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Abecassis, George Edgar

    Date of birth:
    March 21st, 1913 (Chertsey/Surrey, Great Britain)
    Date of death:
    December 10th, 1991 (Ibstone/Wycombe/Buckinghamshire, Great Britain)
    Service number:
    115865
    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    George Abecassis began racing in 1935. When World War II broke out he joined the Royal Air Force and became, ultimately becoming a member of the secret "Moon Squadrons", ferrying secret agents in and out of France with Lysander aircraft. He retired from the RAF in February 1953.
    After World War II Abecassis went back to racing and co-founded the Hersham and Walton Motors Formula One team. When his business partner John Heath was killed on the Mille Miglia, Abecassis decided to give up racing and concentrate on running the business and by the end of the 1950s HWM had disappeared from the racing scene. Abecassis later married the daughter of Aston Martin's chairman Sir David Brown and ran a successful business for many years before retiring.

    Promotions:
    December 18th, 1941: Flight-Sergeant (temporary)
    xx xx xx: Pilot Officer
    October 1st, 1942: Flying Officer
    December 18th, 1943: Flight Lieutenant
    February 18th, 1948: Squadron Leader

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Unit:
    No. 10 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    January 11th, 1944
    Citation:
    "This officer has been employed as a Flying Instructor and latterly as Deputy Flight Commander. His keenness and enthusiasm, combined with conscientious and consistent instruction, have always been an inspiration to trainee pilots and his pupils have in every case displayed the hallmark of his careful attention. He has carried out a long spell on the arduous and exacting duties of a Flying Instructor at an Operational Training Unit."
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Acting Squadron Leader
    Unit:
    No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    March 23rd, 1945
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

    Sources

    • - The London Gazette, dated 11th January 1944
      - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36997 published on the 20 March 1945
      - RAF Commands
      - GrandPrix.com

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