Hi Moon

I found this at the Honours and Awards section at airforce.ca -  doing an advanced google search of that site using the surnames you are looking for will turn up the details on any RCAF men that were MID or decorated. I also manage sometimes to turn up names by searching using the surname and "RCAF". Also if you search the newspaper database at http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/intro_e.shtml  you will likely find newspaper articles from the war on them.

If the person was killed on active service you can look here: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem

They often have pictures and  clippings as well.

"HAMILTON, F/O Charles Stephens Valentine (C86340) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.426 Squadron - Award effective 5 February 1945 as per London Gazette dated 16 February 1945 and AFRO 563/45 dated 29 March 1945. Born in Oshawa, 14 February 1920. Home in Oshawa; educated there to 1936 when he became a labourer. Enlisted in Toronto, 21 January 1941 as Pilot Instructor and assigned to No.1 Training Command. To Trenton, 1 April 1941. To No.19 EFTS, 13 May 1941; graded as Sergeant Pilot, 14 May 1941. Granted Leave Without Pay until 12 September 1942 when he was still at No.19 EFTS. To No.5 Manning Depot, 13 September 1942. To No.6 SFTS, 10 October 1942. Promoted WO2, 14 November 1942. To Y Depot, 13 January 1943; to RAF overseas, 25 January 1943. Disembarked in Britain, 4 February 1943. Taken on strength at No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 5 February 1943. To No.17 (Pilots) AFU, 2 March 1943. To No.58 OTU, 6 April 1943. To No.416 Squadron, 10 July 1943. Struck off strength of No.416 Squadron and posted to Repatriation Depot, 22 September 1943. To No.11 (Pilots) AFU, 16 November 1943. Attached to No.1534 Beam Approach Training Flight, 12-18 January 1944. To No.24 OTU, 9 March 1944. Commissioned 7 May 1944. To No.61 Base, 1 June 1944. Attached to No.1659 Conversion Unit, 1 June to 19 June 1944. Posted to No.426 Squadron, 29 June 1944. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 October 1944. Repatriated 23 March 1945. Retired 19 May 1945. Died in Oshawa, 18 November 1981 as per Airforce Magazine of March 1983. Incident described was on 2 November 1944.

This officer has completed many operational missions throughout which he has shown himself to be a determined and resourceful pilot and captain of aircraft. On one occasion in November 1944 his aircraft was detailed to attack Dusseldorf. While on the bombing run, severe damage was sustained from anti-aircraft fire and the aircraft became extremely difficult to control. Despite great difficulties he continued his run and pressed home his attack. He then flew on to Belgium where he executed a masterly emergency landing. Flying Officer Hamilton\'s tenacity and skilful pilotage were responsible for the successful completion of this mission and the safe return of his crew. His devotion to duty at all times have been most praiseworthy.

Overseas Training: Course at No.58 OTU involved 45 minutes dual on Master, 65 minutes solo on Master, and 50 hours five minutes on Spitfires. Of this, nine hours 25 minutes flown in formation. Also logged 12 hours in Link. Ground courses were Airmanship (240/300), Armament (240/300), Intelligence (87/100), Navigation (122/200), Signals (60/100). Flying tests as follows: General Flying (300/400), Applied Flying (110/200), Instrument Flying (not taken or no tests), Night Flying (65/100), Link (32/50). Assessed generally average except in formation flying (below average). Fired 1,880 round air-to-air and 72 round, air-to-ground.

Course at No.11 (P) AFU, 23 November 1943 to 7 March 1944 involved Oxford aircraft (three hours 35 minutes dual to first day solo, 29 hours 45 minutes day dual, 27 hours 55 minutes day solo, 95 minutes night dual to first night solo, six hours 45 minutes night dual, 12 hours 40 minutes night solo; also logged 12 hours 30 minutes in Link. Flying test results as follows: General Flying (272/400), Applied Flyin (136/200), Instrument Flying (175/250), Night Flying (67/100), Link (30/50). A reliable and steady pilot. High average. (W/C G.M. Wyatt).

Course at No.1534 Beam Approach Training Flight was 11 January to 18 January 1944. All flying on Oxford aircraft (10 hours 40 minutes) with five hours in Link. Courses and marks as follows: Beam Approach Procedure and Q Codes, Link Trainer (138/200), Receiver Operation (67/100), Instrument Flying (145/250), Cloud and Night Flying (143/250), General Application of Beam Approach Procedure, Flying (116/200). An exceptionally keen pupil who, after a very slow start, showed great improvement to average standard.

Course at No.24 OTU was 8 March to 19 May 1944. Flew in Whitley V aircraft - two hours 50 minutes day dual to first day solo, seven hours day dual, eight hours day at controls with another captain present, 29 hours 25 minutes at controls by day with no other captain present; one hour 45 minutes night dual to first night solo, two hours ten minutes total night dual, six hours 30 minutes night at control with another captain present, 31 hours 20 minutes night at controls with no other captain. Spent 15 hours 30 minutes on instruments and logged 15 hours five minutes in Link. Conducted eight cross country flights above 10,000 feet (four by day and four by night), one Nickel operation, three daylight fighter affiliation exercises, one night fighter affiliation exercise. Ground courses as follows: Airmanship (213/300), Armament (not taken or not marked), Meteorology (48/100), Navigation (124/200), Signals (54/100). Flying tests as follows: General Flying (240/400), Applied Flying (120/200), Instrument Flying (170/250), Night Flying (65/100), Link (30/50). Recommended for a commission. An ex-FTG pilot who has also completed an OTU course on Spitfires followed by BOT work with operational squadrons. He is slightly above average as a pilot and above average as a captain. Throughout the course he has shown an example by his keenness and the results obtained in the bombing and cross-country exercises have beeb very good. (W/C G.A. Roy, 20 May 1944).

At No.1659 Conversion Unit he was crewed with R172218 Sergeant R. Dunn (navigator, later commissioned and awarded DFC), R236358 Flight Sergeant G. Ives (WOP), R161458 Flight Sergeant J.A. MacLeod (air gunner), R83700 Sergeant S. Holmes (bom aimer), 1561019 Sergeant R. Welsh (flight engineer) and R202793 Sergeant R.I. Cairnes (mid-upper gunner). Average pilot. Showed good ability for ops skipper. Works very hard. No outstanding faults. Crew keen, did well on course. (W/C H.T. Miles, Chief Instructor).

Notes: His posting at No.416 Squadron ended when he was assessed as lacking self confidence, and it was recommended that he be reallocated to training duties.

On repatriation he reported that he had flown 33 sorties (160 hours 45 minutes on operations) plus 550 hours 25 minutes non-operational overseas, which seems very high. Last sortie was 30 November 1944."