Dave Shannon

David John Shannon, DSO amp Bar, DFC amp Bar was an Australian bomber pilot of World War160II, best known for his part in the Dambusters raid on the night of 1617160May 1943. Born in South Australia, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941 and learned to fly under the Empire Air Training Scheme. After further training in the United Kingdom he was posted to No. 106 Squadron RAF, operating Avro Lancaster heavy bombers, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1943. In March he was selected by No.160106 Squadrons commanding officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, to join the newly formed No.160617 Squadron for Operation Chastise, the attack on the dams of the Ruhr valley. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order following the raid, Shannon continued to fly with No.160617 Squadron until October 1944, during which time he earned bars to his DSO and DFC. He was then assigned to transport duties, first with No.160511 Squadron and then, in March 1945, with No.160246 S

Shannon was born onMay 1922 at Unley Park, South Australia. His father, Howard Huntley Shannon, served as a South Australian state parliamentarian from 1933 to 1968. Shannon was working for an insurance company when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve in Adelaide on 5160July 1940, aged eighteen. On 4160January 1941 he transferred to the RAAF as an air cadet under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He received his instruction in Western Australia at No.1605 Initial Training School in Pearce, No.1609 Elementary Flying Training School in Cunderdin, and No.Service Flying Training School in Geraldton. Following graduation as a pilot officer in September, he was posted to the United Kingdom.

Source: Wikipedia