Allan Templeton (his first name was Arthur but he was known by his second name) was a wireless operator from Newfoundland. He had a flying career packed with incident even before he joined the Pathfinders in February 1945. See: Pre-Pathfinder War Service: Air Sea Rescue, Allan Templeton
Amongst the many astonishing incidents in his pre-Pathfinder life was the heroic action which led to a Mention in Despatches and the resplendent certificate pictured here.
On June 8, 1943, he became a member of the Goldfish Club “by escaping death by the use of his Emergency Dinghy”. The plane in which he was flying crashed. When the crew were all on top of the sinking aircraft, it was realized that the dinghy had been forgotten. He went back inside to get it. For this action he received a Mention in Despatches.
Bob Templeton, who also kindly sent the image of the certificate.
