Daniel Edward "Danny" Noonan

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ONTARIO FLIERS ARE PROMOTED

London, Sept. 27, 1943 (CP) — R.C.A.F. overseas headquarters announced the following promotions of Ontario fliers (in part) :
From Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant – D. E. Noonan, Kingston; W. A. Olmsted, Hamilton; W. R. McRae, Port Arthur.
From Flying Officer to Temporary Flight Lieutenant – J. H. Turnbull, St. Thomas; H. J. Everard, Timmins.
From Pilot Officer to Temporary Flying Officer – D. H. Dover, Mount Dennis.

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500 American Bombers Blast Submarine Base In Biggest Day Attack

London, Nov. 3, 1943 (AP) — The largest force of heavy bombers ever sent out by the United States Air Force —probably 500 or more— battered its way with long-range fighter protection through strong German opposition to smash the important port and naval base of Wilhelmshaven and other targets in Northwestern Germany today.
The raiding force destroyed 34 German planes, 18 falling to the heavy bombers and 16 being shot down by the escorting fighters. In other daylight operations over Occupied France and Holland, Spitfire pilots knocked down 12 German fighters, all but one being victims of Canadian pilots. Medium bombers destroyed two, bringing the total loss for the day to 48 for the Nazis.
The total Allied losses for the day were five heavy bombers, two medium bombers and three fighters, a joint Air Ministry and United States Air Force communiqué said.
The cross-Channel air war continued after dark with a short alert in London—indicating Britain's 13th German raid in 19 nights—and German radio stations went off the air, often a sign that the R.A.F. is raiding the Continent.
(D.N.B., German agency, said in a broadcast that the R.A.F. bombed Cologne wednesday night.)
The record raid by the heavy bombers followed earlier sweeps over the Continent by 8th Air Force medium bombers escorted by R. A. F., Dominion and Allied Spitfires in attacks on enemy airfields at St. Andre de L’Eure and Tricqueville in France and Amsterdam-Schipol in Holland.
In other operations Typhoon bombers raided shipping along the French coast, damaging 12 barges and four boats
Today's attack was the sixth American raid on Wilhelmshaven and the third assault on which escorts went all the way to the target and back with the bombers but it was the fighters' longest trip. The other two-way trips were to Emden, a little short of Wilhelmshaven,
Vigorous opposition by groups of as many as 75 German fighters were reported by the fliers. But, they were unanimously enthusiastic about the way the two-engine twin-tail Lightnings — flying close to the bombers while Thunderbolts provided high and surrounding cover — kept the Germans on the run.
Nine of the German fighters destroyed by Spitfires were victims of an R.C.A.F. fighter wing commanded by Wing Cmdr. Lloyd V. Chadburn of Aurora, Ont., and were destroyed as the fighters protected Allied bombers raiding Schipol Airdrome at Amsterdam. The other two were shot down by Sqdn, Ldr. Charles Magwood of Toronto and Flt. Lt. John Sherlock of Calgary while escorting bombers in a raid on St. Andrew de L’Eure Airport in France.
Chadburn and Flt Lt, Jack Mitcher of Kitchener, Ont., each got two planes. Other Canadian victors: Flt. Lt. Danny Noonan, Kingston, Ont., 1½ planes; Flt. Lt. Arthur Sager, Vancouver, one-half plane; Flt. Lt. Doug Booth, Vancouver, Flt. Lt. Jeff Northcott, Minnedosa, Man., and a Toronto flying officer named Jacobs, one each.

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RCAF Shoots Down 26 Enemy Planes
in Normandy Between Dawn and Dusk

By P.O. H. R. McDONALD, A Canadian Airfield in France,
June 29, 1944 - (CP). - Canadian fighter planes, in one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the R.C.A.F., shot down 26 out of a total of 34 enemy aircraft destroyed over the Normandy front between dawn and dusk yesterday.
In addition, R.C.A.F. pilots chalked up a number of enemy planes probably shot down and a number bf others which were damaged.
Four pilots scored double kills. They were Wing Cmdr. J. E. (Johnny) Johnson, English–born commander of a Canadian fighter wing operating from an R.C.A.F. base in Normandy, and Flt, Lts. H.C. Trainor, Charlottetown; W. T. Klersy, 14 Harcroft Rd., Toronto, and R. K. Hayward. St. John's, Nfld.

Destroys Two, Damages Third
Hayward destroyed two FW-190's and damaged a third, which gave him the highest R.C.A.F. individual score of the day.
Earlier reports indicated the Canadian airmen had downed 18 enemy planes in yesterday's daylight operations.
The complete figures were reached by intelligence officers today after a period of aerial operations which exceeded in intensity anything since the Allied Normandy beachhead was opened June 6.
Besides the toll of enemy planes, which included all fighter types, R.C.A.F. pilots also strafed transport on the roads.

Final claims on two aircraft are being sifted
Among the R.C.A.F. Spitfire pilots contributing to the total with one Hun each were: Flt. Lts. Irving Kennedy, Cumberland, Ont.; G. R. Patterson, Kelowna, B.C.; J. McElroy, Kamloops, B.C.; Henry Zary, New York; R. M. Stayner, Saskatoon; A. F. Halcrow, Penticton, B.C.; G. W. Johnson, 102 Beechwood Ave., Hamilton, Ont.; D. E. Noonan, 146 Willingdon Ave., Kingston, Ont.; J. B. Rainville, Montreal; and Flying Officers W. J. Banks, Leaside, Ont. and G. H. Farquharson, Corbyville, Ont.
Wing Cmdr. Johnson's score of two brought his total of enemy planes downed to 32, equaling the mark set by Group Capt. A. G. (Sailor) Malan, a South African, now on ground duty.
Among the R.C.A.F. fliers scoring probables were FO. A. C. Brandon, Timmins, Ont.; FO. J. B. O'Sullivan, Vancouver; and PO. J. M. Flood, Hearst, Ont.

Nine Others Damaged
At least nine others wire damaged by fliers of the R.C.A.F.
Of the wings comprising Group Capt, W. (Bill) MacBrien's R.C.AF. sector, the one led by 22-year-old Wing Cmdr, George Keefer, D.F.C. and Bar, Charlottetown, was high ,scorer of the day with 13 confirmed victories. Johnson's wing was second with seven, in a close race with a unit led by Wing Cmdr. R. A. Buckham, Vancouver.
The margin for Keefer's wing was established in two dusk operations in which seven enemy planes were destroyed and two damaged. In the first action Hayward sighted more than 25 Nazi fighters and led his formation in pursuit. He damaged one.
Later the same Spitfires became embroiled with a dozen FW-190's, and Hayward got two of them. The first fell out of control, and the second burst into flames and crashed after Hayward had followed it down to tree-top height.
"The Huns were like bees,” said WO. Murray Havers, 1 Lloyd St., Hamilton. Ont. "They seemed confused and acted as though they did not know what they were doing."
The Canadian airmen said the Germans did not put up much of a fight despite their numerical advantage.
Other Canadians credited with kills during the day were FO. G. R. Stephen, Montreal; FO. Larry Robillard, Ottawa; FO. W. A. Gilbert, Dartmouth, N.S.; FO. Don Goodwin, Maynooth, Ont.; and FO. Tommy Wheler, 10 Beauford Rd., Toronto,
F'O. Klersy took a prominent part in athletics at St, Michael's College, playing hockey and rugby. He also rowed for his college, and was goalie for Ostrander's mercantile hockey team. Enlisting in June, 1941, he took aircrew training in Toronto, Oshawa and Dunnville and after nearly a year with a fighter squadron at Bagotville, FO. Klersy went overseas in May 1942.
The 21-year-year old airman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Klersy, 14 Harcroft Rd.

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ONTARIO FLIERS DOWN NAZIS

With the R.C.A.F. in Normandy, July 27, 1944 – (CP) – Canadian Spitfire pilots flying from beachhead airfields today destroyed at least 12 enemy aircraft. In an early morning sweep, Flt. Lt. D. E. Noonan, Kingston, a City of Oshawa squadron pilot, destroyed a FW 190. He made his kill as the enemy aircraft was about to land. His victim crashed without a shot being fired while taking evasive action. Flt. Lt. G. E. Mott, Sarnia, shot down a FW 190 over Argences. Mott, whose sixth victory this is, belongs to a squadron led by Sqdn. Ldr. Tommy Brannagan, Windsor. Flt. Lt. W. R. McRae, Port Arthur, Flt. Lt. W. S. Johnson, Belleville, and PO. M. H. Havers, Hamilton, all accounted for ME 109's.

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NOONAN, F/L Daniel Edward (J4863) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.416 Sq.
Award effective 27 September 1944 as per London Gazette dated 3 October 1944 and
AFRO 2373/44 dated 3 November 1944.

Flight Lieutenant Noonan has flown on many sorties against a variety of targets. He has always shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft during his present tour of operations. He has also achieved outstanding success against ground targets at all times. An excellent and inspiring leader, this officer has set a splendid example to the remainder of his squadron.

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Hamilton Flyer Receives DFC

October 22, 1947 - Among those honored last Saturday at the investiture in Convocation Hall, University of Toronto, was Daniel Edward Noonan, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Fleming Noonan, 52 Homewood Avenue.
Flight Lieut. Noonan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry in the performance of his duty. The award was presented by His Excellency Viscount Alexander.
The citation stated that Flight. Lieut. Noonan had been awarded the D.F.C. "for gallantry in the performance of his duty while serving with No. 416 Squadron of the R.C.A.F."
"Flight Lieut. Noonan," the award cited, "has flown on many sorties against a variety of targets. He has always shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft, during his tour of operations He has also achieved outstanding success against ground targets at all times. An excellent and inspiring leader, this officer has set a splendid example to the remainder of his squadron."
At the present time Flight Lieut. Noonan in attending Queen's University but is planning to enter Trinity College later this year to take up a theological course for the ministry in the Church of England. He was recently married to Miss Frances Ault.

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Victories Include :

5.25 / 0 / 0

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416 Squadron, Tangmere, May 1944

Front row : P/O W. Palmer, F/O Bill Simpson, F/S J.A.R. Boulais, F/O A.J. Fraser, W/O J.E.R. McCrea, F/O J.B. Rainville, F/L D.W. Hayworth, F/O Torkelsson Lundberg, F/S J.C.R. Maranda, F/O B. Eskow, F/O R. Rosario St. Georges, P/O K. Forbes Scott.
2nd row : F/S J.C. Greeman, F/L W.F. Mason, F/L G.R. Patterson, F/O D.R. Cuthbertson, F/O G.A. Borland, F/O A.R. McFadden, F/L D.E. Noonan, S/L Green; F/L D.F. Prentice, F/L J.L. Campbell, F/O J.D. Gould, F/O D.W. Hading, F/O G.H.T. Farquharson, & on prop F/O A.J. Tafuro - DND PL-26651

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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