Robert Tremaine Pillsbury Davidson DFC CD was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and after graduation from Magee High School there, in 1937, made his way to the UK where he joined the Royal Air Force. Davidson flew four tours of operations during the war in Egypt, Greece, Crete, Libya, Ceylon, France and North West Europe.

His first enemy plane destroyed was an Italian CANT 506B seaplane which he shot down in Greece in November 1940 while flying a Bristol Blenheim. After withdrawal from Greece and Crete, his squadron, No. 30 RAF re-equipped with Hurricanes and became involved in the feisty battles of North Africa. In January 1942, Davidson destroyed a JU 52 near Halfaya Pass and an Italian torpedo bomber off Sidi Barrani.

With the Japanese advance in Asia, No. 30 Squadron was moved to Ceylon and based at Columbo. On April 4, 1942, Japanese Naval aircraft attacked the port. Warned of the presence of the enemy, Nos. 30 and 285 Squadrons were not caught on the ground, and in the bitter air battles that day, Davidson claimed one Enemy Zero and one enemy naval bomber destroyed.

From December 1942 until March 1943 he flew with Ferry Command. In May 1943, he took command of No. 175 Squadron, flying Typhoon aircraft. Later, he was promoted to Wing Commander and placed in charge of operations of No. 124 Wing, one of the Typhoon wings in the 2nd Tactical Air Force.

n December 1943, he destroyed a LEO 45, a French aircraft which the Germans had captured in 1940 and were using for miscellaneous duties. Davidson took over as Wing Commander (Flying) in No. 143 RCAF Wing in January 1944.

On May 8, 1944, he had to force land his Typhoon aircraft in enemy territory. He managed to evade capture and then joined the French underground and for a few weeks was engaged in raiding guard posts, trapping German despatch riders, cutting telephone lines, stealing arms and blowing up bridges.

Decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1943 and the Croix de Guerre in 1947, he transferred to the RCAF and held a variety of staff and operational positions. In 1952-53 he was attached to the American 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing in Korea and had a number of brushes with enemy MIG-15s. For his services he was awarded the American Air Medal. In 1961, he was appointed to the American Joint Staff in Washington DC. He retired to Kemptville, Ontario in 1967 and died four years later.

Note: Most of the above information was obtained from an article by Hugh Halliday entitled "Triple Front Ace".