march august australian aviator flying ace second world war born brisbane working enlisted royal_australian_air_force completing flight training australia canada flew european mediterranean asian theatres tally axis aircraft shot additional particular attack january intercepted formation japanese bombers india despite aircraft set early engagement shot bombers severely damaged forced bail awarded action returning australia late promoted squadron leader posted flight instructor operational training unit killed flying accident august early life born brisbane queensland march grazing farmer indian born british wife née daughter lieutenant general sir youth educated completing schooling employed family property near queensland enlisted allotted 11th light horse regiment service unit time obtained rank sergeant second world war training european middle eastern theatres ambition pilot royal_australian_air_force undertook instruction civil flying completing course enlisted air_force initially posted transferring raaf park june advanced leading following month attached empire flight training school finishing stint unit posted depot september ceremony days later married couple later son october weeks wedding embarked ship sydney bound canada arrived weeks later completed additional months advanced flight training commissioned pilot officer january set sail united_kingdom days later attached royal_air_force squadron unit flew operational sortie june promoted flying officer month continued serve squadron october time flown total operational sorties european theatre including raids germany brest france transferred mediterranean posted squadron raf october operating egypt malta flying piloted foray unit october end year destruction axis aircraft additional squadron continued operate north_africa middle_east adding aircraft tally january transferred time squadron raf stationed india operating support operations burma campaign arrived new post january promoted flight lieutenant days later time left middle_east accorded official tally axis aircraft shot evening january airborne india navigator warrant officer approximately pair intercepted formation japanese bombers flying flew aircraft group initial attack drew fire bombers setting starboard engine despite damage pushed ahead assault shot bombers flames burning engine began sweep ordered moss bail continued assault shooting second bomber turning attention efforts penultimate aircraft badly damaged reached base time sought fourth final machine petrol tank exploded forced clothing landed god awful swamp walked hours reached army unit area returned squadron result cool courage awarded deserved distinguished service order moss receiving accompanying citation decorations supplement london gazette february reading 19th february royal_air_force king pleased approve following awards recognition gallantry displayed flying operations enemy distinguished service order flying officer royal_australian_air_force squadron distinguished warrant officer squadron pilot observer respectively flying officer warrant officer moss flown night flying operations united_kingdom middle_east india destroyed enemy aircraft damaged night january destroyed formation japanese aircraft compelled abandon aircraft set fire engagement flying officer warrant officer moss displayed great courage determination devotion duty completed final patrol squadron april moving days later later month carried raids burma attack japanese troops area second assaulting japanese shipping announcement awarded published supplement london gazette decoration came result high standard courage whilst flying squadron middle_east carrying patrols low level attacks enemy bases addition personal destruction axis aircraft piloted final sortie war july operational tour finished embarked australia august arriving melbourne september time tour completed accorded official tally aircraft shot additional home duties death return australia posted duties instructor operational training unit december march piloted brisbane new_guinea flying aircraft local area period days testing machine returning richmond new south wales promoted acting squadron leader september chief flying instructor operational training unit heading group sections aircraft celebrate victory europe day aircraft operational training unit detailed newcastle new_south_wales headed group comprised followed final aircraft group piloted flight lieutenant concluded successfully formation returned base group neared pilots orders carried attack installation called men office result august flying test flight completed flight returned base coming land problem occurred engines fell short runway killed resulting collision survived wife year old son funeral attended personnel operational training unit subsequently buried war cemetery fellow operational training unit instructor later described best pilots air force
Charles Crombie