Commander of the Order of the British Empire : Air Commodore Raymond James Brownell, RAAF Accession Number: REL/09352.001

Description

Neck badge of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Geo VI). Unnamed as issued.

Contextual Description

2058 Sergeant (later Air Commodore) Raymond James Brownell, a Tasmanian, enlisted on 12 September 1914 in 9 Battery, 3 Field Artillery Brigade. He was discharged on 16 March 1917 on transfer to the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force) for pilot training. He also served in the RAAF during the Second World War. Brownell was awarded the Military Medal in July 1916 for gallantry at Pozieres, and the the Military Cross in January 1918 for his success as a fighter pilot with 45 Squadron in Italy. In 1921 Brownell joined the RAAF, and held the rank of Wing Commander at the outbreak of the Second World War. He was appointed Commander of the British Empire in January 1945 for his work as Area Officer Commanding Western Area, with responsibility for directing training and long-range bombing operations. He retired from the RAAF in 1947.

Details

People

• Air Commodore Raymond James Brownell CBE

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• Australia

Units

• Royal Australian Air Force

Tags

• Order of the British Empire