Hawkins H

459 RAAF Squadron

Middle East

Flight Lieutenant Harold HAWKINS

Service No. 405128

<<<<>>>>

Date of Birth: 18 Feb 1921

Place of Birth: Toowoomba, Queensland

Date of Enlistment : 2 Feb 1941

Date of Discharge: 26 Nov 1945

Rank on Discharge: Flight Lieutenant

Posting at Discharge : 7 Operational Unit

<<<>>>

The crew/s:

Harry Hawkins- (Pilot)

Frank Granger - (Observer) - Canadian

Thomas "Tom" Hancock - (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) - U.K.

AND

Harry Hawkins – Pilot,

Bill Kirkham - Nav (B)

Alan Vardy - WAG

Bill Tee - WAG

Wing Commander C.A. (Alan) Vardy No.420307 served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WAG) in a 459 RAAF Squadron Hudson crew with Harry Hawkins as his pilot. Harry later became famous as Air Vice Marshall OC of Ian Smith's Rhodesian Air Force post war, during the uprising leading to an independent Zimbabwe, under Mugabe.

Post War and on retirement he was posted as High Commissioner to South Africa. He has since died.

>>>We hope to have more information <<<

In the meantime you can find information about Harry in the new book by Prof. Leon Kane-Maguire - "Desert Scorpions" on:

Pages: 229-244-246-252-

268 to 270-

274 to 275-

285 and 482

Harold HAWKINS