Date of birth:

December 19th, 1916 (London, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

March 1st, 1971

Service number:

40496

Nationality:

British

Richard Acworth was born in London on 19 December 1916.
He was granted a short service commission in February 1938. On 16 May 1939, he was posted to No. 112 Squadron when this unit was formed aboard HMS Argus in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The Squadron was sent to Egypt and arrived on 25 May 1939.
When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, he served as Pilot Officer in ‘A’ Flight.
After having seen much action over the Libyan border, he was transferred to Greece to join No. 80 Squadron where he made several victories. He rejoined No. 112 Squadron when it was restationed in Greece in March.
Later he returned to the UK where he was an instructor with 55 OTU in early 1942. In the Summer of 1943 he flew for a time as Flight Commander in 118 Squadron, but left the unit in August.
Acworth ended the war with seven confirmed virtories.

Promotions:
February 19th, 1938: Acting Pilot Officer on probation;
November 29th, 1938: Pilot Officer;
August 29th, 1940: Flying Officer;
August 29th, 1941: Flight Lieutenant (war subs);
August 1942: Acting Squadron Leader;
July 1st, 1943: Temporary Squadron Leader.

Career:
March 5th, 1938: No. 9 Flying Training School;
May 16th, 1939: "A" Flight, No. 112 Squadron;
February 1941 - March 1941: Attached to No. 80 Squadron;
1941: Instructor No. 71 Operational Training Unit;
October 27th, 1941 - November 11th, 1941: No. 112 Squadron;
?: No. 1 RAF Depot;
March 26th, 1942: Instructor No. 55 Operational Training Unit;
April 30th, 1943: No. 118 Squadron;
August 1943: Q Flight, No. 61 Operational Training Unit;
1944 - October 1st, 1944: No. 80 Squadron.

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• Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
• - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
  - The London Gazette of 8th March 1938, Issue 34490
  - The London Gazette of 6th December 1938, Issue 34577
  - The London Gazette of 5th November 1940, Issue 34986
  - The London Gazette of 25th July 1941, Issue 35228
  - The London Gazette of 4th November 1941, Issue 35335
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 13th July 1943, Issue 36092, dated 14th July 1943
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 12th May 1944, Issue 36514, dated 16th May 1944
  - The Air Force List, August 1938, His Majesty's Stationary Officer
  - Haakans Aviation Page