T/F/S Erik Christian Haugaard

Erik Christian Haugaard volunteers for the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. He serves as an Air Gunner.

Erik Christian Haugaard is born on 13 April 1923 in Frederiksberg, Denmark. He is the son of Professor Gottfred and Karen Haugaard (née Pedersen). Leaving school at the age of 15 he works as farm labour in the late 1930’s. [1]

He is in United States at the time of the German occupation of Denmark. On 19 March 1940 he arrives in New York from Gothenburg on board S.S. DROTTNINGHOLM. He studies literature at Black Mountain College until 1942. [2]

Enlists in the Royal Canadian Air Force

Erik Christian Haugaard enlists for the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto on 22 July 1943. He is posted to No. 5 Manning Depot, Lachine, with the trade Air Crew and the rank of Aircraftman 2nd Class. On 15 August 1943 he is posted to No. 23 Pre-Aircrew Education Detachment, University of Toronto. Finalizing this education he is posted back at No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, on 30 September 1943 and to No. 6 Initial Training School, Toronto, on 30 October 1943.

On 12 January 1944 he is re-mustered as an Air Gunner and on 28 January 1944 he is posted to No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mont Joli, Quebec. He is promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 11 March 1944 and to Sergeant on 21 April 1944.He ends training in Canada at No. 4 Air Gunners Ground Training School to which he is posted on 5 May 1944. He is promoted to Flight Sergeant at some point, but the date is not known. [3]

Overseas

On 30 June 1944 he is posted to No. 1 “Y” Depot, Halifax, for overseas deployment. He is posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on 3 August 1944.

I have no further information on his overseas service.

He is repatriated via No. 1 Repatriation Centre, Lachine, on 9 July 1945, and posted to No. 2 Release Centre on 21 August 1945. He is discharged on 31 August 1945. [4]

After the Liberation

After the war he becomes author of children’s books and translator of the works of Hans Christian Andersen from Danish to English. [5]

Sources:

1. Kraks Blå Bog
2. Kraks Blå Bog, New York Passenger Records via ancestry.co.uk
3. Service card, Directorate of History
4. Service card, Directorate of History
5. University of Minnesota Libraries