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on 21 May 1916, one of seven children born to Edward Henry
Ekanayake Ameresekere and Joslina Ameresekere (née de Silva Samarasinghe Siriwardena). He was orphaned at the age of four and was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Victor and Eda de Silva Siriwardena and later lived with his eldest sister,
603:
The citation for the bar to his DFC reads "This officer has completed the second tour of the operational duty. In
December, 1944 on route to Essen his aircraft was engaged by searchlights and heavy anti-aircraft fire causing severe damage to the aircraft. Despite shell splinters entering his
594:
The citation for his DFC reads "This officer has displayed a high degree of courage and determination in navigating his aircraft to the target and back, often under great difficulties. In
November 1943 whilst on a flight to a distant target, the oxygen supply failed early in the sortie. P/O.
492:
Rohan
Ameresekere died on 20 March 1974 at the young age of 57, and is survived by his widow Aloma (née Dender) whom he had married on 12 November 1958, and by his son and daughter. He was accorded a funeral with full military honours by the Government of Sri Lanka.
604:
compartment Flying
Officer Ameresekere took evasive action and completed his allotted task. His other targets have been Ruhr Valley, Chemnitz and Hanover. On all occasions FO Ameresekere had a set a fine example by his tenacity and devotion to duty".
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Ameresekere, though suffering from lack of oxygen and extreme cold continued his duties and the mission was successfully completed. This officer has proved himself to be a navigator of outstanding ability.".
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398:, Ceylon as an interpreter until August 1946. He was released from service in July 1946 and resigned his commission on 4 November 1946 with permission to retain the rank Flight Lieutenant.
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from
January to December 1961. He then served as Senior Air Staff Officer, Air Headquarters from April 1962 to November 1962. During this time he played a major role during the
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in May 1942, followed by posting to the 1 Advanced Flying Unit in
September 1942. In November 1942, he was mustered as a Air Navigator with promotion to temporary
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410:, while on leave from the RAF, and on 1 October 1950, he was promoted to Acting Airport Controller and attended training courses in the United Kingdom.
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in
Colombo in May 1955 and thereafter Chief of Staff, Air Headquarters from May 1955 to December 1960. During which he was promoted to the rank of
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445:. In 1953, he attended the Officers Advance Training School Course, the Long Photographic Intelligence course, and the Staff College course at
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Ameresekere joined the
Department of Civil Aviation on 20 August 1946 as the Assistant Aerodrome Officer (Flying Control) at the
823:"Ameresekere was a daring pilot He flew bombing raids over Hitler's Germany By Wijitha NAKKAWITA Sunday Onbservor, 8 March 2009"
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on 19 September 1940, was selected and left for
England with the first batch of RAF Recruits from Ceylon in June 1941 on the
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on 1 October 1967. He retired from the RCyAF on 31 December 1970 and was succeeded by Air Commodore Paddy Mendis.
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He left this department on 15 May 1951 to join the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force under the command of
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gaining is wings and was attached to the General Duties (Pilot) branch. He later trained in the
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Hyacinth and her husband, Ashley Peiris at 'Ash Court', Kegalle. He received his education at
139:
801:"AVM Ekanayake Edward (Rohan) Ameresekere DFC & Bar. R.Cy.A.F. By Charles M. Ameresekere"
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and posted to 10 OTU in Abingdon, Berkshire. There after he was sent to HCU to convert from
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Ameresekere received a DFC and Bar for his war time service with the RAF as well as the
282:(1929–32), St. Mary's College, Kegalle (1933–34) and at the Pembroke Academy (1935–39).
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to the Distinguished Flying Cross. He returned to Ceylon in early 1946 and served at
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returning to Ceylon in 1954. He then served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the
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OHLMUS -A F MEMOIRS Air Vice Marshal E R Ameresekere, DFC& Bar, RCyAF
529:. His ceremonial sword and miniatures of his medals are on display at the
425:, an officer seconded from the RAF. On 15 May 1951 he was commissioned as
331:
314:. On reaching the United Kingdom in September 1941, he was enlisted as a
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but went back to his old squadron. Ameresekere was promoted to
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on 1 July 1959. He attended the Senior Officers Course at the
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Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
622:"World War II Database Rohan Ameresekere by C. Peter Chen"
697:"SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 FEBRUARY, 1944"
429:(Service number 01002) and promoted to the rank of
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472:On 13 November 1962, he was promoted to Temporary
366:(serial number 155926). In 1943 he transferred to
1110:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies
386:, serving till 1945. In 1945, he was promoted to
233:(21 May 1916 – 20 March 1974) was a senior
775:"Air Vice Marshal E R Amarasekara DFC & BAR"
722:"The London Gazette Tuesday 17th December 1946"
433:with effect from the same date. He trained on
914:
644:"The London Gazette Tuesday 12th October1943"
8:
1120:Ceylonese military personnel of World War II
517:. Whilst in RCyAF, Ameresekere received the
1135:Sri Lankan emigrants to the United Kingdom
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245:. He previously served he had served as a
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457:on 1 October 1955, followed by promotion
350:. He was commissioned while serving with
527:Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
519:Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
881:Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
613:
478:Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
378:on 29 January 1944 and was awarded the
243:Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
1095:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
930:Commanders of the Sri Lankan Air Force
1085:Sri Lanka Air Force air vice-marshals
1080:Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force
509:with the France and Germany Bar, the
178:Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force
7:
523:Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
346:in Yorkshire which was part of the
342:. In June 1943, he was assigned to
1130:Alumni of Kingswood College, Kandy
467:1962 Ceylonese coup d'état attempt
221:Ekanayake Edward Rohan Ameresekere
198:Distinguished Flying Cross and BAR
46:Ekanayake Edward Rohan Ameresekere
27:Royal Ceylon Air Force air marshal
25:
1125:Alumni of Wesley College, Colombo
853:A Dedication to Rohan Ameresekere
599:Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross
320:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
105:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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476:and was appointed the third
336:Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys
328:Empire Air Navigation School
382:. In August 1944 he joined
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590:Distinguished Flying Cross
531:Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
447:RAF Staff College, Andover
380:Distinguished Flying Cross
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241:. He served as the third
1090:Royal Air Force officers
463:Imperial Defense College
280:Kingswood College, Kandy
265:Ameresekere was born in
261:Early life and education
210:Kingswood College, Kandy
306:he applied to join the
276:Wesley College, Colombo
71:20 March 1974 (aged 57)
441:under the guidance of
414:Royal Ceylon Air Force
239:Royal Ceylon Air Force
115:Royal Ceylon Air Force
781:. Sri Lanka Air Force
326:he was posted to the
121:Years of service
848:Air Force Commanders
750:"The London Gazette"
672:"The London Gazette"
507:Air Crew Europe Star
390:and was awarded the
340:Handley Page Halifax
296:Ceylon Defence Force
825:. sundayobserver.lk
324:Leading aircraftman
318:(2nd Class) in the
294:Ameresekere joined
803:. ceylonmedals.com
729:The London Gazette
701:The London Gazette
651:The London Gazette
358:, General Duties (
348:RAF Bomber Command
18:Edward Amerasakera
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897:
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888:Succeeded by
866:Military offices
755:. 4 December 1945
677:. 4 February 1944
408:Ratmalana Airport
388:Flight Lieutenant
290:With outbreak of
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368:No. 35 Squadron
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891:Paddy Mendis
879:
874:J. L. Barker
827:. Retrieved
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443:Paddy Mendis
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300:Rex de Silva
292:World War II
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255:World War II
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188:World War II
184:Battles/wars
29:
1105:1974 deaths
1100:1916 births
1020:Gunathilake
1008:Goonetileke
984:Gunawardena
966:Goonatilake
954:Amerasekera
829:22 November
807:22 November
785:17 December
779:airforce.lk
759:22 November
734:22 November
706:22 November
681:22 November
656:22 November
628:22 November
624:. ww2db.com
497:Decorations
439:Jet Provost
316:Aircraftman
278:(1925–29),
55:21 May 1916
1074:Categories
1032:Jayampathy
996:Weerakkody
990:Ranasinghe
885:1962-1970
608:References
205:Alma mater
124:1942-1946,
84:Allegiance
1050:Rajapaksa
1044:Pathirana
515:War Medal
435:Chipmunks
396:RAF Kandy
362:) Branch
360:Navigator
312:SS Exeter
247:navigator
126:1951-1970
78:Sri Lanka
978:Fernando
525:and the
513:and the
332:Sergeant
174:Commands
107:(Ceylon)
94:Service/
370:of the
267:Kegalle
253:during
249:in the
237:in the
235:officer
137:(RCyAF)
74:Colombo
58:Kegalle
1002:Perera
972:Perera
960:Mendis
948:Barker
942:Bladon
521:, the
505:, the
271:Ceylon
228:&
194:Awards
96:branch
88:Ceylon
62:Ceylon
753:(PDF)
725:(PDF)
675:(PDF)
647:(PDF)
488:Death
364:RAFVR
354:as a
142:(RAF)
1038:Dias
831:2012
809:2012
787:2021
761:2012
736:2012
708:2012
683:2012
658:2012
630:2012
302:and
159:Unit
131:Rank
68:Died
52:Born
1048:19
1042:18
1036:17
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1024:15
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994:10
392:Bar
338:to
230:Bar
226:DFC
41:BAR
37:DFC
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20:)
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