LAVIOLETTE, F/L Joseph Albert (J89934) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.103 Squadron - Award effective 12 November 1945 as per London Gazette dated 16 November 1945 and AFRO 133/46 dated 8 February 1946. Born in Vancouver, 1922; home in Echo Bay, British Columbia (logger); enlisted Vancouver, 11 September 1942. Trained at No.7 ITS (graduated 15 May 1943), No.6 EFTS (graduated 11 July 1943) and No.3 SFTS (graduated 12 November 1943). Commissioned August 1944. No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty." Public Records Office Air 2/9137 has recommendation dated 17 May 1945 when he had flown 31 sorties (215 hours 20 minutes).
27 Nov 44 Freiburg 23 Feb 45 Pforzheim
15 Dec 44 Ludwigshaven 1 Mar 45 Mannheim
17 Dec 44 Ulm 2 Mar 45 Cologne
22 Dec 44 Coblenz 5 Mar 45 Chemnitz
31 Dec 44 Osterfeld 7 Mar 45 Dessau
2 Jan 45 Nuremburg 8 Mar 45 Kassel
14 Jan 45 Merseburg 11 Mar 45 Essen
16 Jan 45 Zeitz 12 Mar 45 Dortmund
1 Feb 45 Ludwigshaven 13 Mar 45 Herne
2 Feb 45 Wiesbaden 25 Mar 45 Hanover
7 Feb 45 Cleve 18 Apr 45 Heligoland
8 Feb 45 Politz 22 Apr 45 Bremen
13 Feb 45 Dresden 25 Apr 45 Berchtesgaden
14 Feb 45 Chemnitz 30 Apr 45 MANNA food drop
20 Feb 45 Dortmund 2 May 45 MANNA food drop
21 Feb 45 Duisburg
Flight Lieutenant Laviolette was posted to No.103 Squadron on 25th November 1944, and has since competed 31 sorties on Lancaster aircraft with a total of 215.20 hours operational flying.
Over a period of nearly six months this young Canadian officer has carried out attacks on many very heavily defended targets. Several of these have been deep in enemy territory, involving strong opposition from enemy night fighters and ground defences, e.g. such as Nuremburg, Merseburg, Chemnitz, Dresden and Dessau.
Flight Lieutenant Laviolette has always shown the greatest keenness and devotion to duty, pressing home his attacks in the face of the heaviest enemy defences in the most cool and confident manner, with the excellent results so often reflected by his first class bombing photographs.
For his meritorious service as captain of aircraft and his loyal and painstaking work on the ground in his flight, I recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
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