Roberts Dunstan
Encyclopedia
Roberts Christian Dunstan DSO
(5 November 1922 – 11 October 1989) was an Australia
n soldier and airman of the Second World War. He was noted on his return to Australia after the war as a one-legged air gunner who had served with RAF Bomber Command
. He later served as a Member of Parliament
.
aged 17 on 3 June 1940. After training he was sent to the 2/8th Field Company in North Africa as a reinforcement. In January 1941, near Tobruk
, he was wounded in the knee and had his leg amputated. After resting in Egypt he was returned to Australia and medically discharged.
as an air gunner. In 1942 he trained at Port Pirie and, promoted to Sergeant at the end of his course, he embarked for Europe. Dunstan was assigned to No. 460 Squadron RAAF
at RAF Binbrook
, Lincolnshire, England as a Lancaster
rear gunner. He flew his first operation on 11 June 1943 to Düsseldorf. In October he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, and later was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
for his efforts as a "Cool and skilful Air Gunner despite handicap of one leg". During one raid on Kassel
on 22/23 October 1943, the plane in which he was flying was hit by two incendiary bombs dropped by another Lancaster, which was off course. The damage caused by this accident cut off the oxygen supply to Dunstan and the other gunner, Flight Sergeant
Hegarty. As a result of the oxygen starvation that both men suffered, neither saw the approach of an enemy night-fighter, whose attack badly damaged the Lancaster, one cannon shell passing through the rear-gunner's turret. The aircraft managed to return home and make a crash-landing at Bisham
, the crew escaping unhurt. Dunstan soon completed a full tour of 30 operations and returned to Australia in August 1944. He was discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force on 2 October 1945.
. He also held the posts of Minister of Water Supply and later the Minister of Public Works. Dunstan died in Melbourne on 11 October 1989.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(5 November 1922 – 11 October 1989) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n soldier and airman of the Second World War. He was noted on his return to Australia after the war as a one-legged air gunner who had served with RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
. He later served as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Second Australian Imperial Force
Dunstan was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 5 November 1922. He joined the Australian Imperial ForceAustralian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
aged 17 on 3 June 1940. After training he was sent to the 2/8th Field Company in North Africa as a reinforcement. In January 1941, near Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
, he was wounded in the knee and had his leg amputated. After resting in Egypt he was returned to Australia and medically discharged.
Royal Australian Air Force
Not happy with his short service, Dunstan attempted to join the Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
as an air gunner. In 1942 he trained at Port Pirie and, promoted to Sergeant at the end of his course, he embarked for Europe. Dunstan was assigned to No. 460 Squadron RAAF
No. 460 Squadron RAAF
No. 460 Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force intelligence unit active within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation . It was first formed as a heavy bomber squadron during World War II on November 15, 1941 and disbanded on 10 October 1945 after seeing extensive combat over Europe. The...
at RAF Binbrook
RAF Binbrook
RAF Binbrook was a Bomber Command station during World War II. After the war it was amongst others the home of the Central Fighter Establishment...
, Lincolnshire, England as a Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
rear gunner. He flew his first operation on 11 June 1943 to Düsseldorf. In October he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, and later was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for his efforts as a "Cool and skilful Air Gunner despite handicap of one leg". During one raid on Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
on 22/23 October 1943, the plane in which he was flying was hit by two incendiary bombs dropped by another Lancaster, which was off course. The damage caused by this accident cut off the oxygen supply to Dunstan and the other gunner, Flight Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
Hegarty. As a result of the oxygen starvation that both men suffered, neither saw the approach of an enemy night-fighter, whose attack badly damaged the Lancaster, one cannon shell passing through the rear-gunner's turret. The aircraft managed to return home and make a crash-landing at Bisham
Bisham
Bisham is a village and civil parish in the Windsor and Maidenhead district of Berkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,149. The village is on the River Thames, north of which is Marlow in Buckinghamshire...
, the crew escaping unhurt. Dunstan soon completed a full tour of 30 operations and returned to Australia in August 1944. He was discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force on 2 October 1945.
Politician, journalist and film critic
Dunstan received some attention from the media as a one-legged air gunner who had completed a full tour of 30 missions. He wrote about his experiences in a book, The Sand and the Sky, and took a job as a journalist and film critic with the Melbourne Herald. Between 1956 and 1982 he served as a Liberal Party member in the Victorian parliament representing MorningtonElectoral district of Mornington
The Electoral district of Mornington is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Members for Mornington:-Election results:-See also:* Parliaments of the Australian states and territories...
. He also held the posts of Minister of Water Supply and later the Minister of Public Works. Dunstan died in Melbourne on 11 October 1989.