Charles Ridley Fairbairn DFC (1924 - 1945)

Born 3 Jun 1924 in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Feb 1945 at age 20 in Germany

Charles Fairbairn DFC was Killed in Action during World War II.

Biography

CHARLES RIDLEY FAIRBAIRN (Fairbairn-1131)

PARENTS. Charles Osborne Fairbairn & Irene Florence (Ridley) Fairbairn

BIRTH. 3 Jun 1924, Feenan, Domain-road, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

BIRTH NOTICE. FAIRBAIRN.—On the 3rd June, at Feenan, Domain road, South Yarra, the wife of C. Osborne Fairbairn—a son.

WWII Service Record:

Name FAIRBAIRN, CHARLES RIDLEY

Service Royal Australian Air Force

Service Number 419988

Date of Birth 3 Jun 1924

Place of Birth MELBOURNE, VIC

Date of Enlistment 9 Oct 1942

Locality on Enlistment Unknown

Place of Enlistment MELBOURNE, VIC

Next of Kin FAIRBAIRN, C

Date of Death 1 Feb 1945

Rank Flying Officer

Posting on Death 50 SQUADRON

WW2 Honours and Gallantry Distinguished Flying Cross

Prisoner of War No

Roll of Honour SKIPTON VIC

DEATH. 1 Feb 1945, Germany

(Oct 1945). POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF DFC. Mr and Mrs C. Osborne Fairbairn, of Banongill, Skipton, have just been informed of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to their only son, Flying-Officer Charles Ridley Fairbairn, who was killed in operations over Germany on February 1. Flying-Officer Fairbairn enlisted in the RAAF in 1942 at the age of 18, and, was killed in the final flight of his operational tour. The citation said that throughout his operational career Flying-Officer Fairbairn had shown brilliant leadership and cool courage in the face of danger. In December, 1944, 10 minutes before reaching his target, his aircraft was involved in a collision, as a result of which one engine was wrecked. Despite this, Flying-Officer Fairbairn pressed home his attack successfully in the face of heavy AA fire, which damaged two gun turrets. By superb airmanship he flew his damaged aircraft back to base and landed safely. His outstanding skill, determination, and devotion to duty have always merited high praise. Mr C. O. Fairbairn has just resigned his commission in the RAAF. During the war he was in command of the Air Force station at Ballarat, with the rank of group-captain, and was awarded the OBE for distinguished services. In the last war he joined the Royal Flying Corps in its early days, and after being severely wounded in action over Germany was awarded the Air Force Cross.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

Flying Officer FAIRBAIRN, CHARLES RIDLEY

Service Number 419988

Died 01/02/1945

Aged 20

Royal Australian Air Force

D F C

Son of Charles Osborne Fairbairn and Irene Florence Fairbairn, of Skipton, Victoria, Australia.

Buried at RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY

Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Cemetery/memorial reference: Coll. grave 9. F. 8-10.

THE FAIRBAIRN WINDOWS, ^[1] Small section on Charles Ridley Fairbairn — Rood Screen in Chapel of All Saints at Corio, given in 1950 by Osborne and Irene Fairbairn (then of Banongill) to commemorate the bomber crew — lost in air operations over Germany in February 1945 — piloted by their son Flight Officer Charles Ridley Fairbairn DFC.

RSL Links

Victoria Links: | Shrine of Remembrance | Rolls of Honour | ANZAC Cenotaph
RSLVIC Home. | Visit : RSL | RSL

Sources

1. ↑ THE FAIRBAIRN WINDOWS, by Michael Collins Persse, Light Blue - September 2016, Published on Oct 5, 2016 : https://issuu.com/geelonggrammarschool/docs/ggs_lb_issuu/35

• Birth Notice: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 4 Jun 1924, Page 1: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4336370

• WWII Service Record:

• (Oct 1945). POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF DFC: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Fri 5 Oct 1945, Page 3: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12145376

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2043055/fairbairn,-charles-ridley/