Milt
17th Dec 2006, 23:34
Dick Creswell has sadly lodged his flight plan to meet up with his mates in the Big Hangar in the Sky.
Dick was a most experienced fighter pilot. Flying a Spitfire he was the first to shoot down a Japanese aircraft over Australia during WW2.
Later he was my CO when a member of the RAAF's No 77 Squadron in Korea. Those RAF pilots who flew with 77 Sqdn will remember him with affection and reverence.
The RAAF is to honour him at his funeral with a "Missing Man Formation" of Hornets.
Fairwell Dick.
FLYPAST TO HONOUR WING COMMANDER DICK CRESSWELL (RET'D)
WHAT: Four Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornets will conduct a
flypast to honour Wing Commander Dick Cresswell (Ret'd) during his funeral
service.
WHEN: The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, 19 December 2006 at 1.00pm. The flypast is due to occur between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Timings are subject to change due to the funeral program.
WHERE: Royal Military College Chapel, Parnell Road, Duntroon.
WHO: Air Commander Royal Australian Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife,
will deliver a speech.
WGCDR Cresswell was the father of the Fighter Combat Instructor Course and
the first Commanding Officer of Number 77 Squadron when it was formed in
1942. He held the position of Commanding Officer three times, twice during
World War II and again during the Korean War. He will be sadly missed.
The Hornets from Number 77 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Williamtown, will
conduct a flypast known as the "missing man formation". Four Hornets will
approach the funeral location and once overhead, one Hornet will peel off
from the other three and proceed skywards, signifying the absence of the
fallen comrade.
Media note:
Assistance from the media is sought in notifying Canberra residents of this
activity.
The Hornets will approach from the east over Queanbeyan before lowering to
approximately 500 feet (approximately 155 metres) for the flypast at a speed
of 400 knots (approximately 740 kilometres per hour). They will fly over the
Canberra CBD at low level before transiting back to RAAF Base Williamtown.
The Royal Australian Air Force and the members of 77 Squadron appreciate
members of the public's support for this event.
Media contacts:
Flight Lieutenant Lauretta Webster: 0408 608 386
Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
Dick was a most experienced fighter pilot. Flying a Spitfire he was the first to shoot down a Japanese aircraft over Australia during WW2.
Later he was my CO when a member of the RAAF's No 77 Squadron in Korea. Those RAF pilots who flew with 77 Sqdn will remember him with affection and reverence.
The RAAF is to honour him at his funeral with a "Missing Man Formation" of Hornets.
Fairwell Dick.
FLYPAST TO HONOUR WING COMMANDER DICK CRESSWELL (RET'D)
WHAT: Four Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornets will conduct a
flypast to honour Wing Commander Dick Cresswell (Ret'd) during his funeral
service.
WHEN: The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, 19 December 2006 at 1.00pm. The flypast is due to occur between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Timings are subject to change due to the funeral program.
WHERE: Royal Military College Chapel, Parnell Road, Duntroon.
WHO: Air Commander Royal Australian Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife,
will deliver a speech.
WGCDR Cresswell was the father of the Fighter Combat Instructor Course and
the first Commanding Officer of Number 77 Squadron when it was formed in
1942. He held the position of Commanding Officer three times, twice during
World War II and again during the Korean War. He will be sadly missed.
The Hornets from Number 77 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Williamtown, will
conduct a flypast known as the "missing man formation". Four Hornets will
approach the funeral location and once overhead, one Hornet will peel off
from the other three and proceed skywards, signifying the absence of the
fallen comrade.
Media note:
Assistance from the media is sought in notifying Canberra residents of this
activity.
The Hornets will approach from the east over Queanbeyan before lowering to
approximately 500 feet (approximately 155 metres) for the flypast at a speed
of 400 knots (approximately 740 kilometres per hour). They will fly over the
Canberra CBD at low level before transiting back to RAAF Base Williamtown.
The Royal Australian Air Force and the members of 77 Squadron appreciate
members of the public's support for this event.
Media contacts:
Flight Lieutenant Lauretta Webster: 0408 608 386
Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664