Obituary

WGCDR R C ‘Dick’ Creswell, 1920-2006

Wing Commander (Retired) R C ‘Dick’ Cresswell, thrice commander of the RAAF’s 77 Squadron in WW2 and Korea and considered the father of the RAAF’s Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) course, passed away in Canberra on December 16 aged 86.

Following is an extract from the eulogy which was delivered by Air Commander Australia AVM John Quaife, himself a former CO of 77SQN, at WGCDR Creswell’s funeral: The modern experience of command remains a challenging experience and all too frequently we are reminded that aviation is a dangerous game, but the contribution of Dick Cresswell, the circumstances of his service, and the results that this extraordinary man was able to achieve, leaves those of us in the modern Air Force in awe and in his debt.