SCHWALM, George Talbot

NAME                    SCHWALM      George Talbot
RANK                    Flying Officer                28375                                                                                                                                      2nd Tactical Air Force - 83 Group RAF Fighter Command - No. 126 Wing
SQUADRON         RCAF No. 412 “Falcon” Squadron
                              “swift to avenge”
                              RAF Cristot Airfield - Normandy - France
                              Squadron markings VZ                                                                                                  Residence             Toronto - Ontario                                                                                                                        Born                       April 10, 1921 - Toronto - Ontario                                                                                            Died                       August 12, 1944     23 years   4 month
Memorial               Runnymede Memorial - Englefield Green – Egham - Surrey - England
                              Panel 248
Parents                  Mr. Charles and Virginia Schwalm - Tottenham                                                                    Sister                     Miss Marjorie Schwalm lived in the family home in Tottenham

George was born in Toronto and grew up there. He grew up playing rugby and baseball and enjoyed target shooting. Growing up he had the chicken pox and scarlet fever. He had been working for his uncle who had a plate glass business and then prior to his enlistment he worked for Mr. W. A. Heatherington of Rosemont as a farmer. The family attended Runnymede United Church in Toronto and Tottenham United Church. He took his public schooling at McMurrich Public School 1926-33 and attended Oakwood Collegiate Institute 1934-39.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Canada

He enlisted into the RCAF on December 21, 1940. At that time he was 5' 11" in height and he weighed            150 pounds. His complexion was medium with blue eyes and brown hair. He was then sent to No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto with the rank of Aircraftsman 2. A month later on January 22, 1941 he is posted to Picton to    No. 1a Manning Depot where he remains until February 19. At that point he is posted to RCAF Station at  Trenton - Ontario until May 5. His next posting is to No. 1 Initial Training School in Toronto and here he earns the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. On June 7 he is on the move to No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School in  Virden - Manitoba where he remains until August 9 and then it back to the east to No. 2 Service Flying Training School in Uplands - Ontario. Prior to his next posting he earned the rank of Sergeant. On October 26 he next move was to RCAF Rockcliffe - Ottawa where he remained until Mid December.                                                   As 1942 began he had been posted to RCAF Western Command with "X" Wing and attached to RCAF No. 111 Squadron flying Cutis Kittyhawks which was based at Kodiak - Alaska. He remained here until the first week of June and earned the rank of Flight Sergeant. On June 22 he arrived in Achorage - Alaska  Then from July 13 - August 25 he proceeded on detached duty.                                                                                                            As 1943 opened he would remain on detached duty and while here he earned the rank of Warrant Officer 1.On July 5 he received orders to proceed to the Atlantic coast to "Y" Depot. On August 2 he volunteers for the RAF Training Pool and shortly after obtains thew rank of Pilot Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Overseas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The next day on August 3 he embarks Halifax for New York City and from there he sails for the United Kingdom and arrives there on on August 11. Then he goes to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre in Bournemouth - England. Her first posting in England on September 7 was to RAF No. 58 Operational Training Unit which was based at RAF Grangemouth - Stirlingshire - Scotland and here they trained on Spitfires. His next posting on October 5 was to RAF No. 53 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Heston - Middlesex - England and here again they trained on Spitfires. On November 10 he is posted to RCAF 411 Squadron who was flying the Spitfire Mk IX and were based at RAF Biggin Hill - Kent. 

In the Field                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     He remained here until he was posted to RCAF 412 Squadron on May 18, 1944 which flew Spitfires Mk IX and they were based at RAF Tangmere - West Sussex.                                                                                                    On August 12, 1944 RCAF No. 412 Squadron was based at RAF Cristot in Normandy France and the mission on this day was for the squadron to fly 3 sorties and attack German transport on the ground. It was during the 2nd sortie when Flying Officer Schwalm lost his life.   Spitfire Mk IX MN 485 lifted off from RAF Cristot in France. At 14:45 hours he was going down low to attack a ground target he had spotted. Shortly after, he reported being hit by flak, his engine was running roughly, he was losing glycol and the engine temperature was high and climbing.
He was ordered to bail out of his aircraft. On this mission he was flying as Red 3 on an armed reconnaissance mission. After being hit Red 4 followed him during his attack and noticed white smoke streaming from his aircraft at 2,000 feet. This was over Fresne Le Mer in France. At the time the flak was heavy in the area of Falaise / Laigle / Argentan and Flerb areas.
No trace of Flying Officer Schwalm or his aircraft has ever been found.

His mother Virginia received the Memorial Cross in November of 1945. The 1939-45 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star with clasp, the France - Germany Star, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Flying Officer Schwalm is honoured and remembered on the Tottenham Cenotaph. He is possibly honoured and remembered  on the Memorial Plaques of Runnymede United Church in Toronto and Tottenham United Church. He is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of Oakwood Collegiate Institute - Toronto. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.