Английская Википедия:Bobby Oxspring
Шаблон:Use British English Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox military person Robert Wardlow Oxspring, Шаблон:Post-nominals (22 May 1919 – 8 August 1989) was a Royal Air Force officer and flying ace of the Second World War.[1]
Early life and family
Oxspring was born in Hampstead, London on 22 May 1919.[2] His father, also named Robert, had served in No. 54 Squadron RFC, and was a founder member and commander of No. 66 Squadron RFC during the First World War,[3] in which he was credited with several aerial victories, and was twice awarded the Military Cross before being wounded in action during a mid-air collision on 30 April 1917.[4][5]
Military career
Oxspring was granted a short service commission as an acting pilot officer on 7 May 1938,[6] being described at the time as "a tallish, good-looking, fair-headed bloke",[7] and served in No. 66 Squadron RAF.[8] He was regraded to pilot officer on 7 March 1939.
Flying throughout the Battle of Britain, Oxspring was promoted to flying officer on 3 September 1940,[9] and on 25 October was shot down in Spitfire X4170 near Capel, Kent.[10] Known as one of the battle's great aces,[11] he was one of the fraction of The Few selected by Fighter Command to have a portrait drawn by Cuthbert Orde, sitting for it on 9 December 1940.
On 8 November 1940 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The citation read: Шаблон:Blockquote
Promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 3 September 1941,[12] he became flight commander in No. 41 Squadron RAF,[13] and went on to command No. 91 Squadron RAF at RAF Hawkinge,[14] No. 222 Squadron RAF[15] and No. 24 Wing.[16]
He was awarded a Bar to his DFC on 18 September 1942, with the citation: Шаблон:Blockquote
Moving to Mediterranean combat, it is thought probable that Oxspring was the pilot who shot down renowned German ace Anton Hafner of JG 51 on 2 January 1943.[17]
Having led his squadron to be the highest scoring in the North African theatre, and survived his second shooting down of the war,[10] Oxspring was awarded a second Bar to his DFC in February 1943, with the citation reading: Шаблон:Blockquote
On 1 January 1944 he was promoted to temporary squadron leader,[18] and was promoted to squadron leader (war substantive) on 15 June 1944.[19] the rank he held when the conflict ceased in 1945.
During the war he had registered 13 solo kills with 2 shared, 2 probable kills and 4 solo V-1 flying bombs destroyed and 1 shared.[13]
After the war, on 10 January 1947, he was one of the British officers given royal recognition of the award of the Dutch Airman's Cross.[20] He was also awarded the 1939–1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp, the Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany clasp, the Italy Star, and the War Medal 1939–1945.[21]
He stayed on in the RAF, receiving a permanent commission as a flight lieutenant on 1 September 1945, and being promoted to substantive squadron leader on 1 August 1947.[22][23]
He was awarded the Air Force Cross on 1 January 1949,[24] after leading No. 54 Squadron RAF Vampires to Canada and the US, the first jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic.[25]
On 22 September 1949 he led a flight of five Vampire Mk.3 aircraft from 73 Squadron RAF on a tour of Italy to promote the aircraft to the Italian Air force. Flying VF345 Oxspring with a broken radio was unable to find the airfield at Malpensa. Almost out of fuel he chose to land in a field with the other four Vampires also out of fuel following him. All five pilots made successful landings without any serious injuries.[26]
Promotion came twice more, to wing commander on 1 January 1953,[27] and finally group captain on 1 January 1960.[28]
He was appointed Station Commander of RAF Gatow in Berlin, where a section of the fence was the Berlin Wall. He retired on 23 February 1968.[25]
Later life
Oxspring wrote the book Spitfire Command (1984, William Kimber & Co Ltd (publisher)], Шаблон:ISBN;[29] republished 2003 by Cerberus, Шаблон:ISBN).[30]
Oxspring died on 8 August 1989, and is buried at Cranwell Parish church, Lincolnshire.[31]
References
Шаблон:Top UK World War II Aces Шаблон:Authority control Шаблон:Subject bar
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
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- ↑ Шаблон:London Gazette
- ↑ 10,0 10,1 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:London Gazette
- ↑ 13,0 13,1 Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:London Gazette
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- ↑ 25,0 25,1 Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ Шаблон:London Gazette
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- ↑ {{ |oclc=1537139}}
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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