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Wootten, Ernest Waite "Bertie"

    Date of birth:
    November 5th, 1918 (Aberbeeg/Wales, Great Britain)
    Date of death:
    April 30th, 1999
    Service number:
    42667
    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Ernest Waite Wootten also received the Air Force Cross (January 2nd, 1950) and the CBE (January 1st, 1971).

    Promotions:
    September 2nd, 1939: Acting Pilot Officer on probation;
    March 2nd, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation;
    July 10th, 1940: Pilot Officer;
    March 2nd, 1941: Flying Officer (war subs.);
    March 2nd, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.);
    June 1942: Acting Squadron Leader;
    March 1st, 1943: Acting Wing Commander;
    September 1st, 1943: Squadron Leader (war subs.);
    February 12th, 1946: Flight Lieutenant (seniority September 1st, 1945);
    July 1st, 1948: Squadron Leader (seniority August 1st, 1947);
    January 1st, 1957: Wing Commander;
    November 25th, 1959: Acting Group Captain;
    January 1st, 1963: Group Captain;
    April 30th, 1968: Acting Air Commodore;
    July 1st, 1968: Air Commodore.

    Career:
    ?: Malvern Preparatory School;
    ?: King's School, Worcester;
    1936: Apprentice C.A. Parsons, Newcastle upon Tyne;
    1938: Royal Air Force;
    September 2nd, 1939: Short Commission;
    February 1940: Staff Pilot No. 9 Air Observers School;
    May 1940: Pilot No. 4 Continental Ferry Pilots’ Pool;
    August 1940: Pilot No. 24 Squadron;
    March 1941: Flight Commander No. 234 Squadron;
    November 1941: Commanding Officer No. 2 Delivery Flight, Colerne;
    January 14th, 1942: Squadron Leader Tactics, Headquarters No. 10 Group;
    June 1942: Commanding Officer No. 118 Squadron, Ibsley;
    April 1943: Commanding Officer Coltishall Fighter Wing;
    June 1943: Wing Leader Fairwood Common;
    January 1944: Wing Commander Tactics, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied aIr Force, Algiers;
    January 29th, 1944: Air Staff Advanced Headquarters, MAAF;
    March 1944: Commanding Officer No. 244 Wing, Desert Air Force, Caserta;
    July 1944: Commanding Officer No. 322 Wing;
    October 1944: Commanding Officer No. 324 Wing, Desert Air Force;
    January 1945: Liaison Officer, Penatagon, Washington;
    July 10th, 1945: Reserve;
    August 1945: Wing Commander RAF Dorval, Montreal;
    1946: Commanding Officer No. 245 Squadron;
    February 12th, 1946: Extended Service Commission;
    February 13th, 1947: Station Commander RAF Newton;
    ?: Staff Officer;
    November 25th, 1959: Military Attache Caracas, Venezuela;
    May 20th, 1963: Commanding Officer RAF Middleton St. George;
    April 6th, 1964: Commanding Officer RAF Leconfield;
    February 7th, 1966: Assitant Chief of Staff, Offensive Operations, Headquarters 2nd Tactical Air Force;
    April 30th, 1968: SASO, Headquarters No. 11 Group;
    January 18th, 1971: AOC, Headquarters Military Air Traffic Organisation;
    July 1st, 1971: Aide-de-Camp to The Queen;
    November 5th, 1973: Retirement;
    ? - 1987: Hawker Siddeley.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flying Officer
    Unit:
    No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    August 29th, 1941
    Citation:
    "This officer has displayed great dash, enthusiasm and flying ability throughout all the operations in which he has participated. He has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft, of which two were shot down in one engagement."

    LG 35260/5022.
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Acting Squadron Leader
    Unit:
    No. 118 Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    June 4th, 1943
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Citation:
    "This officer, who has taken part in very many sorties, has led the squadron and, occasionally the wing, with great skill and dash. His fine example and outstanding devotion to duty have been inspiring."

    LG 36041/2565.
    Second DFC to be worn as a bar on the ribbon of the first DFC.

    Sources

    • Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
    • - The London Gazette of 19th September 1939, Issue 34687
      - The London Gazette of 19th March 1940, Issue 34814
      - The London Gazette of 27th September 1940, Issue 34954
      - The London Gazette of 11th April 1941, Issue 35134
      - The London Gazette of 29th August 1941, Issue 35260
      - The London Gazette of 10th July 1942, Issue 35628
      - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st June 1943, Issue 36041, dated 4th June 1943
      - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 19th October 1943, Issue 36219, dated 22nd October 1943
      - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 10th August 1945, Issue 37218, dated 14th August 1945
      - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st October 1947, Issue 38115, dated 4th November 1947
      - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 9th January 1948, Issue 38175, dated 13th January 1948
      - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 2nd July 1948, Issue 38344, dated 6th July 1948
      - Supplement to The London Gazette of 13th August 1948, Issue 38380, dated 17th August 1948
      - Supplement to The London Gazette of 30th December 1949, Issue 38797, dated 2nd January 1950
      - Fifth Supplement to The Londo Gazette of 28th December 1956, Issue 40964, dated 1st January 1957
      - Eleventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st December 1963, Issue 43210, dated 3rd January 1964
      - Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th June 1968, Issue 44625, dated 2nd July 1968
      - Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st December 1970, Issue 45262, dated 1st January 1971
      - Supplement to The London Gazette of 12th July 1971, Issue 45422, dated 13th July 1971
      - Supplement to The London Gazette of 5th November 1973, Issue 46120, dated 6th November 1973
      - Battle of Britain London Monument

    Photo