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Group Captain John Irwin 'Bay' ADAMS O33119 DFC AFC

Squadrons: 3 Sqn RAF, 77 Sqn, 75 Sqn (Korea), 22 Sqn

Date of Birth: 6th December 1922
Birthplace: Chetenham Victoria
Occupation: Clerk for Real Estate
Enlistment Date: 7th November 1941
Place of Enlistment:

History:
 
Trained in Canada under the Empire Training Scheme and made an instructor. Posted to the UK two years later arriving on 1 April 1944 and posted to 3 Sqn RAF with the rank of Warrant Officer. 3 Sqn RAF formed part of the Newchurch Wing along with 56 Sqn RAF and 486 Sqn RNZAF and were equiped with Hawker Tempest Vs. 24 Aug 44 - North of Rye destroyed one V-1. 28 Aug 44 - Destroyed one V-1 but was so close that his aircraft was engulfed in the explosion and struck by debris, with part of his wing missing but still under control he was able to land safely back at Newchurch. 31 Aug 44 - Shared in one V-1 destroyed. Wing transferred to Europe and redesignated 121 Wing and began ground support operations in the Arnhem and Nijmegen areas. Here he learnt the accuracy of German AA fire. 30 Apr 45 - Engage five enemy aircraft in the Lauremberg area. Two long nosed FW 190 ds and three Me 109s. after a lenghty chase destroyed one FW 190. (1.0.0) 02 May 45 - 24 Km East of Keil destroys one Ju 88 on the ground. And damages a Me 262 16 Km from Kiel. (1.0.1) Posted to 75 Sqn. 27 Jan 47 - F/L Bay Adams tasked with flying first Mustang sortie for 75 Sqn to an Air Pageant in Canberra. 2 Jun 52 - Assumes command of 76 Sqn. 13 Jan 58 - Assumes command of 22 Sqn.

References:
The RAAF and the Flying Squadrons - Norman Barnes
Seek and Strike - David J Wilson
Australian War Memorial - Nominal Roll
 

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