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DRUMHELLEB. ALBERT A, THUFlying Officer JohnBerdahl CompletesTour of OperationsLoCFormer Employee of the Red Deef Valley Coal Co., Ltd., Return*To CanadaK. IH;tionWesyearhellicalifsom1043lar1905•Having completed a tour of 35 tripp over enemy territory without suffering a scratch. Flying Officer Ingvald John Berdahl, 34, R.CAJE*., returned recently to his home at Estevan, Sask., for a month's furlough to visit his mother, Mrs. H. Berdahl.Prior to enlisting in the R.C-AJF.,FO. Berdahl was employed at the RedDeer Valley Coal Co.. Ltd.. Nacmine. ____He wears thd half wing of a wireless littli operator and the gold wings awarded in ] for completing a tour of operations, and Following his leave he expects to re- rnoi: turn overseas for a second duty of 1945 duty. Alt;Flying Officer Berdahl enlisted at the start of the war but was considered too old for aircrew; however, his name remained on the flics. When the age limit was increased he received his call and joined the air force at Calgary in 1941. He received his wireless training at No. 2 Wireless School. Calgary, and then went to the Bombing and Gunnery School at Lethbridge where he got his wings. He went overseas as a sergeant and was promoted to Warrant Officer, first class. He received his commission last August.After going overseas he took his operational training and was posted to an English Lancaster squadron while waiting for conversion. During this time he lost three of his crew members so returned to O.T.U. while a crew was retrained. This time he was sent to a Wellington Squadron and he did about 13 trips over Germany with the same crew. The whole Wing was transferred to Africa and FO. Berdahl finished up by taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy. Two of his crew were lost when they went out from Africa as substitutes. Out of the twelve men he flew with five ore missing. Twice his aircraft was badly shot up with flak, once over Germany and once over Italy. The machine was riddled but nobody was injured. Another time the aircraft was shot up by a night fighter over Germany coming back from a raid on Stuttgart. The plane limped home and the pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bringing the plane back safely with a forced landing as soon as they reached the coast. The hydraulic, system jhad been badly shot up aim another few minutes would have meant a crash landing. FO. Berdahl finished up his tour with this pilot from Guernsey, a navigator from Saskatoon, a rear gunner from England. and the bomb aimer from Alberta.During the past winter. Flying Officer Berdahl took a further period of instruction on the Isle of Man. where rationing is more lenient, he states, and he enjoyed- his stay very much.FO. Berdahl has three brothers in the services. Cpl. Milton Joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment and went overseas in December. 1940. when he was only 15 years of age. He was put to work In the pay depot and regrets having missed the Dieppe raid because of his age. Cpl. Carl. 28. is with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps at Barriefleld. Ontario, having served since 1940. and Pte. Alvin. 26. is with the R.C.A.S.C.. in London. Ont.. having joined in 1940 also.FO. Berdahl attended Estevan Collegiate. His parents lived on a farm near Wcod-End and about three years ago fc/s mother moved to Estevan.of t of duri two of J SIupadd:impprcnby vcrj the spel M thcr Lak old yea: cart pkdryM“11891Soucrelt;moiandMlaloisevlt;The ear lltl stoi nca brllt; hac on gar _ *«surdiedor190termoTh«ofda}25tlCalyecnograweexcHLei
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Drumheller Mail
Drumheller, Alberta, CA
Thu, May 18, 1944
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Alberta, CA 11 Apr 2019
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