Pilot Officer Mervyn Leslie Cecil
- Rank
- Pilot Officer
- Service number
- 406517
- Unit
- Royal Australian Air Force Attached 3 Tactical Air Force Royal Air Force
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Silchar, India
- Date of death
- 30 July 1944
- Age
- 24
- Plaque number
- L351A
- Co-located plaques
- L351 - FLTLT Walter McKerracher
- Dedicated by
- Great Niece on 16 August 2008
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Pilot Officer Mervyn Leslie Cecil DFC of 3 Tactical Air Force was born at Herdsman Road Subiaco in December 1919, the son of Leslie and Winifred Cecil.
He attended Perth Boys school and after leaving school joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission doing clerical work.
He joined the RAAF in January 1941 when he was 19 and trained at Pearce before going to South Africa and Rhodesia.
He was posted to Malta at the height of the blitz and at one time brought down his plane with damaged landing gear and saved his crew and the plane.
He was then posted to India to 3 Tactical Air Force where he flew many missions flying wounded servicemen from the front line.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation states: 'courage of high order on numerous Sorties in ambulance aircraft.’
On 3 June 1947 the lieutenant governor of Western Australia presented the DFC to Mervyn’s father at Government House.
His officer commanding in a letter to Mervyn’s parents says, in part, 'always a keen and competent pilot Mervyn excelled himself in the unit. He loved flying and would go out in any weather. He has been instrumental in saving the lives of hundreds of wounded soldiers out here, flying them from under the noses of the enemy.’
Pilot Officer Mervyn Leslie Cecil DFC, service number 406517 attached to 3 Tactical Air Force RAF, was killed in action at Silchar, India on 30 June 1944. He was 24.