Wilfred Clouston
New Zealand Second World War flying ace / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wilfred Greville Clouston DFC (15 January 1916 – 24 May 1980) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of nine enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of three more.
Wilfred Clouston | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Wilf |
Born | (1916-01-15)15 January 1916 Auckland, New Zealand |
Died | 24 May 1980(1980-05-24) (aged 64) Waipukurau, New Zealand |
Allegiance | New Zealand |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1936–1957 |
Rank | Acting Group Captain |
Commands held | No. 258 Squadron No. 488 (NZ) Squadron RAF Northolt |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Clouston joined the RAF in 1936. He flew Supermarine Spitfires with No. 19 Squadron during the Battle of France and the subsequent Battle of Britain. He later commanded No. 258 Squadron. In August 1941 he was sent to Singapore to take command of No. 488 (NZ) Squadron but became a prisoner of war when the British surrendered Singapore in February 1942. He remained in the RAF after the war, holding a series of administrative posts until his retirement in 1957. He farmed in New Zealand until his death in 1980 at the age of 64.