| Accession Number | P03928.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1940-1944 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of 407519 Flying Officer (FO) Gordon Leslie Bland, 1 Operational Training Unit, RAAF in ...
Description
Portrait of 407519 Flying Officer (FO) Gordon Leslie Bland, 1 Operational Training Unit, RAAF in the cockpit of his aircraft. FO Bland of Maylands, SA enlisted on 9 November 1940 and served in the Southwest Pacific Area before being sent to East Sale, Victoria, as a flying instructor for Beaufort pilots. Not long after his arrival at East Sale he was taken to Melbourne hospital where he died of an unknown fever on 13 November 1944, aged 27 years. On 9 May 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his skill and courage during flying operations in the Southwest Pacific. His wife and eldest son, Leith (see P03928.003) accepted the DFC medal on his behalf.