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Forbes, Athol Stanhope

Date of birth:
April 4th, 1912
Date of death:
August 18th, 1981
Service number:
37499
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Promotions:
January 20th, 1936: Acting Pilot officer (probation)
November 25th, 1936: Pilot Officer
May 25th, 1938: Flying Officer
May 25th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant
December 1st, 1941: Temporary Squadron Leader
January 1st, 1944: Temporary Wing Commander
February 2nd, 1945: Wing Commander (war sub)
November 1st, 1947: Flight Lieutenant (relinquish the temporary rank
of Wing Commander and Squadron Leader)

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Awarded on:
October 22nd, 1940
Citation:
"This officer is a splendid leader and has contributed materially to the many; successes obtained by his squadron. He has displayed great keenness in pressing home his attacks against the enemy and has destroyed seven of their aircraft."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Squadron Leader
Awarded on:
January 31st, 1941
Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari - Krzyz Srebrny
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Squadron Leader
Unit:
No. 66 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
November 4th, 1941
Citation:
"This officer has participated in numerous operational sorties during the last five months. In addition to many arduous convoy patrols he has led wing formations as escort to bombers on missions over France; he has also carried out many attacks on enemy ground targets with a large measure of success. Squadron Leader Forbes has always shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and has undoubtedly contributed materially to the high standard of operational efficiency of the squadron. At his own request he has been permitted to make long flights out over the sea, alone in an endeavour to engage enemy aircraft."

Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Wing Commander
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1944
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
  • - The London Gazette Issue 34252 published on the 4 February 1936
    - The London Gazette Issue 34361 published on the 19 January 1937
    - The London Gazette Issue 34521 published on the 14 June 1938
    - The London Gazette Issue 34870 published on the 11 June 1940
    - The London Gazette Issue 34976 published on the 22 October 1940
    - The London Gazette Issue 35060 published on the 31 January 1941
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35334 published on the 31 October 1941
    - The London Gazette Issue 35383 published on the 16 December 1941
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36309 published on the 31 December 1943
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36340 published on the 18 January 1944
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37074 published on the 8 May 1945
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38125 published on the 14 November 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38209 published on the 13 February 1948
    - Air of Authority

Photo