CABLE, William Oswald
| Service Number: | 404495 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 September 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 16 February 1915 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 13 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404495 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404495 |
William Oswald Cable DFC MID
William (Bill) Oswald Cable was born in Sydney on the 16th of Feb 1915. He attended Canterbury High School & Sydney Technical School & then worked as a concrete engineer.
He enlisted with the RAAF in Brisbane in September 1940, and shortly after sailed to Eritrea, Africa for flying training. Thereafter, he spent two years on the Egyptian front.
Bill completed a tour of operations in North Africa serving with 450 Squadron RAAF from December 1941 to March 1942. He then flew with 250 Squadron till July 1942, where he shot down two German Junkers Ju-87 Stukas & one Messerschmitt Bf-109 aircraft, as well as damaging another two 109s & one Stuka.
Thereafter he was attached to 283 Wing & 206 Group as a test pilot, where he test-flew captured German & Italian aircraft. He was the first test-pilot of the new Curtiss P-40.
He returned to Australia, in March 1943, instructing fighter pilots at 8OTU Parkes & 2OTU Mildura, before a short period flying Spitfires with 452 Squadron Darwin.
His second tour of operations began in October 1944 with No 457 (Spitfire) Squadron, Darwin Australia, thence moving up through the islands to Morotai, Borneo. He was made a Flight Commander on the 18th December 1944.
Bill was discharged on the 16th January 1946, having flown 154 operational sorties and a total of 1,007 flying hours.
In 1946 Bill was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his action in North Africa, holding off four Messerschmitt BF 109F fighter aircraft for twenty minutes, during which he was wounded in the arm and leg, resulting in three weeks hospitalisation in Cairo.
After the war Bill moved to the United States, where he managed a successful company in the construction industry. He passed away in 1994.
Submitted 25 June 2023 by John Inger
Biography contributed by John Inger
William (Bill) Oswald Cable was born in Sydney on the 16th of Feb 1915. He attended Canterbury High School & Sydney Technical School & then worked as a concrete engineer.
He enlisted with the RAAF in Brisbane in September 1940, and shortly after sailed to Eritrea, Africa for flying training. Thereafter, he spent two years on the Egyptian front.
Bill completed a tour of operations in North Africa serving as a fighter pilot with 450 Squadron RAAF from December 1941 to March 1942. He then flew with 250 Squadron till July 1942, where he shot down two German Junkers Ju-87 Stukas & one Messerschmitt Bf-109 aircraft, as well as damaging another two 109s & one Stuka.
Thereafter he was attached to 283 Wing & 206 Group as a test pilot, where he test-flew captured German & Italian aircraft. He was the first test-pilot of the new Curtiss P-40.
He returned to Australia, in March 1943, instructing pilots at 8OTU Parkes & 2OTU Mildura, before a short period flying Spitfires with 452 Squadron Darwin.
His second tour of operations began in October 1944 with No 457 (Spitfire) Squadron, Darwin Australia, thence moving up through the islands to Morotai, Borneo. He was made a Flight Commander on the 18th December 1944.
Bill was discharged on the 16th January 1946, having flown 154 operational sorties and a total of 1,007 flying hours.
In 1946 Bill was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his action in North Africa, holding off four Messerschmitt BF 109F fighter aircraft for twenty minutes, during which he was wounded in the arm and leg, resulting in three weeks hospitalisation in Cairo.
After the war Bill moved to the United States, where he managed a successful company in the construction industry. He passed away in White Illinois in 1994.
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