Raymond Myles Beecham Duke-Woolley
Military
Object Number - UPL 53323 - Wing Commander R M B Duke-Woolley. RAF and 4th Fighter Group.
Took command of Debden Wing [3 x Eagle Sqn]
Transferred to command 4th FG USAAF as an RAF officer, 12 September 1942 — December 1942. RAF Squadron Leader with temporary rank of Wing Commander placed in operational command of the 4th Fighter Group at the time of its transfer to the USAAF. Was the first British pilot to be awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross.
Post 4th Fighter Group:
Eventually attained the rank of Group Captain
Decorations:
Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross (with Bar, British), Distinguished Flying Cross (American), 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 War Medal, Defense Medal.
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/wing-commander-raymond-m…
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/wing-commander-raymond-m…
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/sixty-american-pilots-an…
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 2 October 1942
- Date: 29 August 1942
- Date: 27 August 1942
- Official Description: 7 HBs attack Wilton shipyards on outskirts of Rotterdam. These yards, the most modern in the Netherlands, are fully employed by the Germans for servicing vessels. 92d Bomb Gp completes nonstop flight of the last of its 4 sqs from Newfoundland to UK...
- Date: 19 August 1942
- Official Description: 2d Lt Samuel F Junkin Jr of 309th Ftr Sq, 31st Ftr Gp, flying a Spitfire in support of the amphibious raid on Dieppe, shoots down a German fighter, this being the first aerial victory won by an Eighth AF fighter pilot flying from the UK.
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Manchester, England | 16 October 1916 | Born 16 October 1916 Manchester, England. |
|
Other E/A Kill |
18 June 1940 - 19 June 1940 | 2nd recorded night kill, claimed He111 E/A kill in Blenheim NF whilst 23 Sqn B Fl Commander 18/19 June 1940. | |
|
Other Transferred |
Kenley, Greater London, UK | 12 September 1940 | Transferred to 253 Sqn 12th Sept 1940. |
|
Other E/A Probable |
15 September 1940 | Probable Do17 15th Sept 1940. | |
|
Other E/A Shared |
6 October 1940 | Shared Do17 6th Oct 1940. | |
|
Other E/A Damaged |
21 October 1940 | Damaged Ju88 21st Oct 1940. | |
|
Other E/A Destroyed |
9 November 1940 | Destroyed Ju88 9th Nov 1940. | |
|
Other 1 x E/A Damaged, 1 x Shared |
22 November 1940 | Shared and damaged Do17 22nd Nov 1940. | |
|
Other Awarded DFC |
Kenley, Greater London, UK | 24 December 1940 | Citation: "This officer has commanded his squadron since September, 1940, and his fine leadership and personal example have contributed materially to the many successes obtained. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged several more" |
|
Other E/A Kill |
7 December 1941 | Destroyed Ju88 7th Dec 1941. | |
|
Other Awarded Bar to DFC |
Castletown, Thurso, Highland KW14, UK | 29 May 1942 | Citation: "This officer has participated in many sorties over Northern France and the English Channel. He is a cool and capable leader whose skill is reflected in the high standard of efficiency in his squadron. He has destroyed at least 7 enemy aircraft." Second DFC received in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC. |
|
Other Dieppe Veteran |
Dieppe, France | 19 August 1942 | Flew 4 x sorties with 71 [Eagle]Sqn leading the wing over Dieppe on Operation Jubilee 19th Aug 42. |
|
Other E/A Kill |
27 August 1942 | Fw190 Destroyed 27th Aug 42. | |
|
Other E/A Probable |
29 August 1942 | Fw190 Probable 29th Aug 42. | |
|
Other Transferred |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 12 September 1942 | Transferred to command 4th FG USAAF as an RAF officer, Debden wing. |
|
Other E/A Shared |
2 October 1942 | Fw190 shared 2nd Oct 42. | |
|
Other Awarded DSO |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 8 January 1943 | Citation: "By his outstanding, leadership and untiring efforts, Wing Commander Duke-Woolley has contributed much to the successes attained by his Wing. Since June, 1942, he has led his formation in many raids over enemy occupied territory, in the course of which 28 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Wing Commander Duke-Woolley has completed successfully a large number of operational sorties and has displayed outstanding qualities of airmanship and tactical skill. He has destroyed at least 10 enemy aircraft." |
|
Other Awarded DFC [US] |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 5 March 1943 | Granted permission to wear the decoration DFC US March 5th, 1943. |
|
Other Retired RAF |
England, UK | 30 January 1961 | Retired RAF 1961. |
|
Died |
Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK | 10 October 1991 | 10th October 1991 Chichester, England. |
|
Other Educated |
Marlborough College, Bath Rd, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1PA, UK | Educated Marlborough College. | |
|
Other RAF Educated |
RAF Cranwell, 10 Cranwell Ave, Cranwell Village, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8HG, UK | RAF College Cranwell 1935-36. | |
|
Other Assigned |
Northolt, Greater London, UK | Assigned to 23 Sqn 1936. | |
|
Other Rested from Op's |
Digby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN4, UK | Rested from Op's 12 Grp HQ, Digby Jan 1941. | |
|
Other Formed 124 Sqn |
Castletown, Thurso, Highland KW14, UK | Formed 124 Sqn Castletown, May 1941, led same till June 1942. | |
|
Other Took command of Wing |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | Took command of Debden Wing [3 x Eagle Sqn] June 42 Wing Ldr. | |
|
Other Transferred |
Great Britain, United Kingdom | Transferred to 8th US Bomber Command as fighter liaison officer. | |
|
Other Transferred |
Set up mobile command for 84 Grp 2nd TAF, thereafter to Normandy with same as 2nd IC. July 43. | ||
|
Other Instructor |
Bulstrode, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 8SZ, UK | To RAF Staff college as instructor. Jan 45. | |
|
Other Instructor |
Turkey | To Turkey instructor air war college. Wars end to 1948. | |
|
Other Re-promoted Wing Co |
Acklington, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65, UK | Re-promoted Wing Commander, commanded RAF Aklington 1948-50. | |
|
Other Instructor |
Bracknell, Bracknell Forest, UK | To RAF Staff college instructor 1951. | |
|
Other Commanded RAF Debden |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | Commanded RAF Debden 1951-53. | |
|
Other Posted overseas |
United States | Posted to USA 1953-56. | |
|
Other Promoted |
Promoted Group Captain 1954. | ||
|
Other Transferred |
United Kingdom | Transferred to Fighter command 1956-58. | |
|
Other Post RAF Career |
London, UK | Worked for Life Insurance Co till retirement. | |
|
Other Parliamentary Role |
Houses of Parliament, House of Lords, Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1A 0PW, UK | Served as 'Black Rod' in the House Of Lords. |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ; http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html
Men of The Battle of Britain: A Biographical Dictionary of The Few By Kenneth G. Wynn
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the ..., Volume 2 By Christopher Shores, Clive Williams
http://en.ww2awards.com/person/48764
Men of The Battle of Britain: A Biographical Dictionary of The Few By Kenneth G. Wynn
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the ..., Volume 2 By Christopher Shores, Clive Williams
http://en.ww2awards.com/person/48764
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
