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Wing Commander Rollo Kingsford-Smith was the son of Wilfred and Ernestine Kingsford-Smith of Neutral Bay NSW.

With the surname of one of Australia’s pioneer aviators, it was almost inevitable that Rollo Kingsford-Smith would join the RAAF in 1938.

Wing Commander Rollo Kingsford-Smith was one of the most senior flying operational commanders (in the UK) during WW2, and became one of Australia's most decorated pilots of that conflict.

Born 14 July 1919 in Northwood, Rollo Kingsford-Smith was taken as a boy on his first flight by his uncle Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. He received his Leaving Certificate from Sydney Boys High in 1936 and then attended night classes at Sydney Technical College. In July 1938 he undertook pilot training at the RAAF’s Point Cook and in October 1939 he was posted to No 6 Squadron, Richmond conducting coastal reconnaissance patrols, and later he was involved in training pilots at Point Cook, Victoria.

In 1942 Rollo was promoted to Squadron Leader and joined Bomber Command in England, initially in the operational training units. In September 1943 he became a Flight Commander in RAAF 467 Squadron, flying Lancaster bombers on night bombing missions over Germany, France and Italy.

In November 1943, he was promoted to Wing Commander and commanding officer of RAAF 463 Squadron, a new Australian Lancaster bomber unit based at Waddington, Lincolnshire.The then Prime Minister John Curtin visited Waddington in May 1944 and awarded Rollo the Distinguished Flying Cross (refer AWM Collections 1317) which was followed in August 1944 by an award of Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for conspicuous gallantry. Rollo Kingsford-Smith flew 34 bombing missions, including the Normandy coast on D-Day.

In April 1945 he took command of 627 Squadron, a Pathfinder unit flying Mosquitoes that dropped flares to mark the path for the following heavy bombers.

_{(extracted & edited from various WW2 sites)}