Keith Bruce Chisholm
Encyclopedia
Flight Lieutenant
Keith Bruce Chisholm M.C
, D.F.M
(22 December 1918-August 1991) was a distinguished Australia
n pilot who served in 452 squadron
during World War II
. He was recognized for his exploits with the Polish and French resistance, after being shot down over France, in October 1941.
in Canada, being one of the first Australian graduates.
, a RAAF
squadron which belonged to the RAF Kenley Wing
. In August and September 1941 he was responsible for 7 “kills,” while flying Spitfire Mark Vs, however he was shot down near Berck-sur-Mer, on 1 October 1941, and parachuted into the sea.
The official Australian War History notes:
He was captured by the Germans and sent to Lamsdorf Prisoner of War camp
. In April 1942 he and another RAAF airman exchanged identities with two soldiers, and were able to join a working party outside the camp. In June, Chisholm and several others escaped, but they were recaptured near Brno
, in Czechoslovakia
, and returned to Lamsdorf Prisoner of War camp
.
. After a week they made contact with sympathetic Poles, and were taken to a resistance leader in Crackow. Chisholm lived with a Polish family in Warsaw for much of this time. Various plans for escape back to England were developed and abandoned as the war progressed. The official account of his escape notes a degree of audacity in his activities; on one occasion, when a fellow escapee's papers were challenged in Poland, he pushed a policeman into the Vistula
river to effect their escape. Finally, in March 1944, Chisholm and a Dutch refugee left Poland by train for Berlin, using money and forged papers obtained from the Polish resistance. After a day spent in Berlin; "Visiting cinemas, viewing bomb damage and dining in restaurants," Chisholm and his partner departed by train for Brussells. After many delays, Chisholm reached Paris on 10 May 1944. Here he lived with a policeman and joined the FFI
, until, with liberation, he was able to return to England on 30 August 1944.
Official War historian John Hetherington commented;
Chisholm was the first Empire trainee to win the DFM
.
After the war, Chisholm sponsored a member of the family who had hidden him, Polish lawyer and former underground member Halina Kozubowska, to come to Australia. He met her on arrival in Sydney with other refugees in November 1946.
“I always fall on my feet” he told the Western Mail in 1952, following his engagement to 24 year old Eliane Defferriere, in Paris in 1952.
After the war he became a woolbuyer. He died in 1991.
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Keith Bruce Chisholm M.C
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, D.F.M
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
(22 December 1918-August 1991) was a distinguished Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pilot who served in 452 squadron
No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was recognized for his exploits with the Polish and French resistance, after being shot down over France, in October 1941.
Early career
Chisholm was born in Petersham, New South Wales, in December 1918. While training as a dentist, war broke out, and he joined the Royal Australian Air Force, in 1940 and trained with the Empire Air Training SchemeBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
in Canada, being one of the first Australian graduates.
With 452 Squadron and capture
He was assigned to 452 squadronNo. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
, a RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
squadron which belonged to the RAF Kenley Wing
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
. In August and September 1941 he was responsible for 7 “kills,” while flying Spitfire Mark Vs, however he was shot down near Berck-sur-Mer, on 1 October 1941, and parachuted into the sea.
The official Australian War History notes:
He was captured by the Germans and sent to Lamsdorf Prisoner of War camp
Stalag VIII-B
Stalag VIII-B Lamsdorf was a notorious German Army prisoner of war camp, later renumbered Stalag-344, located near the small town of Lamsdorf in Silesia. The camp initially occupied barracks built to house British and French prisoners in World War I...
. In April 1942 he and another RAAF airman exchanged identities with two soldiers, and were able to join a working party outside the camp. In June, Chisholm and several others escaped, but they were recaptured near Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, and returned to Lamsdorf Prisoner of War camp
Stalag VIII-B
Stalag VIII-B Lamsdorf was a notorious German Army prisoner of war camp, later renumbered Stalag-344, located near the small town of Lamsdorf in Silesia. The camp initially occupied barracks built to house British and French prisoners in World War I...
.
Successful escape
In August 1942, having again swapped his identity, Chisholm and three others managed to escape from a work camp near GliwiceGliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
. After a week they made contact with sympathetic Poles, and were taken to a resistance leader in Crackow. Chisholm lived with a Polish family in Warsaw for much of this time. Various plans for escape back to England were developed and abandoned as the war progressed. The official account of his escape notes a degree of audacity in his activities; on one occasion, when a fellow escapee's papers were challenged in Poland, he pushed a policeman into the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
river to effect their escape. Finally, in March 1944, Chisholm and a Dutch refugee left Poland by train for Berlin, using money and forged papers obtained from the Polish resistance. After a day spent in Berlin; "Visiting cinemas, viewing bomb damage and dining in restaurants," Chisholm and his partner departed by train for Brussells. After many delays, Chisholm reached Paris on 10 May 1944. Here he lived with a policeman and joined the FFI
French Forces of the Interior
The French Forces of the Interior refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation...
, until, with liberation, he was able to return to England on 30 August 1944.
Official War historian John Hetherington commented;
Chisholm was the first Empire trainee to win the DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
.
After the war, Chisholm sponsored a member of the family who had hidden him, Polish lawyer and former underground member Halina Kozubowska, to come to Australia. He met her on arrival in Sydney with other refugees in November 1946.
“I always fall on my feet” he told the Western Mail in 1952, following his engagement to 24 year old Eliane Defferriere, in Paris in 1952.
After the war he became a woolbuyer. He died in 1991.