sur-Mer. He was picked up by a German rescue boat and sent to St Omer. After duly sent ther, he escaped from St. VIIIB, Gleiwitz, on 11 August 1942, with two Dutchmen, whilst on a work camp. With help from the Polish Resistance he reached Belgium, then France. He was finally liberated in Paris by advancing Allied forces.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flight Sergeant
    Unit:
    No. 452 (RAAF) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    October 17th, 1941
    Citation:
    "Sergeant Chisholm joined the squadron in May, 1941, after a period of training in Australia and Canada. He has participated in 29 operational sorties against the enemy and throughout he has shown a fine fighting spirit.
    Sergeant Chisholm has destroyed 6 Messerschmitt 109's."
    Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flight Lieutenant
    Awarded on:
    February 15th, 1945
    Citation:
    Flight Lieutenant Chisholm’s aircraft was shot down in October, 1941, and he was forced to abandon it when off the coast of France. He was picked up by a German rescue launch and removed to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Almost immediately, he planned to escape, and his first actual escape took place seven months after his capture.

    Flight Lieutenant Chisholm and two other prisoners of war made their way to Czechoslovakia. There they were betrayed by a civilian from whom they had obtained hospitality, and were subsequently arrested. A second attempt to escape was made in August, 1942. This was eventually successful. It involved some 18 months of constant movement on foot and by raft in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Holland, Belgium and France.

    During the latter part of his travels, he contacted various underground movements and eventually joined the Fighting Forces of the Interior and fought with them against the Germans in the streets of Paris until the arrival of the Allied armies. Throughout his experiences, Flight-Lieut Chisholm showed the greatest integrity and outstanding courage and determination. His dogged, persistence and careful planning were of the highest order."
    Military Cross (MC)

    Sources

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