Plt/Off Daniel Buntin Gaunt (80446)
Distinguished Flying Cross - No.214 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette 15 June 1943. ;Born in Pennant Creek, Saskatchewan, 25 September 1920; home there. Left Canada 20 September 1937 to become a mining technician in Southern Rhodesia (the mine owner was a Quebec industrialist); applied to join "Rhodesian Wing of the RAF", although his acceptance was deferred and he apparently had trouble getting back to Canada. ;Enlisted in RAF as an AC2 (service number 778553), 3 January 1941; remustered from Aircraft Hand to Air Gunner under Training, 6 May 1941; trained as a gunner at Evanton, 1 September to 12 October 1941; promoted LAC, 25 August 1941; confirmed as Air Gunner, 13 October 1941; commissioned 14 October 1942; promoted Flying Officer, 14 April 1943; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 14 October 1944, Injured 18 November 1943 when Halifax of No.192 Squadron overshot on landing; three others in crew killed; he was rear gunner; missing (POW), 25 May 1944 on Special Duty mission, No.192 Squadron, to Aachen. Transferred to RCAF with effect from 24 November 1944 (C97012); repatriated 6 August 1945; released 16 October 1945. AFRO 1338/43 dated 16 July 1943 reporting his award - but as a DFM) and AFRO 1444/44 dated 7 July 1944 (reporting him missing) identified him as a Canadian in the RAF. ;Air Ministry Bulletin 10534 refers. ;Flight, 5 August 1943, published the following:
Pilot Officer Gaunt's operational missions have included sorties against such heavily defended targets as Berlin, Hamburg, Turin and Genoa. ;He has experienced attacks by enemy night fighters on several occasions. ;These have invariably been beaten off or evaded successfully as the result of the skilful direction given by Pilot Officer Gaunt.
NOTE: DHist cards have a more detailed account, published in AFRO 1338/43 dated 16 July 1943.
Pilot Officer Gaunt is a rear gunner who has served in this squadron since July 1942. ;His operational missions have included sorties against such heavily defended targets as Berlin, Hamburg, Turin and Genoa. ;He has experienced attacks by enemy night fighters on several occasions. ;They have invariably been beaten off or evaded successfully as the result of the skillful direction given by Pilot Officer Gaunt. ;He has always set an excellent example to other aircrewss and much of his success as an air gunner has been due to the care and efficiency with which he prepares for operations.
NOTE: On a form dated 26 July 1945 he stated he had flown two tours with Nos.214 and 192 Squadrons (30 and 18 missions respectively), June 1942 to 24 May 1944, totaling 280 operational hours. ;Nothing to indicate when he began his tour with No.192 Squadron, but as he took a Gunnery Leader Course at Sutton Bridge, December 1942 to January 1943, it would appear the course marked the conclusion of his first tour.
