FLTLT Davidson Freeman Evans 404724

Dave joined the RAAF in 1940 and began pilot training on No 3 course of the Empire Aviation Training Scheme. He received his "Wings" in Canada and finished with an Operation Training Unit in England. A Group Captain Victor Beamish then allocated incoming pilots to their squadrons. He suggested to Dave and some mates that they might like to go to four cannon Hurricane squadrons, which were being formed to deal with German Flak ships in the English Channel. They turned down the idea and Dave was sent to No 452 squadron, RAAF, under the command of Squadron Leader Bungey. He served two years with them in the UK and later in the North West area, Northern Territory.

After the war he established a farm machinery business in Boonah, Queensland, which he expanded to cover other country towns. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Australia medal for service to his community and lifelong support of the Salvation Army. He died on the 19th May 2001 aged 83.

One confirmed victory with No 452 (RAAF) Squadron, Australia, 1943.

Dave was considered, by his senior officers to be a very experienced and above-average fighter pilot.

February 1942 - Pilots of No. 452 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF based at an RAF Station in Redhill, England. L to R: 402157 Pilot Officer (PO) John Rodney Henry Elphick; 403463 Flying Officer Robert Armstrong; 400213 Squadron Leader Keith William Truscott DFC (died 28 March 1943 in Western Australia); 402256 PO Mark Ernest Sheldon (died 11 August 1942 on operations over New Guinea); 402260 Flight Lieutenant Raymond Harold Charles Sly (died 9 May 1942 on operations in Malta); 404724 PO Davidson Freeman Evans.

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Pilots from 452 Squadron in the dispersal hut at R.A.F. Station Kenley late 1941.

Left to right, background; P.O. R.H.C.Sly, Sgts R.H.Bevan, W.J.Wilkinson, J.R.Ross, J.M.Morrison.

Foreground; Sgts D.F.K.Downes, K.D.Bassett, F-Lt K.W.Truscott, P.O. D.F.Evans, F-Sgt Baldwin (R.A.F.), P.O. R.H.Whillans

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Pilots – Mawer, Ruskin-Rowe, Evans and Young – Strauss Dispersals

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Strauss, NT. c. December 1944. Pilots of No. 452 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF being briefed by the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader L. T. (Lou) Spence (right, kneeling).

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24-03-1943. Darwin. Members of an RAAF Spitfire Squadron play cards at their base in Darwin. Left to right – F/O J. Gould, F/O. K. Bassett, F/O D. Downes, F/Lt. E. Hall (standing), F/O J. Young, F/O R. Williams F/O W.J. Lamerton. (negative by H. Turner).

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L-R Dave Evans, Mick Simmonds and George Scrimgeour 457 Squadron

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Strauss, NT. 25 April 1943. Flying Officer (FO) David F. Evans of Boonah, Qld, a pilot of No. 452 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF examines an American V-44 survival knife. FO Evans is a long serving member of No. 452 Squadron RAAF, having flown operational sorties in Britain, during which time he participated in providing fighter cover for RAF bomber aircraft which attacked the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.

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