Don C. Laubman
fighter pilot · flying ace
- October 16, 1921 · Provost
- June 20, 2018
- 96 years
About Don C. Laubman
Don C. Laubman, 96, Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace.
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Full Biography
|Lieutenant-General Donald Currie Laubman, DFC AOE CD (16 October 1921 – 20 June 2018) was a Second World War Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace. He remained in the Canadian armed services after the war rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Biography
Laubman was born in Provost, Alberta, on 16 October 1921. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in September 1940, and completed his pilot training in Calgary at No 3 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Rated above average as a pilot, he then served as an instructor at No 31 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at De Winton. In September 1942 he was commissioned and served with No. 133 Squadron, RCAF on the Canadian west coast until May 1943.
Service career
In September 1942 he was commissioned and served with No. 133 Squadron, at Boundary Bay, British Columbia, Canada until May 1943. In August 1943 he went overseas to RAF Redhill in the United Kingdom and then posted to No. 412 Squadron RAF, 126 Wing (83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force).
In the late spring and early summer of 1944 Flight Lieutenant Laubman and 412 Squadron were based in Tangmere, West Sussex, and flew fighter operations over occupied Europe. After witnessing an impassioned speech given by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 412 crossed the English Channel on 6 June 1944 (D-Day), covering the landings on Juno Beach.
From D-Day to VE Day, 13 RCAF fighter pilots in service on the continent accounted for more than 120 German aircraft claimed destroyed. The top scorer was Squadron Leader Don Laubman, with 15 victories.
On 26 and 27 September Laubman flew four missions and downed seven enemy aircraft; four German Focke-Wulf Fw 190s and three German Messerschmitt Bf 109s (plus another Bf 109 damaged). This happened in the Nijmegen area (the location of Operation Market-Garden, the airborne operation to capture the Dutch Rhine bridges.) After his tour ended he arrived back in Canada in November 1944. Laubman applied to return to active duty and was assigned command of No. 402 Squadron RAF as a Squadron Leader. When Laubman's Spitfire was downed by the explosion of his strafed target, he became a prisoner of war on 14 April 1945.
Tally
Laubman's final count was 15 destroyed, and 3 damaged. 14 of those 15 were between June and October 1944. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar as well as the Canadian Forces' Decoration with two Bars. He is the fourth ranking RCAF ace.
Postwar career
He was released from the RCAF in September 1945, but rejoined the RCAF in January 1946. Laubman first served with No. 6 Communications Flight, NWAC. He was a founding member of the Blue Devils aerobatic team and flew with the team from 1949 to 1951. He then commanded No. 416 Squadron from January 1951 to March 1952. He went on to command No. 3 Wing at Zweibrücken from July 1963 to August 1966. In April 1967 he was promoted to Air Commodore and he took up command of No. 1 Air Division in July 1969, remaining in the post until April 1970. He was then made Commander of Canadian Forces Europe in April 1970 to August 1971 before becoming Chief of Personnel, CFHQ in May 1972 until his retirement. Upon his retirement he held the rank of Lieutenant General.
In 1979, he opened a Canadian Tire store in Red Deer, Alberta, and was very active in community affairs. In 2007, he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence for distinguished service as a fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force and as a central Alberta business and community leader.
He died in June 2018 at the age of 96. Two CF-18 Hornet fighters from the RCAF base at Cold Lake, Alberta, performed a flyby at the celebration of life for him and his wife in Red Deer.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_C._Laubman
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- View record
- October 12, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Don C. Laubman's archived record and the sources above.
1.During the Second World War, what was the primary location where Donald Currie Laubman served with No. 133 Squadron, RCAF, between 1942 and 1943?
- A.The United Kingdom
- B.The Canadian west coastcorrect
- C.The Dutch Rhine bridges
- D.Occupied Europe
Donald Currie Laubman served with No. 133 Squadron on the Canadian west coast from September 1942 until May 1943.
Source: Biography section
2.What event did Donald Currie Laubman witness before his squadron crossed the English Channel on 6 June 1944?
- A.The opening of a Canadian Tire store
- B.The presentation of the Alberta Order of Excellence
- C.A flyby of CF-18 Hornets
- D.An impassioned speech by General Dwight D. Eisenhowercorrect
After witnessing an impassioned speech given by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 412 Squadron crossed the English Channel on 6 June 1944.
Source: Service career section
3.How many aircraft did Donald Currie Laubman destroy during the missions on 26 and 27 September in the Nijmegen area?
- A.Ten
- B.Twelve
- C.Sevencorrect
- D.Five
On 26 and 27 September, Donald Currie Laubman downed seven enemy aircraft, specifically four Focke-Wulf Fw 190s and three Messerschmitt Bf 109s.
Source: Service career section
4.How did Donald Currie Laubman become a prisoner of war on 14 April 1945?
- A.His Spitfire was downed by the explosion of his strafed targetcorrect
- B.He was shot down while patrolling the Dutch Rhine bridges
- C.His aircraft suffered engine failure over the English Channel
- D.He was captured during the landings on Juno Beach
Donald Currie Laubman became a prisoner of war on 14 April 1945 when his Spitfire was downed by the explosion of his strafed target.
Source: Service career section
5.What is Donald Currie Laubman's ranking among RCAF aces?
- A.Third
- B.First
- C.Fourthcorrect
- D.Second
Donald Currie Laubman is identified as the fourth ranking RCAF ace in the tally of his victories.
Source: Tally section
6.Which specific decorations were awarded to Donald Currie Laubman?
- A.Victoria Cross and Bar
- B.Canadian Forces' Decoration with one Bar
- C.Distinguished Flying Cross and Barcorrect
- D.Order of Canada
Donald Currie Laubman's decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar as well as the Canadian Forces' Decoration with two Bars.
Source: Tally section
7.Between 1949 and 1951, of which aerobatic team was Donald Currie Laubman a founding member?
- A.The Golden Hawks
- B.The Blue Devilscorrect
- C.The Snowbirds
- D.The Silver Stars
Donald Currie Laubman was a founding member of the Blue Devils aerobatic team and flew with them from 1949 to 1951.
Source: Postwar career section
8.Where was No. 3 Wing located when it was commanded by Donald Currie Laubman from 1963 to 1966?
- A.Tangmere
- B.Redhill
- C.Cold Lake
- D.Zweibrückencorrect
Donald Currie Laubman commanded No. 3 Wing at Zweibrücken from July 1963 to August 1966.
Source: Postwar career section
9.What position did Donald Currie Laubman hold in the Canadian Forces immediately prior to his retirement?
- A.Chief of Personnel, CFHQcorrect
- B.Commander of Canadian Forces Europe
- C.Commander of No. 1 Air Division
- D.Air Commodore
Donald Currie Laubman became Chief of Personnel, CFHQ in May 1972 and remained there until his retirement.
Source: Postwar career section
10.What business did Donald Currie Laubman open in Red Deer, Alberta, in 1979?
- A.A military museum
- B.A Canadian Tire storecorrect
- C.A flight training school
- D.An aerobatic supply company
In 1979, Donald Currie Laubman opened a Canadian Tire store in Red Deer, Alberta.
Source: Postwar career section
11.In what year was Donald Currie Laubman awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence?
- A.2007correct
- B.2018
- C.2011
- D.2014
In 2007, Donald Currie Laubman was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence for his service and leadership.
Source: Postwar career section
12.At what age did Donald Currie Laubman die in June 2018?
- A.98
- B.96correct
- C.94
- D.92
The biography records that Donald Currie Laubman died in June 2018 at the age of 96.
Source: Postwar career section
13.What rank did Donald Currie Laubman hold upon his retirement from the military?
- A.Flight Lieutenant
- B.Lieutenant-Generalcorrect
- C.Air Commodore
- D.Squadron Leader
Upon his retirement, Donald Currie Laubman held the rank of Lieutenant General.
Source: Postwar career section
14.What aircraft performed a flyby at the celebration of life for Donald Currie Laubman in Red Deer?
- A.Two Spitfires
- B.Four Focke-Wulf Fw 190s
- C.Three Messerschmitt Bf 109s
- D.Two CF-18 Hornet fighterscorrect
Two CF-18 Hornet fighters from the RCAF base at Cold Lake, Alberta, performed a flyby at his celebration of life.
Source: Postwar career section
15.In what town and province was Donald Currie Laubman born?
- A.Provost, Albertacorrect
- B.Calgary, Alberta
- C.Vancouver, British Columbia
- D.Red Deer, Alberta
The biography explicitly states that Donald Currie Laubman was born in Provost, Alberta, on 16 October 1921.
Source: Biography section
16.At which facility did Donald Currie Laubman complete his pilot training?
- A.No 6 Communications Flight
- B.RAF Redhill
- C.No 31 Elementary Flying Training School
- D.No 3 Service Flying Training Schoolcorrect
Donald Currie Laubman completed his pilot training in Calgary at No 3 Service Flying Training School.
Source: Biography section
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