Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

O314347 Wing Commander Powell, DSO served with Headquarters Australian Force Vietnam (RAAF Element) from 7th December 1966 to 28th November 1967. Wing Commander Powell developed a system which permitted full use to be made in Vietnam of the Canberra aircraft's bombing capability and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) which was notified in the London Gazette 10th December 1968 Page 13230.

In part his citation reads: "During this period he controlled some 170 air strikes as the Forward Air Controller, and flew a further 200 sorties on visual reconnaissance and associated FAC duties. When No 2 Canberra Bomber Squadron, RAAF, deployed to Vietnam in April, 1967, he was Deputy Director of USAF Direct Air Support Centre Alpha and, in conjunction with Commander V. J Hill, of No 2 Squadron, began working on a system to enable Canberra aircraft to effectively employed in daylight, under FAC control. Later in his tour, when Commander of the USAF Tactical Air Control Party supporting the Australian Task Force, he carried on developing this system which has now been accepted as standard operating procedure throughout the United States 7th Air Force. During the second half of his tour, Wing Commander Powell, entirely of his own initiative, provided a complete analysis of the actual points of impact of all bombs dropped by radar control in his area of responsibility. His efforts have ensured that air power has provided the Army in Vietnam with support of the highest possible order."

Not long after returning home from Vietnam he and his wife, along with his father were involved in a car accident near Newcastle, New South Wales which killed his wife Jean (Known as Betty) on 19th May 1968, Wing Commander Powell died from his injuries five days later, his father also died from his injuries.