AVM Lyndon Spencer Compton O33107 / 408970

AO OBE

Lyn was born on the 20th August 1922 and joined the RAAF in 1922. He posted overseas to 124 Squadron before returning home to serve in 452 and Flight Commander A Flight in 457 Squadron.

• Service number: O33107
• Rank: Wing Commander
• Unit: RAAF
• Service: RAAF
• Award: Officer of the Order of the British Empire
• Honour: Queens Birthday Honours
• Date of London Gazette: 10 June 1967
• Location in London Gazette: Page 6306, position 18
• Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 29 June 1967
• Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 3405, position 10

The Spitfire memorial Defence Fellowship was conceived by pilots of 457 Squadron RAAF including the late AVM Lyndon Compton AO OBE RAAF, FLTLT Edward Sly DFC and the late FLTLT Peter Watson DFC. Edward Sly worked tirelessly for the Fellowship and saw it officially launched on the 5th May 1998 under the auspices of the University of NSW and the Australian Defence Force Academy, with capital of $150,000 donated by companies, individuals and the University.

In 2011 the capital stood at $500,000 thanks to many of the general members of the Spitfire Association.

The aim of the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship is to persuade us all to look beyond aircraft, tanks and missiles as a form of defence. Its vision is to research and study other evolutions beyond the understanding of ordinary mortals.

To attempt such lofty and advanced projects the SMDF was established for the sole purpose of recruiting young men and women blessed with exceptional intellect and the ambition to devote their lives to such undertakings in defence of their families, homes and nation.

457 Squadron Morotai April 1945 L-R Mick Adams, Peter Ward, Lyn Compton and Geoff Marsh

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On Wing (L): John T.(Dinga) Bell, Bob Bawden, Leslie Alan Leeming, William O.(Bill) Cable
On Wing (R): John L. (Jack) Seelenmeyer, Albert L. (Smokey) Lumley, Kenneth B. May, Ronald M. Snowden
Sitting on Wing (L): Douglas R. Beattie, Kevin M. (Kel) Barclay, John R. Sturm Sitting on wing (R): Swampy Marsh, Peter Ward
Standing L-R: Bob Addison (IO) Norman L. Vidler, Eric McGeehan (Eng Off), Bill Stanton (Adj), Len Gillam (Def Off), Edward L. (Ted) Sly (B Flight), Lyndon S. (Lyn) Compton (A Flight), James H. (Jimmy) Greaves, David (Dave) Warrell, William J. (Bill) Crystal, John F. Dale, Kenneth D. McLeod Front Row: Bruce Miels, Keith L. Peacock, Thomas H. (Tom) Trimble (Ex CO), Clive R. Caldwell, Bruce D. Watson (NOW CO), Wilfred G. (Wally) Dial, Frank L. Rouch

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Painting by Harold Freedman. Clive Caldwell fourth from left, Lyn Compton then Smokey Lumley.

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457 Squadron RAAF- Rod Jenkins, 2nd back row, 5th from right. Morotai, 1945.
Front Row from left: Dr. Edwards, Lyn Compton with pipe (A Flight commander), Kel Barclay, Bruce Watson DFC Squadron Leader, Boomer, unknown, unknown and Ted Sly B Flight extreme right.

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Near Morotai Island, Halmahera Islands, Netherlands East Indies. 1944-12-30. Six pilots of the famous No. 452 (Spitfire) squadron RAAF which was among "the few" in the battle of Britain and is now serving at Morotai in the south-west Pacific find time for some mild formation practice during an afternoon hunt for "targets of opportunity" in the Halmahera's area. The leader is 408970 Lieutenant L. S. Compton of Caulfield, Vic, in camouflaged Mark viii (c) aircraft coded QY-T.

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