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Rawlinson, Alan Charles

Date of birth:
July 31st, 1918 (Fremantle/Western Australia, Australia)
Date of death:
August 28th, 2007
Service number:
Aus.386
Nationality:
Australian

Biography

Promotions:
22 June, 1939: Commissioned as Pilot Officer
22 December, 1940: Flying Officer
1 January, 1941: Temporary Flight Lieutenant
9 November, 1941: Acting Squadron Leader
12 February, 1942: relinquished
1 April, 1942: Temporary Squadron Leader
1 August, 1943: Temporary Wing Commander
24 July, 1945 Acting Group Captain
19 December, 1946 demobbed

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Awarded on:
October 10th, 1941
Citation:
"Since in being command of his flight, F/Lt. Rawlinson has always led it with determination and daring, pressing home attacks at close range. He has always shown them outstanding devotion to duty and has destroyed six enemy aircraft confirmed in the air, in addition to causing considerable amount of damage to aircraft on the ground and M.T. concentrations. He has now carried out 121 operational sorties making in total of 205 hours.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Squadron Leader
Unit:
No. 3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Awarded on:
December 26th, 1941
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Citation:
"This officer continues to show the same admirable qualities which earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross in October, 1941.
He has fostered great keenness and a fine fighting spirit amongst pilots of his squadron which, under his leadership, have taken every opportunity to destroy the enemy. The squadron has destroyed over 100 hostile aircraft since the war in Libya began. One day in November, 1941, Squadron Leader Rawlinson led an attack on a number of
Messerschmitt 109's and fought them until after dusk. In the course of the engagement, Squadron Leader Rawlinson himself destroyed 1and damaged 2 others of the enemy's aircraft. He has destroyed at least 7 hostile aircraft."

Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Rank:
Acting Wing Commander
Awarded on:
June 5th, 1952
Air Force Cross (AFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Wing Commander
Awarded on:
June 12th, 1958
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Sources

Photo