|
Flight Lieutenant Elmer John
Trotter DFC, DFM
Elmer Trotter was born 1923 in
Santa Cruz California to Canadian parents. At the age of 2 yrs he moved
to Saskatchewan Canada.
He joined the military on
September 1, 1941 after meeting members of the #32 RAF Flight Training
School in Swift Current Saskatchewan. His mother always had an open
invitation for those boys to come to their farm on their weekends off.
Originally he had wanted to sign up as an air gunner but the flight
school boys discouraged that.
After training in Bournemouth he
was assigned to the Advanced Flying School . He then went to #14 A.F.U. at
Ossington Notts.
When he graduated he was assigned
to 101 Squadron at Ludford Magna along with his crew. After a short time
with this Squadron was offered a transfer to 156 Squadron, which he
accepted, and remained with this Squadron until April 1944 when 582
Squadron was formed from one flight from 156 Squadron and one flight
from 7 Squadron.
His spell with 582
Squadron ended when he was shot down returning from a mission to Russelheim on
12/8/1944, by FW
Erwin Egelar with Stab1V/NJGI, who himself was later shot down in
combat and crashed at Treysa 19/20 Oct., 1944.
F/L Trotter spent the remainder of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft
III.
After the war he
continued his flying career with the RCAF and retired in 1970 with the
rank of Lt Colonel.
The First few Missions.
The
Fourth Mission
Shot down returning from Russelheim
DFM
Citation and Station Commanders Comments
Description of Medal Group
Ops prior to joining 156 Squadron:
101 Squadron
Aircraft - Lancaster,
18/11/43
BERLIN -
10/10th Cloud
22/11/43 BERLIN
- 10/10th Cloud
23/11/43 BERLIN
- Abortive due to Icing
26/11/43 STUTTGART - Target Clear
2/12/43 BERLIN -
Hit by Flak, attacked by Me110
3/12/43 LEIPZIG
- Abortive
Ops with 582 Squadron after time with 156 Squadron:
582 Squadron
Aircraft - Lancaster,
All of the material displayed on this page was donated by F/Lt
Trotters family and the copyright to this material remains theirs.
|