Chadburn Lloyd was born in Montreal, Canada, on August 21, 1919. During his youth, he tried many professions, working as a bank clerk at the Bank of Toronto and as a broker for the Red Rose Tea Company.
In 1939, he unsuccessfully attempted to join the Royal Canadian Air Force twice. The small pre-war Air Force did not need volunteers at the time. However, in 1940, with the outbreak of war, he was finally accepted, though initially specialized as a gunner. Soon after, at his request, he was sent to Number 2 Flight Training School in Ottawa, from which he graduated on October 9, 1940.
Early Combat Flights
In late 1940, Lloyd found himself in Britain and was assigned to No. 112 (Army Cooperation) Squadron. He flew the Westland Lysander, but this assignment was short-lived as in December 1940, the unit began rearming with the Hawker Hurricane Mk I. In March 1941, the squadron received a new number, 402, and Chadburn made his first combat sortie on April 15.
In June 1941, he was transferred to the 412th Squadron, flying Spitfire II and V. Soon after, he found himself in the 19th Squadron, piloting the Spitfire VB. In February 1942, Chadburn was assigned to the newly forming 416th Squadron, based in Scotland, and at 22 years old, became its Squadron Commander.
Distinction and Sacrifice
Chadburn participated in the August 19 raid on Dieppe, engaging in several dogfights and claiming several damaged enemy aircraft. By January 1943, he had accumulated 12 enemy aircraft shot down. After a 30-day leave in Canada, he returned to the 402nd Squadron and later the 403rd. He was promoted to Wing Commander in June 1943, commanding the 402nd and 416th Squadrons.
In early 1944, Chadburn was sent to the headquarters of the Canadian Air Force in England, where he was involved in planning and developing operations. In the spring, he went to Canada again, and upon his return, he led the 127 RCAF Wing, which included the 403rd, 421st, and 416th Squadrons.
On June 13, 1944, during a patrol, his aircraft collided mid-air with another Canadian Spitfire, and tragically, there were no survivors. At the time of his death, the 24-year-old ace had shot down 14 enemy aircraft (plus 6 shared). He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, the French Croix De Guerre avec Palme, and was a knight of the French Légion d’Honneur, an honor only three Canadians have received in its entire history.