375:
617:, where German war industries were concentrated. These targets were heavily defended and Allied losses were considerable. The casualty rate, combined apparently with the blunt tone of Wilson's instructions to aircrews under his command, attracted the antipathy of some of them. For example, one pilot, Flight Lieutenant Ron Read (RAF), commented that
622:
Wilson was a dry humourless
Australian, who had ... had no experience ... in operations. What made him very unpopular was his attitude in his first couple of briefings, telling us, most ... veterans of many ops, how we should press on ... to attack the heavy Ruhr targets, which we were doing two or
502:
Observing that any concentration of military aviation facilities, aircraft and personnel, at a relatively small airfield, made it vulnerable and attractive to enemy attack, Wilson began to consider dispersal and decentralisation. Following reports, on 27 January, that the formidable
675:. After the Halifax was severely damaged by Baake and the controls became unresponsive, Carrie ordered the crew to bale out. The flight engineer, Sgt Richard Huke (RAF), was killed by a parachute malfunction; the other members landed safely, close to
628:
According to Read, senior aircrew suggested to Wilson that perhaps he should fly on an operation himself, believing that afterwards he might not be "so critical" or, "we slyly thought ... might go for the chop himself" (i.e. be shot down).
530:. (Three of the Wirraways were damaged and written-off following the first air raid on Darwin – see below.) At around the same time, Wilson ordered the arrest of a civilian suspected of signalling enemy vessels using an improvised
561:. The Allies suffered significant losses: at least 236 civilians and military personnel were killed, 11 vessels were sunk in Darwin Harbour and 31 aircraft were destroyed. The only fighter aircraft present, a squadron of
573:
had collapsed by the end of March, and ABDA was dissolved, along with its sub-commands. Criticised regarding their preparations for and responses to the first air raids, Wilson, his deputy, Group
Captain
338:
Wilson's ... tenacious pursuit of a theory that could not be proved appears consistent with Jack Graham's memory of him as 'a most peculiar bloke, most erratic fellow...he was quite unpredictable'.
1248:
350:.' But, as the Air Court demonstrated, he would not remain in his shell when circumstances permitted his forceful presence. John Harrison ... when Wilson became a POW and senior British officer in
1096:
The Valley of the Shadow of Death: an account of the Royal Air Force Bomber
Command night bombing and mine laying operations including "The Battle of the Ruhr" March 5th/6th to July 18th/19, 1943
760:. It was later established that 50 Allied POWs were shot on the personal orders of Adolf Hitler. (Wilson would later gave statements to war crimes prosecutors regarding these and other events.)
447:: an ambitious, but short-lived and shambolic supreme command, encompassing Allied forces throughout South East Asia and the South West Pacific. As a result, Wilson nominally headed an
1268:
1293:
1233:
1263:
1258:
271:. He entered the college the following year and remained there until 1920, when he was seconded to the British Army. In the UK, Wilson underwent training with the
1253:
1288:
1243:
1278:
768:
443:
225:
154:
1238:
504:
748:
as the Senior
British Officer (SBO) at SLIII soon afterwards. On 17 April 1944, Wilson surreptitiously passed to an official visitor from the
1028:
812:
682:
While several crew members were captured soon afterwards, Wilson, Carrie and wireless operator Sgt
Elliott McVitie (RAF) made contact with a
68:
791:
171:
1283:
1223:
1273:
434:
383:
279:
160:
441:. On 20 January 1942, the Australian government temporarily ceded operational control of military forces in northern Australia to
797:
268:
1043:
727:, Silesia (now Żagań, Poland), Wilson reportedly assisted in a successful escape, which one of the escapees, Flight Lieutenant
512:
1107:
632:
Wilson flew operationally, for the first and only time, on the night of 22/23 June 1943. He was officially, second pilot of a
539:
1070:
Flying Into the Flames of Hell: Dramatic First Hand
Accounts of British and Commonwealth Airmen in RAF Bomber Command in WW2
515:, almost 300 miles (480 km) further south. However, when Wilson also ordered the transfer of obsolete aircraft (five
1228:
816:
566:
744:" of March 1944, which took place in another compound at SLIII, did not involve Wilson. However, he succeeded Gp Capt.
780:
535:
468:
133:
1187:
890:
796:("War Cross 1939–1945"; sometimes referred to as the "Czechoslovakian Military Cross"), for interceding on behalf of
652:, Germany that night. On the return leg, at about 0158 hours, the bomber came under attack over the Netherlands, by
607:
570:
403:
309:
237:
195:
138:
104:
511:, Wilson ordered the dispersal of assets at RAAF Darwin. Repair and maintenance equipment and staff were moved to
278:
Transferring to the RAAF when it was established in 1923, Wilson was a member of the first group to graduate from
702:". However, during the first week of August, Wilson, Carrie and McVitie were apprehended in Paris, by either the
411:
339:
283:
787:. He tendered his resignation from the RAAF on 1 February 1946 and was placed on the Retired List on 20 March.
784:
272:
257:
51:
753:
264:
1169:
282:. Others who graduated at the same time and later became prominent in military or civil aviation, included
728:
213:
399:
Wilson commanded RAAF stations and held staff positions in
Australia for the first few years of the war.
808:
671:
324:
859:
FamilySearch, 2014, ""Australia, Sydney Branch
Genealogical Library, Cemetery Inscriptions, 1800–1960"
767:
with German authorities made similar accusations against Wilson. He was not charged after the
British
1218:
1213:
961:
633:
547:
520:
407:
752:
a list, compiled by other POWs, giving the names of 47 Allied personnel whom POWs believed had been
963:
United States Army in World War II The War in the
Pacific Strategy and Command: The First Two Years
710:
641:
578:, and the station commander of RAAF Darwin, Wing Commander Sturt Griffith, were posted out of NWA.
543:
419:
316:
614:
603:
595:
575:
221:
143:
956:"ABDACOM" an official account of events in the South-West Pacific Command, January–February 1942
1192:(RAAF service record, 1923–46), series no. A9300, control symbol WILSON D E L, barcode 5256735
1024:
558:
534:, from a location near RAAF Darwin. During early February, NWA was inspected by Air Commodore
387:
542:), who reported deficiencies in morale and aircraft serviceability amongst its combat units:
764:
733:
683:
587:
524:
484:
460:
698:. They travelled undercover into Belgium, where they were handed over to the better-known "
926:
749:
741:
719:
695:
527:
415:
351:
347:
241:
233:
217:
99:
1158:
Footprints on the Sands of Time: RAF Bomber Command Prisoners-of-War in Germany 1939–1945
954:
354:, someone who had either 'served or suffered' under him remarked: 'God help the Germans.'
745:
480:
438:
423:
342:, who knew Wilson well, described him as an introvert. 'He was,' Hewitt remembered, 'a
295:
256:
Wilson was the son of Ellen and Henry E. Wilson. Wilson was born on 1 December 1898 at
1195:
1207:
676:
591:
430:
209:
206:
180:
123:
1047:
1021:
Carrier attack Darwin 1942 : the complete guide to Australia's own Pearl Harbor
942:
Second World War Official Histories Volume I – Royal Australian Air Force, 1939–1942
267:
in 1916, Wilson passed the examination for entrance to the Australian Army college,
858:
666:
562:
516:
291:
287:
245:
199:
779:
In October 1945, after returning to Australia, Wilson was appointed commander of
294:. As a member of this pioneering class, Wilson carried the distinctive two-digit
724:
659:
531:
476:
464:
406:
of an RAAF Lockheed Hudson, which killed 10 people, including three members of
921:
699:
649:
508:
320:
654:
599:
148:
1122:
374:
763:
After the camp was liberated, two former POWs who had been convicted of
731:(RAF), later recounted in a book that became a popular film adaptation:
704:
569:, were overwhelmed and/or destroyed on the ground. By the end of March
492:
379:
815:, Sydney on 2 August 1950. Wilson was buried near his parents, in the
471:. Wilson's immediate superior was the commander of Allied air forces (
523:) to Daly Waters, he was overruled by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff,
346:
of some ability, and would often lose himself in playing a wealth of
343:
1199:, "Death of Air Commodore D. E. L. WILSON", 1 September 1950, p. 8.
315:
By early 1939, Wilson had been appointed commanding officer (CO) of
811:
in northern New South Wales. Wilson died, following an illness, at
386:
became part of an Allied sub-command that also covered the eastern
373:
496:
694:), which had been organised to smuggle Allied aircrews out of
194:(1 December 1898 – 2 August 1950) was a senior officer of the
1171:
Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, 7th October, 1949
1044:"Northern Territory Library | Summary of Roll of Honour"
613:
During this period, Bomber Command was involved in a pivotal
594:
to the UK, where he served as Officer Commanding at three
930:. New South Wales, Australia. 24 January 1917. p. 2.
1046:. Ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au. 19 February 1942. Archived from
1083:
Air Battle of the Ruhr: RAF Offensive March – July 1943
1197:
Armidale Express & New England General Advertiser
1098:, New Malden, UK; Air Research Publications, p. 438.
842:
Ten Journeys to Cameron's Farm: An Australian Tragedy
437:(NWA), a newly formed RAAF command, headquartered at
366:
Ten Journeys to Cameron's Farm: An Australian Tragedy
1249:
Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
965:, Washington D. C., Center for Military History
904:Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages (NSW),
167:
129:
119:
111:
93:
85:
75:
58:
38:
30:
23:
648:was the last bomber to reach and bomb a target at
455:(sometimes "Darwin Command"): in addition to NWA,
323:for maritime patrols and joint exercises with the
1009:. Canberra: Air Power Development Centre, p. 145.
644:, captained by Pilot Officer James Carrie (RAF).
459:nominally controlled Allied military aviation in
790:In 1949, Wilson was awarded the Czechoslovakian
16:Senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force
1160:, London, Grub Street Publishing, pp. 181, 504.
944:. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, pp. 301–3.
836:
834:
832:
429:In late 1941, Wilson – with the rank of acting
418:), Wilson was appointed technical assistant to
335:
1145:Human Game: Hunting the Great Escape Murderers
553:On 19 February, while Wilson was attending to
1269:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
1023:, Kent Town, South Australia Avonmore Books,
807:He retired to a property at Glen Alvie, near
8:
483:(RAF), who reported directly to General Sir
983:, Abingdon, UK/New York, Routledge, p. 108.
615:strategic bombing campaign against the Ruhr
590:to the RAF in January 1943 and posted as a
1294:People educated at Sydney Boys High School
1234:Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates
771:found that no offence had been committed.
571:Allied resistance in the Dutch East Indies
368:, Canberra: ANU E Press, 2013, p.500.
20:
1147:, London, Constable & Robinson, p. 21
975:
973:
916:
914:
885:
883:
881:
879:
877:
875:
873:
871:
869:
867:
226:American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
1264:Recipients of the Czechoslovak War Cross
854:
852:
850:
1259:Military personnel from New South Wales
1085:, Barnsley UK; Pen & Sword, p. 361.
1072:. Barnsley UK; Pen & Sword, p. 192.
828:
714:, and became prisoners of war (POW).
232:). Afterwards, he was attached to the
1108:WWII Netherlands Escape Lines, 2015,
958:, New Delhi, Government of India, p.6
487:(British Army), supreme commander of
382:in January–February 1942. In theory,
212:, Wilson was part of the short-lived
7:
1254:People from Lithgow, New South Wales
139:RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
1289:20th-century British Army personnel
1244:Royal Australian Air Force officers
994:Darwin 1942, Australia Darkest Hour
981:Darwin 1942, Australia Darkest Hour
754:murdered following the Great Escape
25:D. E. L. (Douglas) Wilson
1019:Lewis, Tom; Ingman, Peter (2013),
559:Darwin suffered a massive air raid
240:, and spent more than a year as a
14:
1279:Royal Garrison Artillery officers
1110:Luctola|r et Emergo/Fiat Libertas
623:three times a week in some cases.
891:"Wilson Douglas Ernest Lancelot"
163:, RAAF (1942–43)
1124:Ligne Comète Line – Remembrance
922:""LEAVING" EXAMINATION RESULTS"
505:Japanese combined carrier fleet
1239:Australian World War II pilots
1189:Wilson Douglas Ernest Lancelot
598:stations in rapid succession:
467:and the northern part of RAAF
263:Shortly after graduating from
1:
1156:Oliver Clutton-Brock, 2003,
953:General Staff, India, 1942,
819:section of Lithgow cemetery.
640:(squadron code "MP-Q"), from
433:– was appointed commander of
260:. Wilson grew up at Lithgow.
960:, and; Louis Morton, 1962,
895:RAAF service record, 1923–46
567:United States Army Air Force
519:armed trainers belonging to
280:No. 1 Flying Training School
1284:Australian prisoners of war
491:whose headquarters were at
1310:
1224:Burials in New South Wales
840:Cameron Hazlehurst, 2013,
608:RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
305:), throughout his career.
196:Royal Australian Air Force
105:Royal Australian Air Force
1094:J. Alwyn Phillips, 1992,
404:crash at Canberra in 1940
205:During early 1942, as an
1274:Australian Army officers
1068:Martin W. Bowman, 2006,
940:Douglas Gillison, 1962,
422:, counsel assisting the
273:Royal Garrison Artillery
258:Lithgow, New South Wales
1007:The Private Air Marshal
844:, ANU E Press, p. 474.
686:"escape line" known as
384:RAAF North-Western Area
265:Sydney Boys High School
184:Douglas Ernest Lancelot
1081:Alan W. Cooper, 2013,
793:VáleÄŤnĂ˝ kĹ™ĂĹľ 1939–1945
769:Judge Advocate General
740:The even more famous "
540:Chief of the Air Staff
538:(soon to be appointed
412:Chief of General Staff
391:
357:
377:
325:Royal Australian Navy
252:Early life and career
112:Years of service
1005:Peter Helson, 2010,
979:Timothy Hall, 2015,
798:Free Czechoslovakian
634:Handley Page Halifax
588:attached on exchange
521:No. 12 Squadron RAAF
424:Air Court of Inquiry
216:supreme command for
1229:Australian aviators
1050:on 20 December 2019
906:Wilson, Douglas E L
361:—Cameron Hazlehurst
317:No. 6 Squadron RAAF
604:RAF Linton-on-Ouse
596:RAF Bomber Command
576:Frederick Scherger
392:
308:He later attended
222:South West Pacific
161:North-Western Area
144:RAF Linton-on-Ouse
1030:978-0-9871519-3-3
624:
556:
490:
474:
458:
454:
450:
446:
388:Dutch East Indies
369:
362:
310:RAF Staff College
238:North West Europe
231:
178:
177:
158:
134:Western Area
71:, New South Wales
54:, New South Wales
1301:
1175:
1167:
1161:
1154:
1148:
1141:
1135:
1133:
1120:
1114:
1105:
1099:
1092:
1086:
1079:
1073:
1066:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1055:
1040:
1034:
1033:
1016:
1010:
1003:
997:
990:
984:
977:
968:
951:
945:
938:
932:
931:
918:
909:
908:, no. 4276/1899.
902:
896:
894:
887:
862:
856:
845:
838:
813:Concord Hospital
734:The Wooden Horse
688:Luctor et Emergo
684:Dutch resistance
621:
557:duties in Java,
554:
525:Air Vice Marshal
507:had entered the
488:
485:Archibald Wavell
472:
461:Dutch New Guinea
456:
452:
448:
442:
370:
364:
360:
319:which was using
229:
174:(Czechoslovakia)
157:, ABDACOM (1942)
153:
95:
65:
48:
46:
21:
1309:
1308:
1304:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1299:
1298:
1204:
1203:
1184:
1179:
1178:
1168:
1164:
1155:
1151:
1142:
1138:
1131:
1121:
1117:
1106:
1102:
1093:
1089:
1080:
1076:
1067:
1063:
1053:
1051:
1042:
1041:
1037:
1031:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1004:
1000:
991:
987:
978:
971:
952:
948:
939:
935:
927:Lithgow Mercury
920:
919:
912:
903:
899:
889:
888:
865:
857:
848:
839:
830:
825:
802:Stalag Luft III
777:
750:Swiss Red Cross
720:Stalag Luft III
696:occupied Europe
584:
528:William Bostock
495:(Bandoeng), in
435:North-West Area
426:that followed.
416:Brudenell White
410:and the army's
397:
372:
359:
352:Stalag Luft III
348:classical music
333:
254:
242:prisoner of war
234:Royal Air Force
218:South East Asia
159:
152:
147:
142:
137:
103:
100:Australian Army
81:
67:
63:
50:
49:1 December 1898
44:
42:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1307:
1305:
1297:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1206:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1193:
1183:
1180:
1177:
1176:
1174:(19 May 2017).
1162:
1149:
1136:
1134:(26 May 2017).
1115:
1113:(26 May 2017).
1100:
1087:
1074:
1061:
1035:
1029:
1011:
998:
985:
969:
946:
933:
910:
897:
863:
861:(18 May 2017).
846:
827:
826:
824:
821:
776:
773:
746:Herbert Massey
723:(SLIII), near
658:night-fighter
626:
625:
583:
580:
563:P-40E Warhawks
481:Richard Peirse
396:
393:
334:
332:
329:
312:, in England.
296:service number
253:
250:
198:(RAAF) during
176:
175:
169:
165:
164:
131:
127:
126:
121:
117:
116:
113:
109:
108:
97:
91:
90:
87:
83:
82:
79:
77:
73:
72:
66:(aged 51)
60:
56:
55:
40:
36:
35:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1306:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1211:
1209:
1200:
1198:
1194:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1185:
1181:
1173:
1172:
1166:
1163:
1159:
1153:
1150:
1146:
1140:
1137:
1130:
1129:
1125:
1119:
1116:
1112:
1111:
1104:
1101:
1097:
1091:
1088:
1084:
1078:
1075:
1071:
1065:
1062:
1049:
1045:
1039:
1036:
1032:
1026:
1022:
1015:
1012:
1008:
1002:
999:
995:
989:
986:
982:
976:
974:
970:
966:
964:
959:
957:
950:
947:
943:
937:
934:
929:
928:
923:
917:
915:
911:
907:
901:
898:
892:
886:
884:
882:
880:
878:
876:
874:
872:
870:
868:
864:
860:
855:
853:
851:
847:
843:
837:
835:
833:
829:
822:
820:
818:
814:
810:
805:
803:
799:
795:
794:
788:
786:
782:
774:
772:
770:
766:
765:collaborating
761:
759:
755:
751:
747:
743:
738:
736:
735:
730:
729:Eric Williams
726:
722:
721:
715:
713:
712:
707:
706:
701:
697:
693:
692:Fiat Libertas
689:
685:
680:
678:
677:Zuylen Castle
674:
673:
668:
665:
661:
657:
656:
651:
647:
643:
639:
635:
630:
620:
619:
618:
616:
611:
609:
605:
601:
597:
593:
592:Group Captain
589:
581:
579:
577:
572:
568:
564:
560:
551:
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
500:
498:
494:
486:
482:
478:
470:
466:
462:
445:
440:
436:
432:
431:Air Commodore
427:
425:
421:
417:
414:(General Sir
413:
409:
405:
400:
394:
389:
385:
381:
376:
371:
367:
356:
355:
353:
349:
345:
341:
330:
328:
326:
322:
318:
313:
311:
306:
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289:
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276:
274:
270:
266:
261:
259:
251:
249:
247:
243:
239:
235:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
210:Air Commodore
208:
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
182:
181:Group Captain
173:
170:
166:
162:
156:
150:
145:
140:
136:, RAAF (1945)
135:
132:
128:
125:
124:Group Captain
122:
118:
114:
110:
106:
101:
98:
92:
88:
84:
78:
74:
70:
62:1 August 1950
61:
57:
53:
41:
37:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1196:
1188:
1170:
1165:
1157:
1152:
1144:
1143:Simon Read,
1139:
1127:
1123:
1118:
1109:
1103:
1095:
1090:
1082:
1077:
1069:
1064:
1052:. Retrieved
1048:the original
1038:
1020:
1014:
1006:
1001:
996:, pp. 113–4.
993:
988:
980:
962:
955:
949:
941:
936:
925:
905:
900:
841:
806:
801:
792:
789:
781:Western Area
778:
762:
757:
742:Great Escape
739:
732:
718:
716:
709:
703:
691:
687:
681:
670:
667:Werner Baake
664:Oberleutnant
663:
653:
645:
637:
631:
627:
612:
585:
552:
536:George Jones
517:CAC Wirraway
501:
469:Western Area
451:subcommand,
428:
401:
398:
365:
358:
337:
336:
331:World War II
314:
307:
302:
298:
292:Lester Brain
288:Frank Bladin
277:
262:
255:
246:Nazi Germany
204:
200:World War II
191:
187:
183:
179:
141: (1943)
64:(1950-08-01)
18:
1219:1950 deaths
1214:1898 births
1132:(in French)
1054:19 February
586:Wilson was
550:squadrons.
532:signal lamp
513:Daly Waters
477:Air Marshal
465:Molucca Sea
439:RAAF Darwin
420:Arthur Dean
395:The Pacific
380:"ABDA Area"
321:Avro Ansons
301:(sometimes
31:Nickname(s)
1208:Categories
1182:References
1128:fiche C135
700:Comet line
642:76 Sqn RAF
509:Flores Sea
402:After the
340:Joe Hewitt
284:Joe Hewitt
86:Allegiance
45:1898-12-01
967:, p. 169.
823:Footnotes
655:Luftwaffe
600:RAF Wyton
546:, 12 and
344:violinist
244:(POW) in
236:(RAF) in
172:War Cross
149:RAF Wyton
115:1916–1946
107:(1923–46)
102:(1916–23)
89:Australia
1126:, n.d.,
817:Anglican
800:POWs at
783:RAAF in
775:Post-war
737:(1950).
690:(later
457:AUSGROUP
453:AUSGROUP
269:Duntroon
220:and the
155:AUSGROUP
130:Commands
94:Service/
758:Gestapo
756:by the
705:Gestapo
672:1./NJG1
650:MĂĽlheim
565:of the
555:ABDACOM
493:Bandung
489:ABDACOM
449:ABDACOM
444:ABDACOM
408:Cabinet
230:ABDACOM
80:Lithgow
69:Concord
52:Lithgow
1027:
992:Hall,
893:. NAA.
636:Mk V,
606:, and
582:Europe
473:ABDAIR
463:, the
363:,
290:, and
224:, the
214:Allied
207:acting
192:Wilson
168:Awards
151:(1943)
146:(1943)
96:branch
76:Buried
34:"Del"
785:Perth
725:Sagan
646:DK224
638:DK224
1056:2014
1025:ISBN
809:Ebor
497:Java
479:Sir
378:The
120:Rank
59:Died
39:Born
717:At
711:GFP
708:or
669:of
660:ace
475:),
303:A16
188:Del
1210::
972:^
924:.
913:^
866:^
849:^
831:^
804:.
679:.
662:,
610:.
602:,
548:13
499:.
327:.
299:16
286:,
275:.
248:.
202:.
190:"
1058:.
544:2
390:.
228:(
186:"
47:)
43:(
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