I would like to mark the passing of Wing Commander Frank Wilson DFC RAAF (retd) service number 404368, a veteran Lancaster pilot of RAAF 463 Squadron, who passed away last weekend in Melbourne Australia.
Frank was awarded his DFC in 1944 as a then Flight Lieutenant with 463 Squadron in Bomber Command.
Frank flew Australian and British Lincolns post war at the Weapons Research Establishment at Woomera in the Python trials and the Blue Steel trials, taking Lincolns up to 32,000 feet and later 43,000 feet, these flights requiring oxygen and later pressure weightcoats.
A particularly notable event in Franks flying career is recorded on page 99 of the
"Lincoln at War" by Garbett and Golding - 1979 Ian Allen Ltd.
Australian built GAF Lincolns had a 27,000' ceiling due to the fitting of Merlin 85's and later 66's, (they were later fitted with the CAC built Merlin 102) as compared with the UK built Avro Lincoln B2 fitted with the Merlin 68 with its higher service ceiling, which allowed the first test flights to 32,000 feet.
Frank flew the first ever such Lincoln flight at Woomera to 32,000', as pilot in a 3 man crew, the navigator F/L Norm Rogers moved aft to check the recording camera, disconnecting his oxygen to move from supply point to supply point but after reporting he was moving back, failed to report again, so Frank sent the Wireless Operator to check, who also failed to report in, Frank realised both had suffered loss of oxygen and immediately cut the throttles and "stuffed the nose right down" dropping like a brick to 10,000 feet where he levelled out, engaged the "George" (auto pilot) and went back to find both crew members still out cold, he put them back on oxygen and lande at Woomera, the descent from 32,000 feet took less than 10 minutes with the Lincoln
"popping rivets like shotgun pellets, and all four motors suffering warped heads, there is no doubt however, that the pilots prompt action saved the lives of his two crewman" I understand the Lincoln was a write off.
I am proud to have known Frank and would like to record some of the efforts he has made behind the scene to many causes.
Frank was a founding member of the Point Cook Airfield Preservation Action Group in 1998, supporting our 11,000 signiture petition effort in 1999, attending monthly meetings in Werribee, writing to RAAF retired personnel, Politicians etc and attending Ministerial meetings in Canberra in 1999 to lobby to save Point Cook from being sold off for housing redevelopment, his efforts in those meetings directly influenced the commitment by Dr Brendan Nelson to retain Point Cook as an operating airfield and to set up the Don Heyward steering committee in 2001 to report on future uses of Point Cook.
Frank however was also a modest and quiet achiever, but also a generous philanthropist in many areas, reaching into his own pocket to support the RAAF Association, the RAAFA Foundation, the RAAFA/Royal Victorian Aero Club Flying Scholarship, the RAAF Museum, the Friends of the RAAF Museum, the Australian National Aviation Museum and the Bundaberg Base Hospital, to mention just the few I was personally aware of.
He was an active member of the Lancaster Squadron Associations, and Frank in recent years specifically supported and funded the purchase of a Replica Lancaster Cockpit section kitset with the Friends of the RAAF Museum, for donation and eventual display in the RAAF Museum, he was also the Public Officer of the Avro Bomber Preservation Association, and a siginificant donor in that project's attempt to raise funds to purchase the Sandtoft Lincoln RF342 and Lancaster fuselage KB994. He remained a strong supporter of the Lincoln project at Australian National Aviation Museum when it was acquired via different means.
A Lancaster replica instrument panel, and original control column are now in storage at the Australian National Aviation Museum thanks to the generousity of Frank.
His most recent efforts were to establish a Gliding Scholarship to honour Bert Hinkler
http://www.gliding-in-melbourne.org/new/content/view/484/125/Frank was also actively pursuing his gliding licence, and was an upper freeman and proud active member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators.
"lest we forget" and may he
"rest in peace"Mark Pilkington
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