Archibald Oliver Garfield Wilson (1921 - 2014)

Born May 1921 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia

Died 4 Jul 2014 at age 93 in Pinjarra Hills, Queensland, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andrew Field [send private message]

Biography

Archibald Wilson is Notable.

Birth and Upbringing: Archibald was born in 1921. ^[1]
Marriage and Own Family: Archibald was married to Lorna.
Migrations: He migrated to Australia in August 1982, settling on the Gold Coast.
Education:
Professional Qualifications:
Military Service: Before joining the Air Force, Archie Wilson had been a member of the Southern Rhodesia Territorial Army. At the outbreak of World War II Wilson joined the Southern Rhodesian Air Force in 1939. He commenced his flying training as a pilot on No. 1 War Course at SRAF Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Cranborne, Southern Rhodesia, in 1939, he completed his training at No. 4 Flying Training School (FTS) RAF Habbaniya, Iraq, in 1939–40. Archie was admitted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1940 following an agreement between the Rhodesian and British Governments that the SRAF be absorbed into the RAF for the duration of hostilities. ^[2] He was commissioned as a General Duties (GD) Pilot Officer, subsequently flying on two tours of operations. He flew Mk I Hurricanes with No. 274 Squadron, P-40 Tomahawks with No. 250 Squadron, Mks I and IIC Hurricanes with No. 237 Squadron. Joining No. 238 Squadron, he flew Hurricane IICs, Spitfire Vs, VIIIs, and IXs in Fighter Command, Desert Air Force in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy and over the south of France.^[2] As a Squadron Leader, Archie took command of No. 238 Squadron in August 1943, and remained in that post until August 1944 when, having completed two tours of operations, he was returned to Southern Rhodesia on posting to RAF Central Flying School (CFS) Norton, for training as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and was elevated to 'B' category on Cornells and Harvards. He remained on instructional duties at RAF Mt. Hampden, RAF Guinea Fowl and RAF Thornhill until demobilised and transferred to the SRAF Reserve of Officers in November 1945.^[2] After the War he held command positions in Southern Rhodesian Air Force (later the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Air Force, the Royal Rhodesian Air Force and the Rhodesian Air Force). Wilson was involved in directing the Rhodesian counter-insurgency operations in Nyasaland, the Aden Protectorate, Zambia and Rhodesia. From 1968 to 1973 he was Rhodesian Chief of the Air Staff when he was the architect of the restructured Rhodesian Air Force. He retired from Air Force service in 1973. ^[1]
Occupation: Pilot, Air Force Commander, farmer and later Politician serving in the Upper House in the Parliament of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
Honours and Awards: On 27 December 1960, then Wing Commander Archibald Wilson was appointed and Ordinary Officer Military Division to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). ^[3] He was the recipient of the Independence Commemorative Decoration (ICD) on 11 November 1970 ^[4] He was awarded the American Distibguished Flying Cross DFC (USA)
Known Residences:
Demise: He passed away in 2014.
Burial:

Research Notes

• Some birth date estimates are based on ages given at death.
• This profile is Work in Progress Field-4274 08:39, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Wikipedia: Archibald_Wilson biography
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Royal Australian Air Force Museum, Point Cook
3. ↑ "The London Gazette Orders of Knighthood Supplement" citing Issue 42235 page 8935 27 December 1960
4. ↑ Saffery, D "Rhodesia Medal Roll" Honours and Decorations of the Rhodesian Conflict 1970-1981 citing page 24 ISBN: 978-0-9553936-0-0

Wikidata: Item Q4786555