CLACKEN, F/L Courtenay O\'Brien Robertson (J39101) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.440 Squadron - Award effective 18 January 1945 as per London Gazette dated 26 January 1945 and AFRO 471/45 dated 16 March 1945. Born 15 January 1919 in Jamaica; home in Patricia Bay, B.C., before the war. Former ranch manager. Enlisted in Ottawa, 5 June 1940. To No.2 ITS, 30 June 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 1 September 1940; to Edmonton Flying Club, 14 September 1940; to No.5 EFTS, 17 November 1940; to No.3 SFTS, 28 November 1940; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 23 February 1941. To Central Flying School, Trenton, 25 February 1941. Instructed at No.4 SFTS, 10 May 1941 to 3 February 1942 and at No.11 SFTS, 3 February to 12 March 1942. With Communications Flight, No.8 Repair Depot, 12 March to 2 November 1942; posted to No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 2 November 1942. To No.111 Squadron, 1 March 1943 until it went overseas (as No.440), December 1943. Commissioned 9 October 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 9 April 1944. To No.56 OTU, 17 May 1945. Repatriated 2 August 1945; released 5 October 1945. Award presented postwar through British Colonial Office. RCAF photo PL-28787 (ex UK-9846 dated 27 April 1944) is captioned as follows: “Flying Officer Brian Clacken with RCAF Typhoon squadron in Britain. Born January 15, 1919 in Jamaica, B.W.I. Home address c/o F.C.E. Clacken , RCAF Station Patricia Bay, B.C. (wife). Educated Tonbridge Public School, Kent, England. Career: farmer until enlistment June 6, 1940 [sic]. Sports and Hobbies: boxing, took colours at Tonbridge School from 1935-37. Gymnastics, took colours from 1935-37. Hobbies: horseback riding, polo, golf. Former instructor at No.4 SFTS and No.11 SFTS for a year. Eight months at Stevenson Field, Winnipeg as ferry communication and test pilot. Joined a Canadian squadron in Alaska, later with another fighter squadron in the Aleutians. Picture shows F/O Clacken holding ‘Chip’, fox terrier pet of the squadron, owned by S/L W.H. Pentland, Commanding Officer, of Calgary.” This officer has taken part in numerous sorties over enemy territory and his outstanding ability and fine fighting spirit have largely contributed to the many successes attained. On one occasion he flew through a withering barrage of anti-aircraft fire to attack enemy concentrations and stopped a counter-attack. Another time he participated in the destruction of a heavily defended bridge. At all times Flight Lieutenant Clacken\'s exceptional skill and great devotion to duty have inspired confidence in all who have flown with him. NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9045 has recommendation drafted 19 November 1944 by S/L A.E. Monson when he had flown 103 sorties (105 hours 25 minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows: 12 April 1944 - Dive-bombing Noball, Mayenneville (1.15) 25 April 1944 - Dive-bombing bridge, Agon (1.30) 26 April 1944 - Dive-bombing viaduct near Bolbec (1.25) 30 April 1944 - Air-sea rescue, Channel (1.35) 3 May 1944 - Bombing destroyer (1.05) 4 May 1944 - Bombing Noball, St. Ally le Haut Clocher (1.30) 9 May 1944 - Bombing bridge near Lonbg (1.10) 12 May 1944 - Bombing bridge four miles south of Amiens (1.30) 19 May 1944 - Bombing near Ghent, Belgium (1.30) 20 May 1944 - Bombing near ABombingeville (1.30) 20 May 1944 - scramble to intercept hostile aircraft ten miles north of Cherbourg (30 minutes) 24 May 1944 - Anti-shipping patrol, Cherbourg (1.00) 27 May 1944 - Strafing gun positions near Cherbourg (55 minutes) 30 May 1944 - Bombing Noball four miles east of Anvin, France (1.25) 5 June 1944 - Bombing Freya, Guerney Island (1.05) 6 June 1944 - Bombing transport near Caen (1.30) 10 June 1944 - Bombing Patrey, west of Caen (1.20) 10 June 1944 - Bombing motor transport near Martinville (1.45) 12 June 1944 - Bombing Blainville (1.15) 12 June 1944 - Bombing Verveville (1.45) 13 June 1944 - Bombing 21st Panzer Division ten miles southeast of Cabourg (1.25) 14 June 1944 - Bombing Langrave, France (1.20) 14 June 1944 - Bombing pontoon bridge near Goustanville (1.30) 15 June 1944 - Bombing bridge, Amaye-sur-Orne (1.30) 17 June 1944 - Bombing bridge north of Caen (1.20) 20 June 1944 - Bombing Noball near St.Omer (1.45) 22 June 1944 - Armed reconnaissance west of Paris (1.30) 23 June 1944 - Bombing marshalling yards south of Tilly (1.15) 8 July 1944 - Bombing motor transport and troops near Lalande (45 minutes) 13 July 1944 - Bombing bridge south of Caen (50 minutes) 14 July 1944 - Bombing railway east of Lisieux (45 minutes) 16 July 1944 - Bombing troops south of Evercey (45 minutes) 17 July 1944 - Bombing gun positions, Maltot (50 minutes) 18 July 1944 - Bombing troops near Bourguebus (30 minutes) 25 July 1944 - Bombing motor transport concentrations near Conteville (45 minutes) 29 July 1944 - Bombing troop concentrations south of Cagny (40 minutes) 31 July 1944 - Bombing tank concentrations south of Caymont (1.15) 1 August 1944 - Bombing petrol dump, Hamars (1.00) 6 August 1944 - Bombing troops, guns, motor transport, Le Plessis Cyenault (30 minutes) 7 August 1944 - Bombing troops and tanks south of Fresney de Puceux (1.00) 8 August 1944 - Bombing troop and supply concentrations, Fierville la Campagne (40 minutes) 8 August 1944 - Bombing enemy counter-attack concentrations 15 miles south of Caen (30 minutes) 9 August 1944 - Bombing tank concentrations near Usay (45 minutes) 9 August 1944 - Bombing troops four miles southeast of Argentan (1.05) 10 August 1944 - Bombing troop concentrations, Qilly le Tessan (35 minutes) 11 August 1944 - Bombing gun positions ? mile east of Quesnay (35 minutes) 12 August 1944 - Bombing bridge, Nede de Rocher (45 minutes) 12 August 1944 - Bombing bridge, St. Marc d?Ouilly (30 minutes) 15 August 1944 - leaflet bombing, Falaise (50 minutes) 18 August 1944 - strafing motor transport, Lisieux-Bernay area (1.15) 18 August 1944 - strafing motor transport, Lisieux-Bernay area (1.05) 18 August 1944 - strafing motor transport, Lisieux-Bernay area (1.05) 19 August 1944 - strafing motor transport, Lisieux-Bernay area (1.05) 19 August 1944 - strafing motor transport, Lisieux-Bernay area (1.05) 19 August 1944 - strafing motor transport, roads near Orbec (1.05) 20 August 1944 - armed reconnaissance, Bernay-Boglie area (1.10) 22 August 1944 - armed reconnaissance, Bernay area (1.05) 25 August 1944 - Bombing ship on Seine River (50 minutes) 26 August 1944 - Bombing crosroads four miles south of Rouen (1.10) 28 August 1944 - mission aborted, turned back (45 minutes) 31 August 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Amiens-Hornay area (1.25) 8 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Utrecht area (1.10) 8 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Breda-Eindhoven area (30 minutes) 8 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Breda area (45 minutes) 9 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Venlo-Eindhoven-Tilburg area (1.05) 9 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Eindhoven area (40 minutes) 10 September 1944 - Bombing barracks, Turnhout (40 minutes) 10 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Eindhoven-Breda area (1.10) 10 September 1944 - Bombing sawmills, Wandelgam (45 minutes) 11 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Venlo-Nijmegen-Eindhoven area (1.05) 12 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Bergen-op-Zoom, Breda, Tilburg, Turnhout area (1.05) 13 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Bergeb-op-Zoom, Breda, Tilburg area (1.15) 15 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Turnhout area (55 minutes) 16 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Venlo area (1.10) 20 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Nijmegan area (45 minutes) 22 September 1944 - Bombing bridge, Cleve (1.10) 24 September 1944 - Armed Reconnaissance, Breda-Gertruidenberg area (1.05) 26 September 1944 - Bombing railway junction, two miles northeast of Amersfoort (1.10) 27 September 1944 - Bombing railway junctions, Sasson and Kemmen (1.00) 27 September 1944 - Bombing railway junction east of Boninghar (1.05) 28 September 1944 - Bombing railways, Menzele and Issum (1.00) 28 September 1944 - Bombing railways, Winterswijk (1.00) 29 September 1944 - Bombing railways, Deventer and Holten (1.10) 30 September 1944 - Bombing railways, Holten and Varssevald (45 minutes) 1 October 1944 - Bombing railways, Isselburg (1.05) 2 October 1944 - Bombing railways, Bacholt (1.00) 2 October 1944 - Bombing railways, Aaltan (1.10) 2 October 1944 - Bombing railways, Winterswijk (1.10) 4 October 1944 - Bombing railways east of Wesel (1.00) 5 October 1944 - Bombing railways, Rhade (1.05) 6 October 1944 - Bombing marshalling yards, Geldern (1.00) 6 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines, Velen (1.05) 7 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines near Wesel (45 minutes) 12 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines north of Zutphen (1.00) 13 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines, Stroe (1.10) 15 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines north of Geldern (55 minutes) 19 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines east of Zutphen (1.00) 21 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines south of Borken (1.15) 28 October 1944 - Bombing railway lines southwest of Almelo (1.10) 29 October 1944 - Bombing Dortmund canal near Gruuenhorst(1.20) 11 November 1944 - Bombing railway line north of Zwolle (1.10) 17 November 1944 - weather reconnaissance, Venlo area (1.00) This officer\'s courage, skill and determination in action has been second to none. His ability to make instant decisions im emergency, skilful pilotage and cool judgement have contributed to the repeated successes of this squadron. He has led numerous offensive sorties over enemy territory, many of which praise of the highest order was received. On one occasion near Quesnay, he led his flight down through a withering barrage of flak to bomb enemy concentrations and stopped a counter-attack. On another, a heavily defended bridge was wiped out to stop the enemy. The successful completion of these flights as well as many others was due to the initiative, resourcefulness and skilful leadership of this officer. His outstanding ability and fine offensive spirit in action inspires confidence in those who fly with him. He is a leader of men who has consistently shown great devotion to duty and fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 21 November 1944 W/C F.G. Grant wrote: A cool and courageous Flight Commander, F/L Clacken has led many highly successful squadron sorties. He has also personally destroyed a large number of MT and trains. This officer highly merits immediate award of the DFC. On 25 November 1944, G/C P.Y. Davoud added his remarks: This officer has shown himself to be one of the ablest leaders in this wing. His determination to reach his objective and push home his attacks has always been of the highest order. He is a good disciplinarian who has set a fine personal example and I consider that his excellent record as a fighter-bomber pilot merits an award of the DFC. On 3 December 1944 an Air Vice-Marshal (signature illegible) wrote: Flight Lieutenant Clacken has given great service as a fighter-bomber pilot and has led many sorties in the face of intense anti-aircraft opposition. He has well earned the non-immediate award of the DFC for which I very strongly recommend him. Air Marshal A. Coningham added his endorsement on 22 December 1944. Date of final approval not known.