18 Facts About Brian Eaton

Brian Eaton was awarded the US Silver Star in 1946 in recognition of his war service.

Brian Eaton commanded RAAF Base Williamtown from 1957 to 1959, after which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Brian Eaton was promoted to air vice-marshal the next year, and became Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.

Brian Eaton then served as Air Member for Personnel, before being selected as AOC Operational Command in 1973.

Brian Eaton was able to glide back to base, 80 miles away, but on arriving found that it was under attack by German bombers.

Brian Eaton decided he had no other option than to land the damaged plane among the exploding bombs, and managed to do so without mishap.

Brian Eaton led the unit as it relocated to Malta the following month, in preparation for the Allied invasion of Sicily.

In spite of intense antiaircraft fire, Squadron Leader Brian Eaton led his formation in at a low level and pressed home an attack which completely disrupted the enemy's forces.

The run of luck that Brian Eaton experienced in his first weeks of air combat in Tunisia continued on the ground in Italy.

Brian Eaton survived three months of constant artillery fire, including an occasion when a shell exploded directly above his observation post, striking down a British officer standing next to him.

Brian Eaton came under machine-gun fire when he took a wrong turn one day and drove into the German lines, but again escaped unhurt.

Brian Eaton was unofficially credited with shooting down as many as seven enemy aircraft during the Mediterranean campaigns, but was never listed among Australian flying aces.

Brian Eaton was known as a leader who, when opportunities did arise to engage other aircraft, would attempt to manoeuvre his rookie pilots into position to make a "kill", rather than take the shot himself.

Brian Eaton had reverted to a substantive rank of wing commander since leaving Japan, as the RAAF shrank dramatically with demobilisation and many senior officers lost the temporary or acting ranks they had gained in wartime.

The plane skidded off the runway but Brian Eaton was able to walk away, reportedly remarking "Well, I didn't wreck it".

Brian Eaton was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1959 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Brian Eaton preferred deploying Sabre or Mirage fighters rather than the mooted Canberra bombers, which he saw as more suitable for a strategic role.

In 1967, Brian Eaton became the last AOC of No 224 Group RAF under the British Far East Air Force in Singapore, as permanent squadrons were dropped from its strength.