Distinguished Service Order : Squadron Leader W S Arthur, 75 Squadron, RAAF

Distinguished Service Order (Geo VI). Engraved on reverse of suspender with the date of award.

Wilfred Stanley 'Woof' Arthur was born in Sydney, NSW, in December 1919, and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force at the age of 19. He was a regular officer serving as a pilot with 22 Squadron (operating Avro Ansons and Hawker Demons) when war was declared in 1939. Posted to North Africa in 1940, he served with 3 Squadron RAAF, flying Gloster Gladiators, Hawker Hurricanes and Curtiss Tomahawks. On 13 December 1940, his Gladiator was shot down by an Italian Fiat CR42 and he was forced to bail out, but went on to become a successful fighter pilot, later shooting down four Italian aircraft in a single engagement. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in November 1941. Arthur returned to Australia as a flight lieutenant, and flew with 76 Squadron in New Guinea from April 1942 to January 1943, flying Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks. He was then promoted to become the CO of 75 Squadron RAAF, and in April 1943 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for an action over Milne Bay. He later led 71 Wing, and then 81 Wing, operating from Noemfoor and Morotai, and was one of the youngest group captains in the RAAF by 1945. Concerned by what he saw as wasteful ground support operations, (in support of the Borneo landings) Arthur was one of the leaders of the ‘mutiny’ against Air Commodore AH Cobby, the officer commanding 1 Tactical Air Force, in which several senior officers tendered their resignations. This action, and its unhappy consequences, led to his taking a discharge from the Air Force in early 1946, and settling in Darwin, NT. He was credited with destroying eight enemy aircraft, as well as probably destroying two more and damaging six. Wilfred Arthur died in late 2000. The citation for DSO reads as follows: 'Squadron Leader Arthur as Commanding Officer of a squadron displayed great bravery during an attack by a considerable number of Japanese aircraft. Knowing that none of his guns were firing and realising the enormous odds he was facing, Squadron Leader Arthur led his squadron into a determined head-on attack. He then made several attacks on an armed enemy dive bomber attempting to force it into the water. The gallantry, matchless leadership and devotion to duty displayed by Squadron Leader Arthur was one of the chief factors in the success of the day's air fighting.' The aircraft which Arthur flew during this attack was Kittyhawk A29-133 'Polly', which is now part of the Australian War Memorial's collection (REL/20242). There is no record of the citation for the first Mention in Despatches, but that for the second MID reads as follows; 'Wing Commander Arthur was appointed wing leader to a fighter wing consisting of four squadrons all of different types of aircraft. He spared neither effort nor persons in rapidly welding and training these squadrons for co-operative wing operations, and has since led them on six most successful fighter bomber missions. His courage, efficiency and drive have been most commendable.'

• Distinguished Flying Cross : Flight Lieutenant W S Arthur, 3 Squadron, RAAF