David John Shannon was selected to join the newly formed No. 617 Squadron by the most highly decorated serviceman in the country who completed over how many operations at the age of 26?
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Dave Shannon David John (Dave) Shannon, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (27 May 1922 – 8 April 1993) was an Australian bomber pilot of World War II, best known for his part in the "Dambusters" raid on the night of 16/17 May 1943. Born in South Australia, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1941 and learned to fly under the Empire Air Training Scheme. After further training in the United Kingdom he was posted to No. 106 Squadron RAF, operating Avro Lancaster heavy bombers, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in January 1943. In March he was selected by No. 106 Squadron's commanding officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, to join the newly formed No. 617 Squadron for Operation Chastise, the attack on the dams of the Ruhr valley. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) following the raid, Shannon continued to fly with No. 617 Squadron until October 1944, during which time he earned bars to his DSO and DFC. He was then assigned to transport duties, first with No. 511 Squadron and then, in March 1945, with No. 246 Squadron. Ranked squadron leader, Shannon was demobilised after the war and remained in England, becoming an executive with Shell. He died in South London in 1993, aged seventy.
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Guy Gibson Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944), was the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force's No. 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid (Operation Chastise) in 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, and in June 1943 became the most highly decorated serviceman in the country, but lost his life later in the war. He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 26.
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Donald Hardman Air Chief Marshal Sir James Donald Innes Hardman, (21 December 1899 – 2 March 1982), known as Donald Hardman, was a senior Royal Air Force commander. He began his flying career as a fighter pilot in World War I, achieving nine victories to become an ace. During World War II, Hardman held senior staff and operational posts. He was Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1952 to 1954, after which he served as a member of the British Air Council until retiring in 1958.
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Michael J. Novosel Michael J. Novosel Sr. (September 3, 1922 – April 2, 2006) of Enterprise, Alabama served in the United States military during three wars: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He flew the B-29 Superfortress bomber in World War II. In order to serve in the Vietnam War, he gave up the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve to become a chief warrant officer in the Army. For his bravery in conducting a medical evacuation under fire in this conflict, he was awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.
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John R. Alison John Richardson "Johnny" Alison (November 21, 1912 – June 6, 2011) was a highly decorated American combat ace of World War II and is often cited as the father of Air Force Special Operations.
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John Denis Breakey Air Vice Marshal John Denis Breakey {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} & Bar (19 May 1899 – 8 January 1965) was a senior officer of the Royal Air Force. He began his military career in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. As the RNAS was merged into the Royal Air Force, he scored nine aerial victories as a fighter pilot. He served throughout the interwar period and into the Second World War, rising to air vice marshal.
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Trafford Leigh-Mallory Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, (11 July 1892 – 14 November 1944) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. Leigh-Mallory served as a Royal Flying Corps pilot and squadron commander during the First World War. Remaining in the newly formed RAF after the war, Leigh-Mallory served in a variety of staff and training appointments throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
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Ernest Elton Flight Sergeant Ernest John Elton {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (25 December 1893 – 8 March 1958) was the highest scoring British non-commissioned flying ace during World War I. He was credited with 17 aerial victories.
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John Francis Young John Francis Young {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (14 January 1893 – 7 November 1929) was a Canadian soldier who served in the First World War. Young was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Young was one of the seven Canadians who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions on one single day, 2 September 1918, for actions across the 30 km long Drocourt-Quéant Line near Arras, France. The other six were Bellenden Hutcheson, Arthur George Knight, William Metcalf, Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, Cyrus Wesley Peck and Walter Leigh Rayfield.
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Eric Douglas Cummings Captain Eric Douglas Cummings (13 April 1896 – 27 October 1979) was an Australian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories while flying for the Australian Flying Corps. Postwar, he was an integral part of fund-raising campaigns to care for his fellow Australian military veterans. He then served in the Royal Air Force reserves until reactivated for service during World War II.
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Fred Parkinson Holliday Fred Parkinson Holliday DSO, MC, AFC (20 February 1888 – 5 March 1980) was an Australian fighter pilot and ace of the First World War. He shot down 17 German aircraft between his entry into the war and its end, making him the 11th highest-scoring Australian-born pilot of the war. He served with the RFC and RAF throughout, in the No. 48 Squadron. He was awarded the Military Cross on 26 July 1917 for a particularly successful encounter with five German aircraft, and was later given the Distinguished Service Order.
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Douglas Jackman Air Marshal Sir Harold Douglas Jackman, (26 October 1902 – 15 June 1991) was a senior Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command from 1958 until his retirement in 1961.
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Provo Wallis Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Parry Wallis, GCB (12 April 1791 – 13 February 1892) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer, following the capture of USS "Chesapeake" by the frigate HMS "Shannon" during the War of 1812, the wounding of HMS "Shannon"' s captain and the death of her first lieutenant in the action, he served as the temporary captain of HMS "Shannon" for a period of exactly six days as she made her way back to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with "Chesapeake" flying the Blue Ensign above the Stars and Stripes.
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David Harcourt-Smith Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith, (born 14 October 1931) is a former Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command. He is the author of "Wings Over Suez", an account of air operations during the Sinai and Suez wars.
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William Charles Campbell Captain William Charles Campbell, {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (27 April 1889 – 26 February 1958), was a World War I fighter pilot of Scots heritage who was credited with 23 victories. Serving with No. 1 Squadron during 1917, he was a notable balloon buster, being the first British ace to down five enemy observation balloons. He also claimed eleven aircraft destroyed, and seven (including two shared) 'driven down out of control'.
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Edric Broadberry Captain Edric William Broadberry {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (14 December 1894 – 26 December 1967) was a British pilot. He began his military career during World War I. During that conflict, he would become a flying ace credited with eight confirmed aerial victories. He remained in service throughout World War II, and served his nation for 33 years, not retiring until 1947.
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Philip Hunter (RAF officer) Philip Hunter, DSO (11 April 1913 – 24 August 1940) was a Royal Air Force pilot, squadron commander and a Second World War flying ace, awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leading the destruction of thirty-eight enemy aircraft in only two missions over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches in May 1940. He was killed in action leading his squadron during the Battle of Britain.
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Robert Saundby Air Marshal Sir Robert Henry Magnus Spencer Saundby {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (26 April 1896 – 25 September 1971) was an RAF officer whose career spanned both World War I and World War II. He distinguished himself gaining five victories during World War I, and was present during the air battle when Lanoe Hawker was shot down and killed by Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron". He is chiefly remembered for his role as Deputy AOC in C Bomber Command under Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris during the latter part of World War II.
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Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson Captain Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (30 August 1890 – 27 September 1918) was a British World War I two-seater fighter ace who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with thirty aerial victories (18 destroyed, 12 'out of control') before being was shot down and killed. Despite having an active fighter career of only five months, he reached the rank of captain and won two British military decorations.
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David Case Air Commodore David Case is the highest ranking black officer in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, and as of 2000, at the age of 47, he became the highest ranking black officer ever to serve in Britain's armed forces.
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William Bostock Air Vice Marshal William Dowling (Bill) Bostock, (5 February 1892 – 28 April 1968) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During World War II he led RAAF Command, the Air Force's main operational formation, with responsibility for the defence of Australia and air offensives against Japanese targets in the South West Pacific Area. His achievements in the role earned him the Distinguished Service Order and the American Medal of Freedom. General Douglas MacArthur described him as "one of the world's most successful airmen".
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Geoffrey Forrest Hughes Geoffrey Forrest Hughes, (12 July 1895 – 13 September 1951) was an Australian aviator and flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with 11 aerial victories, and won a Military Cross for his valour. After a postwar award of the Air Force Cross, he returned to Australia and completed university. He became a businessman and a solicitor in the family law firm while retaining his interests in aviation. From 1925 through 1934, he was president of the Royal Australian Aero Club, and largely responsible for government support of the club. Despite his business concerns, he returned to military duty during the Second World War. He commanded an aviation training school and rose to the rank of group captain before surrendering his commission in April 1943. After the war ended, he moved into public life and the political realm.