Page 200 - They Also Served

involved in the build-up to the invasion of Europe, MacNamara flew the aircraft, towing the glider carrying Major-General ‘Windy’ Gale (commanding the 6th Airborne Division) to Normandy on D-Day. For his leadership during the campaign, MacNamara was MiD and awarded the Soviet Order of the Patriotic War.
After attending the RAF Staff College, he took command of 31 Squadron in Burma, flying Dakota transport aircraft. Surprisingly, he only relinquished his commission in the Royal Tank Regiment in September 1945, being granted a permanent commission in the RAF. The squadron was part of the force tasked with repatriating internees from Java and, during these operations, evacuated 129,000 passengers. His log book for one flight lists one passenger as: ‘Three-week old premature baby.’
For his outstanding leadership, MacNamara was awarded the DSO in June 1946. Remaining with RAF Transport Command, he was the station commander at RAF Lyneham and later commanded the Transport Air Task Force for Operation Musketeer, the 1956 Suez Invasion, with a force of 32 Valetta and Hastings aircraft. Awarded the CBE for his part in the campaign, he retired as an air commodore in 1965. Brian MacNamara CBE DSO, Battle of Britain fighter ace, died on 1st July 1999.
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