les jackson february february australian fighter ace world war credited aerial victories born brisbane businessman joined royal_australian_air_force raaf reserve called active duty shortly outbreak war september served squadron australia posting theatre squadron singapore march joined squadron port new_guinea flying command eldest brother john ensuing les shot japanese aircraft jackson took command squadron brother killed action april leading later year credited fifth aerial victory raaf ace new_guinea campaign awarded jackson wing leader fighter wing gaining promotion wing commander september year awarded bar march served chief flying instructor operational training unit australia saw war commander leaving raaf jackson returned business world running died queensland early career born february brisbane suburb queensland fourth son businessman wife job following education family firm set business running service station garage rural area south west brisbane february jackson enlisted 2nd 14th queensland based militia unit jackson followed eldest brother john known july outbreak world war les called active duty raaf november learnt fly air cadet victoria graduating pilot february served initially squadron july posted theatre squadron singapore initially operating unit converted september year combat service port completing service squadron november jackson posted squadron australia march joined squadron new_guinea flight lieutenant command brother known old john operating unit quickly engaged defence crucial early battles new_guinea campaign squadron flight commanders jackson took surprise raid airfield march led attacked destroyed dozen japanese planes ground including les provided protective cover survived encounter saw fellow pilots shot days later recorded aerial victory intercepted destroyed zero escorting force bombers port april jackson forced ditch aircraft coral reef shore aid life jacket brother john dropped following weeks les accounted japanese aircraft shot april attacked zero firing bombers able turn tables japanese fighter shoot flames day went head head damaging forced ditch reef smoking engine cockpit danced wing let comrades know safe jackson shot victim april achieved fourth victory zero april highest australian scorer battle port april shot killed leading interception japanese raid les took command squadron day april squadron recalled australia refit jackson flew remaining aircraft queensland bay following equipment australia jackson led squadron new_guinea arriving bay july company unit squadron jackson squadron engaged air defence japanese raiders offensive strikes convoys targets support australian ground forces august launched attack enemy barges resulted seven vessels set fire loss aircraft day jackson personally led unit assaults main japanese convoy approaching august fellow pilot claimed zero japanese fighters machine aircraft crash landed following combat presumably prevent falling allied hands bounced australian pilots victory jackson ace raaf new_guinea august japanese troops threatening overrun raaf airfield bay squadrons ordered withdraw night returning bay day plane developed trouble ditch coast help new_guinea natives reached boat days later september japanese withdrawn troops area generals described efforts nos squadrons decisive factor invading forces squadron queensland september jackson handed command squadron leader following january recognition courage leadership new_guinea jackson awarded london gazette march having served staff positions australia year appointed wing leader fighter wing component newly formed december wing participated operation reckless assault opened western new_guinea campaign april followed attack commencing june jackson promoted acting wing commander september completing tour wing december posted operational training unit new south wales chief flying instructor march jackson awarded bar determined successful attacks enemy installations shipping june took command post war career jackson continued lead following end hostilities commission terminated brisbane february returning garage business rural queensland ran george married andrew presbyterian church january couple sons wife jackson died cerebral february survived children cremated anglican ceremony
Leslie Douglas Jackson