DOWNING, Francis John Leonard
| Service Numbers: | O34496, 034496 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Wing Commander |
| Last Unit: | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Born: | Nedlands, Western Australia , 19 April 1934 |
| Home Town: | Albany, Albany, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Albany High School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 29 Oct 1970: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Wing Commander, O34496 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1970: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Wing Commander, Royal Australian Air Force, Became Commanding Officer of No.2 Squadron at Phan Rang in South Vietnam | |
| 9 Feb 1971: | Honoured US Distinguished Flying Cross, Recommended for Distinguished Flying Cross(US) following bombing mission where close contact friendlies were saved. John Downing under heavy fire during 5 bomb runs, aircraft sustained damage. Only found out about award many years later. | |
| 14 Mar 1971: | Wounded Royal Australian Air Force, Wing Commander, 034496, Royal Australian Air Force, Canberra being flown by John Downing at 14,000 ft near DMZ was hit by a SAM. John Downing and Navigator Allan Pinches ejected safely. John Downing sustained a fractured kneecap. | |
| 6 Dec 1971: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, Received Distinguished Flying Cross for "outstanding command ability, professionalism and devotion to duty" while CO of No. 2 SQN in South Vietnam (5 November 1970 to 22 March 1971) |
Help us honour Francis John Leonard Downing's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by South Australian Aviation Museum
Wing Commander (Retired) Francis "John" Leonard Downing DFC & DFC (US)
Born at Nedlands WA on 19 April 1934, he was the middle of three brothers. His parents were Talbot Albert Walls Downing and Mary Francis Leonard (family name). John’s father was a schoolteacher and served in World War II as an Education Officer on Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) courses.
Growing up during WWII, John was always interested in the Air Force and joined the Air Training Corps at the age of thirteen, the youngest possible age to join. When John was sixteen, his father, who was by then an ATC instructor, brought home application paperwork for the RAAF College at Point Cook, Victoria. John was successful and began the four-year RAAF College course (No. 4 Course) in 1951 and a RAAF career that spanned 26 years, many of which involved flying Canberra bombers.
His significant achievements included:
First Crew to Photograph the Eye of A Cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross US (Vietnam War).
First and to Date, the Only RAAF Pilot to Have his Aircraft Destroyed by a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
Member of the First Crew to Safely Eject from a Canberra Bomber.
In 2023, at 89 years of age and now a member of the South Australian Aviation Museum, John who is still very humble about his achievements, assisted with the documenting of his captivating RAAF career.
A PDF copy of his full profile can be found under the "Documents" section on this page.
Gary Petts
History Group
South Australian Aviation Museum
May 2023
Click images to start slideshow.