Date of birth:

April 15th, 1916 (Townshend/Cornwall, Great Britain)

Date of death:

September 6th, 1973 (Townshend/Cornwall, Great Britain)

Service number:

56146, Royal Air Force

Nationality:

British

Charles Donald Andrewartha joined the RAF at No 1 Reception Depot West Drayton on November 19th, 1935 as an AC2. He rose steadily through the ranks and took his first solo flight on July 9th, 1941 in Magister N3779. After training on a numer of aircraft he served operationally with No. 115 Squadron in Lancasters from June 1944 to December 8th, 1944 when he completed his second Operational tour of 30 sorties.
He then flew as an instructor on Wellingtons and Harvards. He tranfered to Aircraft Control and subsequently served in Egypt, Cyprus and Germany as well as many UK locations. He retired aged 55 on April 15th, 1971.

Promotions:
November 19th, 1935: Aicraftman 2nd Class;
December 19th, 1936: Aircraftman 1st Class;
August 1st, 1939: Leading Aircraftman;
March 1st, 1940: temporary Corporal;
August 1st, 1942: temporary Flight Sergeant;
September 23rd, 1944: Pilot Officer on probation;
October 26th, 1944: Acting Flying Officer;
April 27th, 1945: Pilot Officer (seniority March 23rd, 1945);
April 27th, 1945: Flying Officer (war subs.);
November 1st, 1947: Flying Officer (seniority September 23rd, 1945);
November 11th, 1948: Flight Lieutenant (seniority March 23rd, 1948);
August 14th, 1961: Acting Squadron Leader;
January 1st, 1962: Squadron Leader (Supplementary List).

Career:
November 19th, 1935: No. 1 Reception Depot;
June 1944 - December 8th, 1944: No. 115 Squadron;
November 24th, 1950: Aircraft Control Branch;
April 15th, 1971: Retirement.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force (No. 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force)

Awarded on:

December 29th, 1944

Citation:
This officer has completed very many sorties and has set a fine example of skill and keenness throughout. In October, 1944, he was captain and pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. On his first run over the target the bomb release mechanism became defective and the bombs failed to drop. In spite of considerable anti-aircraft fire,
Flying Officer Andrewartha made a second, and yet a third run over the target on which the bombs were dropped manually. Some days later, Flying Officer Andrewartha again attacked the same target. Although his aircraft sustained extensive damage when hit by anti-aircraft fire he completed his mission successfully. He displayed the highest standard of determination and devotion to duty."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With Cyprus bar.

• Photo 1: Dick Andrewartha
• - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th December 1944, Issue 36863, dated 29th December 1944
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th April 1945, Issue 37053, dated 27th April 1945
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 2nd January 1948, Issue 38169, dated 6th January 1948
  - Supplment to The London Gazette of 26th November 1948, Issue 38467, dated 30th November 1948
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd August 1951, Issue 39304, dated 7th August 1951
  - Eighth Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th December 1961, Issue 42559, dated 2nd January 1962
  - Supplment to The London Gazette of 19th April 1971, Issue 45346, dated 20th April 1971
  - RAF Officers Record of Service and Log Books