Frank Hubert Mcnamara
Lieutenant, 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps
- Register No.
- 810 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps (register: No. 1 Squadron AFC) all No. 1 Squadron AFC VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 March 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 4th April, 1894 at Waranga, Rushworth, Victoria, Australia
- Died
- 2nd November 1961 at Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire
- Memorial / grave
- the Priory, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
During an aerial bomb attack on an enemy construction train, one of our pilots had to make a forced landing behind enemy lines. Lieutenant McNAMARA seeing his predicament, and noticing the enemy cavalry advancing on him, landed his aircraft, under extremely heavy fire from rifles, and being wounded in the thigh, managed to land his aircraft within 200 yards of the grounded machine. The pilot ran and climbed into Lieutenant McNamara's aircraft. Because of his wounded leg, he was unable to keep the aircraft straight, in its attempt to rise, and it turned over. Quickly extricating themselves from the aircraft, they set fire to it and ran for the damaged aircraft, which they managed to get started. Lieutenant McNAMARA, in spite of his wounded leg, succeeded in flying the machine 70 miles back to his airfield
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McNAMARA, Frank Hubert. (reg No. 810).
Lieutenant. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps * London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.
Born on 4th April, 1894 at Waranga, Rushworth, Victoria, Australia.
Died on 2nd November 1961 at Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.
Memorials at the Priory, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
.* Royal Australian Air Force.
Digest of Citation reads: During an aerial bomb attack on an enemy construction train, one of our pilots had to make a forced landing behind enemy lines. Lieutenant McNAMARA seeing his predicament, and noticing the enemy cavalry advancing on him, landed his aircraft, under extremely heavy fire from rifles, and being wounded in the thigh, managed to land his aircraft within 200 yards of the grounded machine. The pilot ran and climbed into Lieutenant McNamara's aircraft. Because of his wounded leg, he was unable to keep the aircraft straight, in its attempt to rise, and it turned over. Quickly extricating themselves from the aircraft, they set fire to it and ran for the damaged aircraft, which they managed to get started. Lieutenant McNAMARA, in spite of his wounded leg, succeeded in flying the machine 70 miles back to his airfield.
Additional information:. Air Vice-Marshal McNamara, was also made a Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB) and a Commander of Order of the British Empire (CBE). In the second-world-war he served with the Royal Air Force he was made the Air Officer Commanding the RAAF. HQ from 1939-42 followed by being AOC British forces in Aden until 1945. He became Drector of Education, HQ in Westphalia, Germany 1945-47 with the British Occupying Forces.
Additional information
Air Vice-Marshal McNamara, was also made a Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB) and a Commander of Order of the British Empire (CBE). In the second-world-war he served with the Royal Air Force he was made the Air Officer Commanding the RAAF. HQ from 1939-42 followed by being AOC British forces in Aden until 1945. He became Drector of Education, HQ in Westphalia, Germany 1945-47 with the British Occupying Forces.
* Royal Australian Air Force.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: the Priory, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Frank Hubert Mcnamara by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.