Group Captain Jack Darby Espie

Service number 419303, O33153
Ranks Held Flying Officer, Group Captain, Flight Lieutenant
Birth Date 1924-05-01
Birth Place Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Caulfield
Death Date 2015-04-12
Final Rank Group Captain
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Place Caulfield
Conflicts/Operations
  • Period 1950-1959
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Vietnam, 1962-1975
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1955-01-01
Published in London Gazette in 1947-06-27
Published in London Gazette in 1969-05-02
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1969-03-13
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1955-01-20
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1948-02-05
Description

Group Captain Jack Darby Espie was born on 1 May 1924 in Caulfield, Victoria. Espie enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942, graduating as a pilot in June 1943. During the Second World War, he flew 34 operations with 76 Squadron Royal Air Force, receiving the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palme d’Or. He also flew with 187 Squadron RAF, 246 Squadron RAF, and 466 Squadron RAF. In 1955 he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (QCBA) and in 1969 he received a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Espie served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, he was CO of 35 Squadron in Vung Tau from February to December 1968, during which time he flew 1363 transport sorties totalling 835 hours flying time. He retired from the Air Force in July 1974, after 32 years’ service.

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    Royal Australian Air Force
    Conflict
    Period 1950-1959
    Rank
    Flight Lieutenant
    London Gazette
    01 January 1955 on page 42 at position 17
    Commonwealth Gazette
    20 January 1955 on page 122 at position 19
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    Royal Australian Air Force
    Conflict
    Vietnam, 1962-1975
    Rank
    Group Captain
    London Gazette
    02 May 1969 on page 4657 at position 2
    Commonwealth Gazette
    13 March 1969 on page 1547 at position 2
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    Royal Australian Air Force
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Flying Officer
    London Gazette
    27 June 1947 on page 2938 at position
    Commonwealth Gazette
    05 February 1948 on page 1323 at position 7

Timeline

Date of birth 01 May 1924
Date of death 12 April 2015