Cresswell, Richard "Mr Double Seven"

Date of birth:: July 27th, 1920 (Launceston/Tasmania, Australia)
Date of death:: December 12th, 2006 (Canberra, Australia)
Service number:: O383
Nationality:: Australian

Biography

Wing Commander Richard Creswel was the first Australian pilot to shoot down an enemy airplane in Australian airspace. Group Captain Wilfred Arthur recommended him for an DFC, but this was "'lost' in the system". Cresswell also served in the Korea War. There are some who think the DFC he earned in Korea should have been an DSO instead and that it was probably due to his occasional flamboyance, confidence and impressive combat experience (court martialed during WW2) that senior officers "only" bestowed him the DFC.

Promotions:
1939: Pilot Officer
January 1941: Flight Lieutenant
20 April 1942: Acting Squadron Leader
January 1944: Acting Wing Commander
?: Squadron Leader
1952: Wing Commander

Career:
1939-1940: No. 3 Squadron RAAF
1940-1942: No. 2 Service Flying Training School
1942-1943: CO, No. 77 Squadron RAAF
1944: No. 1 Wing RAAF
1944-1945: No. 71 Wing RAAF
1947-1948: CO, No. 78 Wing RAAF
1950: CO, No. 21 Squadron RAAF
1950-1951: CO, No. 77 Squadron RAAF
1953-1956: CO, No. 2 Operational Training Unit RAAF