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Rymills, Frank Ernest "Bunny"

    Date of birth:
    August 11th, 1920 (Oxford/Oxfordshire, Great Britain)
    Date of death:
    January 1997
    Service number:
    748665 (NCO), 115338 (Officer)
    Nationality:
    British

    Biography

    Bunny Rymills was educated at Southfields School. He started to train in Abingdon to become an architect but decided to volunteer for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1939. He was posted at No. 58 Squadron but was then asked to join No. 161 Squadron by Squadron Leader Pickard over a game of cards in late 1942. He later joined 161 Squadron in early 1943.

    His work entailed landings and take-offs by night on rough French farm fields under the noses of the enemy. Most of the times secret agents were brought to France in the aircraft they flew, either a Lysander of a Hudson, together with money for the resistance to run their affairs. Even often, passengers who's life were in danger, were transported to England.
    When he left 161 Squadron in July 1943, Rymills had completed 64 operations without a break, twice the usual number.
    Later he was posted as a flight commander to Number 644, a Halifax squadron dropping supplies to the Resistance and preparing to tow gliders in the Normandy invasion of June 1944.
    At the end of the war Rymills stayed on in the RAF and flew operations against jungle insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. He finished flying in 1959 and later and retired from the RAF in August 1963.

    Promotions:
    Sergeant
    Fligh Sergeant
    January 20th, 1942: Pilot Officer (probation/emergency)
    October 1st, 1942; Flying Oficer (war sub)
    January 20th, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Sergeant
    Unit:
    No. 58 Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    November 21st, 1941
    Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flying Officer
    Unit:
    No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    May 25th, 1943
    Citation:
    "This officer has completed a large number of operations, some of them of a very hazardous nature. He is a courageous and skilful pilot whose example has won the confidence of all with whom he has flown. He has displayed great determination and his successes have been worthily
    earned."
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flying Officer
    Unit:
    No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    September 10th, 1943
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Citation:
    "This officer has at all times displayed the greatest keenness and enthusiasm for operational flying. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross he has completed a number of sorties, all of which have been highly successful."

    Sources

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