Australian Bomber Command Heroes

[Dave Homewood]

I don't know a lot about the Australian experience in this aspect of the war so I am curious, apart from Mickey Martin and Dave Shannon from No. 617 Squadron Dambusters fame, who are the other Australian aircrew members that are considered the really stand-out heroes of RAF Bomber Command in WWII? Which squadrons were they on, and why does Australia, or you personally, rate them so highly?

Also I know Australia had a few Bomber Command Chapter XV squadrons, is there one particular squadron that stands out as perhaps more elite than the others?

[11SQNLDR]

Hi Dave,

the name that stands out for me of RAAF 617 Sqn fame was Les Knight DSO, he and his crew of N Nan breached the 2nd (Eder) dam on Operation Chastise.

Australia's highest decorated WWII individual was Hughie Edwards but I'm not sure he meets your criteria, he was in the RAAF then obtained a short service RAF commission in 1935 and went on to serve with great distinction in Bomber Command. He later become Governor of Western Australia, I saw his statue yesterday on the way to the Fremantle markets

Both Knight & Edwards have had 1/72 Diecast models of their Lancaster & Blenheim released by Corgi

Be sure to Check out Edwards' medal group when you get to Canberra.