Iveson, Thomas Clifford "Tony"

Date of birth:: September 11th, 1919 (York/North Yorkshire, Great Britain)
Date of death:: November 5th, 2013
Service number:: 742036 (NCO)/128539 (Officer)
Nationality:: British

Biography

Tony Iveson was educated at Archbishop Holgate’s Grammar School and joined the RAFVR in 1938 and was called up a year later, beginning as a fighter pilot, in September 1940 he joined No. 616 Squadron.
He flew a number of patrols before the Battle of Britain was over, then became a flying instructor spending two years training pilots in Southern Rhodesia before returning to Britain to join No. 617 Squadron.
On 15 September 1944, flying from an airfield in Russia, he was involved in first attack on the German battleship Tirpitz. On November 12 Iveson took off to attack Tirpitz for a second time. In January 1945 he was involved in the attack on the uboat pens in Bergen, Norway.
In spring 1945 Iveson was seconded to BOAC, flying converted bombers to the Far East. He left the RAF the following year, but later joined a Field Squadron of the RAF Regiment in the RAuxAF and commanded a Light Anti-Aircraft Squadron before the force was disbanded in 1957. Iveson went on to enjoy a long career in television and public relations. Iveson also worked for the British Airport Authority. For many years Iveson was chairman of the Bomber Command Association, and he campaigned vigorously for a permanent memorial to his colleagues, attending fundraising events and giving talks about his wartime experiences. The appeal was ultimately successful, and culminated in the dedication by the Queen of the Bomber Command Memorial in London in July 2012.

Promotions:
? Temporary Flight Sergeant
1 May, 1942: Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency)
1 November, 1942: Flying Officer on probation (war sub)
1 May, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub
23 February, 1949: Appointment to Commission as Flight Lieutenant (permanent)
12 July, 1949: retirement at his own request
1 February, 1954: appointment as Flight Lieutenant to command No. 2609 (West Riding) Light Anti Aircraft Squadron, Royal Auxilary Air Force Regiment)
3 March, 1956: Squadron Leader
20 November, 1956: Commission resigned

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Squadron Leader
Unit:: No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: March 16th, 1945

Citation:
"This officer has completed numerous sorties on his second tour of operational duty, including three attacks against the battleship Tirpitz. In January, 1945, he was detailed to attack the U-boat pens at Bergen. Whilst over the target his aircraft was attacked by two fighters. The first burst of machine-gun fire from the enemy aircraft
struck the tailplane, rudder and elevator. The port inner engine was set on fire and the rear turret was iput out of action. After the fighters broke off their attack Squadron Leader Iveson's aircraft came "under heavy fire from the .antiaircraft batteries. It was almost impossible to maintain level flight. Squadron Leader Iveson instructed another member of the crew to lash the control column in such a way as to ease the strain. Under these most trying conditions, Squadron Leader Iveson flew clear of the fire zone and afterwards reached a home based airfield where he landed his seriously damaged aircraft safely.
By his great skill, courage and determination, this officer was undoubtedly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft."