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Spitfire Biography

SQNLDR Russell Herbert Sydney Ewins 405117

ACES

R.H.S. Ewins on the left and Patrick V. McDade on the right, share a laugh while in England.
Squadron/s453 SQN
Rank On Discharge/Death Squadron Leader (SQNLDR)
Mustering / SpecialisationPilot
Date of Birth18 Mar 1917
Date of Enlistment02 Feb 1941
Contributing Author/sVince Conant
June 2013
The Spitfire Association


Russell was born on the 18/3/1917 in Ballarat, Victoria.

He enlisted into the RAAF on the 2/2/1941 and very quickly rose through the ranks to Squadron Leader.

He was discharged on the 8/8/1945.

Photographs on pages 2-3-4 copied from the tribute website of Russell's nephew Peter Holm.

Squadron Leader Russell Herbert Sydney Ewins – A truly remarkable man!



Russell and his motorbike
Russ in his dinghy after parachuting out of his plane over the English Channel
Russ on board a Royal Navy destroyer after being picked up in the English Channel, 8 October 1943.
The Air Crew Europe Star (ACES)
Pilots of 453 Squadron at Drem, Scotland in June 1942. L-R PLTOFF TA Swift, PLTOFF FT Thornley (KIA 15/8/43), PLTOFF RJ Darcey, PLTOFF RHS Ewins and Sgt LJ Hansell.

Learn more about the squadron/s in which Russell served.

453 SQN

No. 453 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941. Formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the squadron w...

(Read more about 453 SQN)
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