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Air Commodore W T Brooks (39932)


Walter Thomas             b: 8 Jan 1917               r: 8 Apr 1965              d: 31 Dec 2004

DSO – 20 Oct 1944, OBE - 1 Jan 1957, AFC – 1 Jan 1946, MiD – 1 Jan 1946.

(RAFVR): Act Plt Off: 12 Jul 1937, Plt Off: 18 May 1938, Fg Off (WS): 18 Feb 1940, Flt Lt (WS): 18 Feb 1941, (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Mar 1942, Act Wg Cdr: 27 Apr 1944?, Sqn Ldr (WS):  2 Jul 1944, Sqn Ldr: 1 Sep 1945,

(RAF): Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1946 [1 Sep 1945], Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1951, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1958, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1964.

12 Jul 1937:         Initial Officer Training, RAF Depot.

17 Jul 1937:         U/T Pilot, No 9 FTS.

19 Feb 1938:       Pilot, No 72 Sqn.

xx xxx 1938:        Attended Instructor's Course, Central Flying School.

 7 Oct 1938:        QFI, No 11 FTS.

xx xxx xxxx:         Instructor, No 39 SFTS

 2 Jan 1944:         'A' Flight Commander, No 156 Sqn. (Lancaster) (Warboys/Upwood)

27 Apr 1944:       Officer Commanding,  No 635 Sqn. (Lancaster) (Downham Market)

10 Jul 1944:        

10 Sep 1944:        Chief Instructor, No 29 OTU

13 Dec 1944:       Chief Instructor, No 17 OTU

 6 Nov 1945:        Training Staff Officer, RAF Delegation - USA

25 Mar 1947:      Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader (effective 1 Mar 1946 with seniority 1 Sep 1945)

23 Aug 1948:       Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Accident Prevention.

23 Dec 1949:       Assistant Air Attaché, Ankara.

7 May 1953:        Air Attaché, Ankara.

xx xxx 1960:        Officer Commanding, RAF Jurby.

25 Jul 1961:         Attended Canadian National Defence College.

30 Jul 1962 :       Member, International Planning Team, Standing Group, Washington 

11 Jan 1964:        AOC, No 11 (Northern) Sector.

Retired at his own request.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order.

“Acting Wing Commander Walter Thomas BROOKS (39932), R.A.F.O., 635 Sqn. 

In August,1944,Wing Commander Brooks was detailed to attack, in daylight, an oil installation/ hi Hamburg. In spite of fierce anti-aircraft defences, the attack was carried out with great accuracy.  Wing Commander Brooks has raised  the efficiency of the squadron to a very high standard.  He has the complete confidence of his crew and the good results achieved by them have been due to his inspiring leadership.”

(London Gazette – 20 Oct 1944)

Citation for the award of the Air Force Cross.

BROOKS, W/C Walter Thomas, DSO (RAF 39932) - No.39 SFTS (Canada).   Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1946 and AFRO 82/46 dated 25 January 1946.  He had flown 1,150 hours as instructor in four years. 

"This officer has served in flying training since August 1938.  During that period he has completed many fours of flying instruction.  He has rendered invaluable service to the Flying Wing at a time when the greater proportion of the flying instructors were both inexperienced and unqualified on single-engine aircraft.  This officer possesses outstanding qualities in leadership and initiative and has a natural organizing ability."

This page was last updated on 05/01/24©

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