Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Awarded on:

November 10th, 1942

Recommendation (for both Chretien and Carleton, dated 15 October 1942, when Chretien had completed seven sorties (48 hours seven minutes):
"This pilot has now completed seven operational sorties. The first three were carried out as second pilot to Flight Lieutenant Shockley (2) and Pilot Officer Palmer, from whom he absorbed the lesson of cool-headed, sensible and determined attack. In his subsequent four operations he has displayed outstanding determination, initiative and courage, and as a result welded his crew into an efficient machine with unbounded confidence in him as captain. On 13th October 1942, during the attack on Kiel, at the moment preparations were being made to drop bombs, the aircraft was surrounded by heavy flak, and Sergeant Chretien was wounded in the neck by shrapnel, from which he bled very extensively. Although in a serious condition, he carried out evasive action and gave orders to jettison the bombs, which he arranged when they were heading directly towards the target. Subsequently the aircraft was caught and held for several minutes by two searchlight cones, and from these, by violent evasive action, he succeeded in escaping. He then made directly for the coast. When over the sea the navigator induced Sergeant Chretien to sit back and take things easily whilst the aircraft was flown by the automatic pilot. The navigator maintained this situation until five miles away from base, when Sergeant Chretien again took over, and with remarkable determination circled the aerodrome and carried out an excellent landing with the assistance of the Flight Engineer, who helped him to pull back the stick, and the navigator, who operated the throttle. It was subsequently discovered that flak had damaged the trimming controls so that the aircraft had to be landed in a nose-heavy condition as for a full bomb load. As an example of courage, devotion to duty and personal fortitude, Sergeant Chretien's operational sorties, and in particular this last one, are completely outstanding and merit recognition. This Non-Commissioned Officer is specially recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal."

LG 35777/4867 (10 November 1942).