Lawrence Melville Charles KAUFFELDT (1920-

Name:	KAUFFELDT, Lawrence Melville Charles, AFC
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flying Officer
Service No.:	J/46840
Date of Birth:	22 July 1920 -

KAUFFELDT, F/O Lawrence Melville Charles (J46840) - Air Force Cross - Station Torbay - Award effective 1 December 1945 as per Canada Gazette of that date and AFRO 183/46 dated 22 February 1946. Born 22 July 1920. Enlisted in Ottawa, 12 February 1941. To Trenton, 10 April 1941. To No.1 ITS, 4 May 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 9 June 1941 when posted to No.1 Manning Depot; to No.4 AOS, 7 July 1941; graduated 28 September 1941 when posted to No.1 BGS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 8 November 1941; posted that date to No.2 ANS; graduated 10 December 1941 when posted to Western Air Command. To Patricia Bay, 16 December 1941. To No.122 Squadron, 10 January 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 8 May 1942. Promoted WO2, 8 November 1942. To Boundary Bay, 10 March 1943. To No.9 (BR) Squadron, date uncertain. Promoted WO1, 8 May 1943. To Eastern Air Command, 20 October 1943. To No.5 (BR) Squadron, 11 November 1943. Commissioned 28 March 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 28 September 1944. To Station Torbay, 17 December 1944. To No.121 Squadron, 8 February 1945. To Release Centre, 3 September 1945. Retired 18 September 1945. Medal sent by registered mail, 13 November 1949 when he was living in Arnprior, Ontario. As of award had flown 1,390 hours (796 operational hours, 105 sorties). DHist file 181.009 D.3691 (RG.24 Vol.20640) has recommendation dated 31 July 1945 by W/C Brooker, OC No.1 Composite Flight. Navigator to F/L Hoshowsky. In June 1998 Gatewest Coin and Militaria (Winnipeg) were selling his medals for $ 2,200.

In the middle of the night of the 1st-2nd May, 1945, in Newfoundland, a pilot and crew were requested to fly penicillin to Buchan's, Newfoundland, where a child was dying. The weather at base was so poor that it was necessary to ask for volunteers. Flying Officer Kauffeldt volunteered as navigator of the crew and, fully aware of the risk involved, they took off in almost zero-zero conditions. After encountering severe icing conditions, which rendered the radio almost useless, and making several attempts to break through the cloud at 200 feet, the penicillin was successfully dropped. This officer shown great skill as a navigator contributed to the success of the mission which saved the child's life.