Airman for Job in DM

Wing-Commander R. C. Cresswell to Biak on June 7, to take up a civilian ment in an area where he commanded fighter wing in 1944-45. He is now manager of the Melbourne export fir* and M. Newman Pty., Ltd., which hr operating in New Guinea for some mainly salvaging and disposing materials.

Wing-Commander Cresswell is to taki of the reorganisation and expansion firm's activities. The first project in pansion programme is to develop the industry.

Newman's was established in 1945 bourne and London, and has con throughout the world.

Wing-Commander Cresswell retired fi : RAAF in April.

He was born in Launceston, Tasmi 1920, and went to school in Eng l<l Sydney. On leaving school in 1934 came an engineering apprentice with house Pty., Ltd., Rosebery, Sydney, he joined the RAAF to make it his and was posted to Point Cook, Victoria he spent 12 months as a cadet. He v commissioned as a pilot and posted t!

Hawker Demon Squadron.

From then on he was essentially s pilot, graduating in stages from De< Kittyhawks, Spitfires, Mustangs, ano to the latest jets. While still in H thirties he was the RAAF's most exo jet fighter pilot.

He formed the original No. 77 Sqm 1942 in Western Australia and toot Milne Bay in 1943. In 1944-45 he cot No. 81 (Fighter) Wing, which was I Noemfoor, near Biak.

Wing-Commander Cresswell attract© attention in 1950-51 when he commai 77 Squadron again in Korea during difficult early period of the war. He first Australian pilot to be given an jet conversion course and to fly Sail was awarded the British and Amen tinguished Flying Crosses.

Before retiring from command of : Squadron in Korea he visited the Unit!

Air Force in Japan for several wen there he flew the FBO Shooting Star, a two-seat all-weather fighter. Final in Korea, he flew the F 96 Sabre in 0| the only Australian pilot to do so.

He flew 10 combat missions with t in what became known as MIG Alley On his return to Australia he was Staff Officer, Fighter Operations, at thr ment of Air, for two years. He was tf selection in 1953 to command a sp© at Williamstown, NSW, given the thoroughly testing the Avon-Sabre jtj it was accepted into the RAAF from k production lines.