16-OCTOBER-1942 While Serving with No. 452 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader Keith William “Bluey” Truscott in Europe would lead an attack on an evacuating Kreigsmarine Fleet and successfully damaged a German Destroyer. A famous athlete, before the war he played VFL for the Melbourne Demons, and deciding to forgo a successful sporting career decided to fly for King and Country, and in doing so became one of Australia’s highest ranked Fighter Aces with 15/16 confirmed enemy aircraft shot down. These acts would result in him being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice.
He would go on to serve in No 76 Squadron RAAF in the Pacific, serving the defence of Milne Bay from Japanese invasion, where he would replace Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull as Commanding Officer after his death. Peter Turnbull’s life service and sacrifice was episode 12 of season one
Sadly like his predecessor he would also be killed in a flying accident while in training with the US Navy.
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