17 Facts About Dick Cresswell

Dick Cresswell was credited with being the first RAAF pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft at night over Australian soil, the only man to serve as commanding officer of an RAAF squadron on three occasions during wartime, and the first officer to lead a jet-equipped Australian squadron in combat.

Dick Cresswell oversaw its conversion from P-51 Mustangs to Gloster Meteors, becoming the first RAAF commander of a jet squadron in war.

Dick Cresswell was the only child of English immigrants George Cresswell, an engineer, and his wife Constance.

Dick Cresswell again lived with his mother in Potts Point between 1931 and 1938, continuing his education at Double Bay and Randwick.

Dick Cresswell was promoted to flight lieutenant in January 1941.

Dick Cresswell considered resigning his commission but was placated by the Air Member for Personnel, Air Commodore Frank Lukis.

Dick Cresswell was promoted to wing commander in January 1944, backdated three months to eliminate the penalty of his court-martial.

Dick Cresswell had by this time reverted to the rank of squadron leader, as the air force and its wartime officer corps shrank dramatically following demobilisation.

Dick Cresswell was unimpressed by what he saw as the casual attitude displayed by his part-time pilots and soon had them practising appropriate fighter tactics.

Dick Cresswell thus became the only officer to lead the same RAAF squadron on three occasions during wartime.

Dick Cresswell believed that the Iwakuni-based wing headquarters was not always in tune with frontline requirements, and he often dealt directly with Lieutenant General Sir Horace Robertson, BCOF commander and the theatre's senior Australian officer, and the RAAF's Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Scherger, former commander at Wagga Wagga.

Dick Cresswell therefore arranged for the USAF to lend him a Sabre to simulate a MiG-15 in combat training with the Meteors at Iwakuni; he determined that the Meteor's manoeuvrability and rate of climb allowed it to match the swept-wing jet below 25,000 feet, so the best air-to-air tactic would be to work in concert with USAF Sabres operating at high level while the Australians flew at lower altitudes.

Dick Cresswell secured another attachment to the USAF and converted to the F-86 Sabre in early September 1951.

Dick Cresswell left for Australia shortly afterwards, having flown a total of 144 sorties during the war: 110 in Mustangs, fourteen in Meteors, and ten each in Shooting Stars and Sabres.

Dick Cresswell was posted to RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne, as Director of Air Staff Policy.

Dick Cresswell attempted to rejoin the RAAF the following year but was found to be suffering from malaria and dengue fever, as well as the after-effects of hepatitis.

Dick Cresswell undertook speaking engagements, including the annual veterans' symposium at the Australian Command and Staff College.