User:Reguyla\Laurence A. Wilmot

Laurence Aubrey Wilmot (31 May 1914 - 26 June 1947) was a South African Colonel in the South African Air Force (SAAF) during World War II. Laurie Wilmot was born in South Africa May 31, 1914. He grew up in Pretoria and joined the South African Permanent Force. Assigned in the SAAF, he became the Captain Squadron 2 / SAAF in 1939. When the Squadron 3 / SAAF is made ​​in 1940, he took command before being transferred to Squadron 1 / SAAF in June of the same year. There he participated in the battles of Eritrea. During this campaign, he was shot February 23, 1941 by a CR 32 piloted by Sottoten Alberto Veronese of the 410th Squadriglia CT. He made ​​an emergency landing and became a prisoner of war. Veronese is in turn shot and injured by winger Wilmot. The latter is finally released on April 6 when Eritrea capitulates. He resumed his command on June 30 while the Squadron 1 / SAAF is based in Egypt. In November, another change, this time to take command of Squadron 2 / SAAF. Together with his command, he is co-responsible for the conduct of operations Wing 258 to which the Squadron belongs. He held the same positions within the Wing 262. On 16 November 1941 he made ​​a forced landing with its Tomahawk in the desert where he spent two nights before being rescued. The allocation of an immediate DFC was announced December 11. Put to rest, he returned to South Africa where he served at headquarters in Pretoria in 1942 before becoming commander of the Fortress Air Defences from January to June 1943. Sent to Tunisia, he took command of Wing 322 from August to 1943avant October to head the Wing 239 until August 1944, the month in which he received the DSO. After the war, he continued his career in the SAAF and controls the Wing 7 in July 1946. On 26 June 1947, he was killed in the crash of a Mosquito Squadron 60 at Waterkloof.

Awards

 * Distinguished Flying Cross on 11 December 1941


 * Distinguished Service Order in August 1944