Squadron Leader Keith Thiele, who has died aged 94, was decorated four times as a bomber and a fighter pilot and was one of only four New Zealand-born airmen to earn three DFCs; he also won a DSO. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.
Tag: Veteran
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/01/31/squadron-leader-keith-thiele-%e2%80%a0/
Sep 22 2015
G/C Allan Wright, one of the last Battle of Britain aces, passes away
Group Captain Allan Wright, one of the last three aces of the Battle of Britain passed away on 16 September aged 95. After the war, he remained in the Royal Air Force, retiring in 1967. Read his complete biography from The Telegraph
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/09/22/gc-allan-wright-one-of-the-last-battle-of-britain-aces-passes-away/
Aug 05 2015
Last “Dambusters” pilot Les Munro passes away
Squadron Leader John Leslie “Les” Munro, CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, JP, the last surviving pilot of the “Dambuster raid”, passed away on 4 August 2015 in New Zealand, aged 96. Munro was born in 1919 and joined the RNZAF in 1941. He made a first tour of operations with No 97 Squadron flying the Manchester …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/08/05/last-dambusters-pilot-les-munro-passes-away/
Apr 02 2015
Lt. Col. Robert Hite ✝
Retired Lt. Col. Robert Hite, one of the last surviving Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, died at his home in Nashville, Tenn., on March 29, aged 95. Hite was the co-pilot on plane #16, dubbed “Bat Out of Hell,” during the April 18, 1942 mission to bomb Japan. Hite was captured by the Japanese in China following …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/04/02/lt-col-robert-hite-%e2%9c%9d/
Mar 09 2015
Lt Col Dean Hess ✝
Lieutenant Colonel Dean Hess, who died on March 2, 2015 aged 97, was a Disciples of Christ Church minister who enlisted after the Pearl Harbor attack and flew 63 combat missions on the P-47 Thunderbolt during World War II. He was recalled to active duty in 1948 and saw further action during the Korean War. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/03/09/lt-col-dean-hess-%e2%9c%9d/
Feb 12 2015
Squadron Leader Harvey Sweetman ✝
Squadron Leader Harvey Sweetman, who has died aged 93, was one of the most successful fighter pilots against the V-1 flying bomb, accounting for 11 of them during the autumn of 1944. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/02/12/squadron-leader-harvey-sweetman-%e2%9c%9d/
Feb 11 2015
Squadron Leader Jack Storey ✝
Squadron Leader Jack Storey, who has died aged 99, accounted for eight Japanese aircraft during the Burma campaign, making him its second most successful Commonwealth fighter pilot. Read his obituary from the Telegraph
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/02/11/squadron-leader-jack-storey-%e2%9c%9d/
Jan 29 2015
Doolittle Raid veteran Edwards J. Saylor passes away
Edward J. Saylor, the engineer of the 15th aircrew that participated in the famous 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan, passed away at his home on January 28, 2015. His crew bombed targets in Kobe and had to ditch its aircraft near the Chinese coast after the raid. Saylor stayed with the Air Force …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/01/29/doolittle-raid-veteran-edwards-j-saylor-passes-away/
Jan 23 2015
Gerald “Jerry” Billing ✝
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Billing, considered one of the greatest Spitfire demonstration pilots to fly in the North American air show circuit passed away peacefully January 9th. A veteran of World War II he served 2 tours with over 250 combat sorties and stayed in the RCAF until 1964 becoming a member of Canada’s first jet demonstration …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/01/23/gerald-jerry-billing-%e2%9c%9d/
Jan 08 2015
Squadron Leader John Rowland ✝
Squadron Leader John Rowland, who has died aged 94, was awarded the DFC twice in three days in 1943; later, on completion of 50 bombing operations, he received the DSO. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/01/08/squadron-leader-john-rowland-%e2%9c%9d/
Dec 14 2014
Flight Lieutenant Bill Green ✝
Flight Lieutenant Bill Green, who has died aged 97, was twice shot down: first flying a Hurricane during the Battle of Britain; five years later he was taken prisoner after again being shot down whilst flying a Tempest over Germany. Read his obituary from The Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/12/14/flight-lieutenant-bill-green-%e2%9c%9d/
Oct 03 2014
Wing Commander Bob Bray †
Wing Commander Bob Bray, who has died aged 93, was a bomber pilot with the RAF who lit up targets in the Ruhr and during the lead-up to D-Day. He flew 94 missions over Europe and was twice awarded the DFC. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/10/03/wing-commander-bob-bray-%e2%80%a0/
Sep 22 2014
Jimmy Dodds †
Jimmy Dodds, one of the Royal Air Force’s most successful fighter pilots, has passed away aged 92. Flying outclassed Hurricane fighters in North Africa in 1941 and 1942, he shot down many Italian and German fighters. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/09/22/jimmy-dodds-%e2%80%a0/
Aug 23 2014
Jean Sauvage, Normandie-Niémen fighter pilot and ace †
The commandant Jean Sauvage, who fought with the famous Normandie-Niémen fighter group on the Eastern Front, recently passed away aged 97. Flying Morane-Saulnier MS. 406 fighters with GC III/3 during the Battle of France, he was credited with three shared aerial victories. He was sent to North Africa after the armistice and joined the Allied …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/08/23/jean-sauvage-normandie-niemen-fighter-pilot-and-ace-%e2%80%a0/
Aug 10 2014
Wing Commander Bob Foster †
Wing Commander Bob Foster, who has died aged 94, was a Battle of Britain fighter pilot who went on to become an ace flying Spitfires in defence of Australia. In 2004, Bob Foster was reunited with Hawker Hurricane R4118, which he flew during the Battle of Britain. After the war Foster worked for Shell-Mex and …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/08/10/wing-commander-bob-foster-%e2%80%a0/
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