Ifould, Edward Lister (Squadron Leader, b.1909 - d.1981)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 402278 Squadron Leader Edward Lister Ifould, 97 Squadron and 109 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and the United Kingdom, 1940-1944.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one log book of Squadron Leader Edward Lister Ifould, containing entries dated between 3 October 1940 and 18 November 1944. It covers the period of his training in Australia and the United Kingdom, service as a navigator with 97 Squadron and 109 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom, and service as a Royal Air Force Representative in the United States of America. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, pilots, and purposes of flights. Some of the flight purposes include navigation training, bombing and gunnery training, operational training, cross country flights, aircraft ferrying, bombing operations targeting enemy-occupied Europe, pathfinding operations, and equipment trials. This log book also includes certificates for courses completed by Squadron Leader Ifould, a quadrantal correction card, and a commemorative card for an operation over Bremen, Germany, in September 1942. In addition, it mentions the award of his Distinguished Flying Cross for an operation in April 1942.

Squadron Leader Edward Lister Ifould enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 22 July 1940. He trained as a navigator and bomb-aimer in Australia and the United Kindgdom, and went on to serve as a navigator with 97 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. With this unit, he participated in bombing operations over enemy-occupied Europe. On 28 April 1942, Squadron Leader Ifould was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation in a successful daylight bombing attack on an engine factory at Augsburg, Germany. In October 1942, he was transferred to 109 Squadron, which was part of Pathfinder Force. The Pathfinder Force guided bombers to their targets in the Ruhr and Rhineland. Squadron Leader Ifould flew a large number of operations with great skill and devotion to duty. He was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Service Order, making him Australia’s most decorated navigator of the Second World War. In mid-1943, Ifould was a member of a Royal Air Force delegation to the United States of America. He was later posted to Headquarters, Pathfinder Force, and then became the group navigation officer of 100 (Special Duties) Group. Squadron Leader Ifould returned to Australia in mid-1944 and was discharged on 25 November 1944.